Abstract
Recognizing that soils constitute the foundation for agricultural development, essential ecosystem services and food security, 2015 had been declared the International Year of Soils (IYS) with the 5th of December designated as the World Soil Day by the 68th UN General Assembly. The year was characterized by great achievements such as the endorsement of the revised World Soil Charter, the launch of the Status of the World’s Soil Resources report and the inclusion of soil into the Sustainable Development Goals. The momentum generated by the IYS is considered strategic to plan future actions to undertake after 2015. While the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is committed to keep advocating for the promotion of sustainable soil management beyond 2015 through the Global Soil Partnership, consolidating this momentum requires soil scientists and soil institutions to make use of the IYS legacy through a series of actions, programmes and initiatives.
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Vargas R, Achouri M, Maroulis J, Caon L (2016) Healthy soils: a prerequisite for sustainable food security. Environ Earth Sci 75:180. doi:10.1007/s12665-015-5099-7
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Rojas, R.V., Caon, L. The international year of soils revisited: promoting sustainable soil management beyond 2015. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1184 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5891-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5891-z