THE SOIL IS ALIVE!
WHY IS SOIL BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?
Soil organisms are responsible for supplying the environment with a
number of critically important ecosystem goods and services:
• Food
• Decomposition of organic matter
to minerals and nutrients
• Transformations of pollutants
Arwyn Jones
• Cycles of essential elements
such as nitrogen and carbon
Steve Hopkin
Arwyn Jones
Soil organisms have a positive effects on soil fertility and plant growth.
However, the effect of changes to soil biota on ecosystem processes are
mostly unknown!
Soil is under threat from increased human population, poor land
management and pollution. The EU Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection
sets out to safeguard soil across Europe.
International Day for Biological Diversity
CBP COP-9, Bonn, 22 May 2008
ENV