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Good Governance for “Sustainable Management of Soil” on National and International Level: How to Do It?

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Legal Instruments for Sustainable Soil Management in Africa

Part of the book series: International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy ((REGPER))

Abstract

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of 2015, the world’s community politically agreed that sustainable management of soils is a global challenge crucial for the survival of men and women. The chapter works out four results: First, measures with regard to sustainable management of soils must be shaped related to the drivers and the specific threats of soil degradation. Second, to achieve “land degradation neutrality” nationally an analysis of existing legislation is required taking the UNCCD response hierarchy as a starting point. Thirdly, if states decide to work on international soil governance, more coordination via Memoranda of Understanding as well as international obligations for more specific measures are needed. Fourth, the chapter finally argues that a new treaty consisting of a framework convention and subsidiary annexes which provides for driver specific measures would be recommendable.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    United Nations (2015).

  2. 2.

    As soils are the fundamental component of land the obligation for “land degradation neutrality” is valid for soils too.

  3. 3.

    Further information under https://globalsoilweek.org/.

  4. 4.

    Boer et al. (2016), pp. 61–62.

  5. 5.

    Ginzky (2016), pp. 1–2. Also other environmental problems have been or are even still neglected: A problem which is now high on the agenda is marine litter in the oceans. But it took same time to get there. Currently, the loss of insects (in Germany long-term studies document a loss of about 75%) is actually not really debated although it might have tremendous effects on the food chain, the biodiversity and on food security.

  6. 6.

    Heuser (2017).

  7. 7.

    For example: In Germany the first Soil Protection Act got in force 1998. Water protection regulation have been in place since the 1950th.

  8. 8.

    Heuser (2017).

  9. 9.

    Ginzky (2016), p. 2.

  10. 10.

    Ginzky (2016), p. 3.

  11. 11.

    Linz and Lobos (2016), p. 197.

  12. 12.

    “Privately owned” encompasses collective rights on land as also in this case there is a community holding rights on a specific piece of land.

  13. 13.

    Land/soil degradation could cause hunger, poverty, migration and political or even military conflicts. Ginzky (2016), p. 7; Boer et al. (2016), p. 68; see also Flasbarth (2016), p. 17 mentioning that even the Syrian conflict has been at least partly caused by land degradation processes.

  14. 14.

    The discussion has been so far focusing whether land degradation is a common concern of mankind. However, as soils are the fundamental component of land and degradation is the contrary to sustainable management, this previous debate is also relevant for soils or the conservation of fertile soils.

  15. 15.

    Eikermann (2014), p. 4; Eikermann (2017), p. 417.

  16. 16.

    Ginzky (2017) and Boer (2014).

  17. 17.

    Ginzky (2017), p. 433.

  18. 18.

    United Nations (2012) The Future We Want, Para 2005.

  19. 19.

    United Nations (2015).

  20. 20.

    One exemption is if people act in aquatic settings. For example, fishing or shipping do not necessarily have a direct effect on soils.

  21. 21.

    For example during war, other causes of soil and land degradations may occur.

  22. 22.

    EU Commission (2006). Additionally, eutrophication is nowadays discussed as a further threat category.

  23. 23.

    EU Commission (2012) with further information on the status of degradation with regard to the various threats.

  24. 24.

    Gesetz zum Schutz vor schädlichen Bodenveränderungen und zur Sanierung von Altlasten (Bundes-Bodenschutzgesetz—BBodSchG), 17.3.1998.

  25. 25.

    § 4 and 10 of the Soil Protection Act.

  26. 26.

    § 17 of the Soil Protection Act.

  27. 27.

    This is of major importance in Germany due to its high population density. Settlements often are above or close to contaminated grounds.

  28. 28.

    Gesetz zum Schutz vor schädlichen Umwelteinwirkungen durch Luftverunreinigungen, Geräusche, Erschütterungen und ähnliche Vorgänge (BImSchG), 15.3.1974.

  29. 29.

    § 5 IV BImSchG.

  30. 30.

    Baugesetzbuch (BauGB), 23.6.1960.

  31. 31.

    § 1a III BauGB.

  32. 32.

    Bodle (2017), pp. 297–299.

  33. 33.

    Möckel et al. (2014), p. 215.

  34. 34.

    Möckel et al. (2014), p. 473.

  35. 35.

    The funds make about the half of the farmer’s income.

  36. 36.

    UNCCD (2015).

  37. 37.

    Ehlers (2016) and Minelli et al. (2016).

  38. 38.

    In addition many other matters have to be clarified, defined and arranged, i.a. the following points: A baseline has to be defined, the status of soil/land have to be assessed, indicators for the assessment of the status, of land degradation and of restoration/rehabilitation actions as well as monitoring requirements have to be defined. Further information see Ehlers (2016), Minelli et al. (2016) and Cowie (2018).

  39. 39.

    Cowie (2018), p. 30.

  40. 40.

    Cowie (2018), p. 31.

  41. 41.

    Cowie (2018), p. 31.

  42. 42.

    To completely avoid soil/land degradation it is often necessary to prohibit a human activity, because most human activities cause—at least to a certain extent—degradation of soils. Thus it might be reasonable to see “avoid” and “reduce” as one category.

  43. 43.

    Ginzky (2016), p. 11.

  44. 44.

    The Text of UNCCD could be found under: www.unccd.int.

  45. 45.

    The Text of CBD could be found under: www.cbd.int.

  46. 46.

    The Text of UNFCCC could be found under: www.unfccc.int.

  47. 47.

    “Almost”, because the United States of America are not a Party to CBD.

  48. 48.

    Boer and Hannam (2003), p. 153. The determination of whether an area falls within the scope of application of UNCCD depends on the “ratio of annual precipitation to potential evapotranspiration” (Article 1 (g) UNCCD).

  49. 49.

    Hannam and Boer (2002), pp. 62–63.

  50. 50.

    Boer et al. (2016), p. 62. See also Wunder et al. (2017).

  51. 51.

    Ginzky (2016), p. 18. Hannam and Boer (2002), pp. 63–64.

  52. 52.

    Wolff and Kaphengst (2016).

  53. 53.

    Boer et al. (2016), p. 58. See also Streck and Gay (2016).

  54. 54.

    Article 2.1 (a) Paris Agreement.

  55. 55.

    Boer et al. (2016), p. 59.

  56. 56.

    Paris Decision, Para 31.3.

  57. 57.

    See Fee (2018).

  58. 58.

    Hannam and Boer (2002), p. 62.

  59. 59.

    Further information under http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/LCLP/Pages/default.aspx.

  60. 60.

    Section 4 and Annex 4 of the Report of the 35th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and 8th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, LC 35/15, 21 October 2013.

    For an assessment of the amendment see Ginzky and Frost (2014).

  61. 61.

    Further information under: http://www.mercuryconvention.org/Convention/Text/tabid/3426/language/en-US/Default.aspx.

  62. 62.

    IUCN Draft Protocol on security and sustainable use of soils, Sept 2009, by IUCN Commission on Environmental Law Specialist Group on Sustainable Use of Soils and Desertification.

  63. 63.

    A discussion paper is available under: http://www.iass-potsdam.de/sites/default/files/files/gsw_leg_discussion_paper_options_unccd_endg_0.pdf.

  64. 64.

    Minelli et al. (2016), pp. 87–88. More information under: https://www2.unccd.int/actions/ldn-target-setting-programme.

  65. 65.

    Mastrojeni (2018).

  66. 66.

    The resolution could be found under: http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/LCLP/EmergingIssues/geoengineering/Pages/default.aspx.

  67. 67.

    Ginzky (2010) and Markus and Ginzky (2011), p. 479.

  68. 68.

    Ginzky and Frost (2014), p. 94.

  69. 69.

    See the arguments under section 1.

  70. 70.

    See Bowling et al. (2016), p. 9.

  71. 71.

    Morgera and Tsioumani (2010), p. 28.

  72. 72.

    Text of the respective protocol under: https://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/protocol/nagoya-protocol-en.pdf.

  73. 73.

    Ginzky (2017), p. 442.

  74. 74.

    Minelli et al. (2016), pp. 87–88.

  75. 75.

    Eikermann (2017), p. 428.

  76. 76.

    Eikermann (2017), pp. 428–429.

  77. 77.

    Treaties are only mandatory for their Parties. Therefore it would be required to have more or less the same membership.

  78. 78.

    See: http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/LCLP/EmergingIssues/geoengineering/Pages/default.aspx.

  79. 79.

    Article 4 of London Protocol.

  80. 80.

    Ginzky (2016), pp. 27–30.

  81. 81.

    Boer et al. (2016), p. 69.

  82. 82.

    IUCN Draft Protocol on security and sustainable use of soils, Sept 2009, by IUCN Commission on Environmental Law Specialist Group on Sustainable Use of Soils and Desertification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Environment Agency, Dessau, Germany

    Harald Ginzky

  2. Development and Rule of Law Programme [DROP], University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Harald Ginzky

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  1. Harald Ginzky
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Correspondence to Harald Ginzky .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Law, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

    Hadijah Yahyah

  2. German Environment Agency, Dessau, Germany; Development and Rule of Law Programme [DROP], University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Harald Ginzky

  3. School of Law, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

    Emmanuel Kasimbazi

  4. School of Law, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

    Robert Kibugi

  5. Development and Rule of Law Programme [DROP], University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Fraunhofer Centre for International Management and Knowledge Economy [IMW], Leipzig, Germany

    Oliver C. Ruppel

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Ginzky, H. (2020). Good Governance for “Sustainable Management of Soil” on National and International Level: How to Do It?. In: Yahyah, H., Ginzky, H., Kasimbazi, E., Kibugi, R., Ruppel, O. (eds) Legal Instruments for Sustainable Soil Management in Africa. International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36004-7_3

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