Soil policy principles and a policymaking framework using the soil security concept

Abstract

There is a growing demand for more soil-centric policies to ensure sustainable land management and soil security. The concept of soil security enhances our understanding of soil multifunctionality as a comprehensive framework for soil protection. Utilising the soil security concept in policymaking can substantially improve the consistency and harmonisation of regional and global policies related to soil security. This paper reviews the fundamental aspects of the soil security concept, explores the diverse roles of soil, and proposes nine core principles for policymaking to guide the development of soil legislation. Comprehensive and effective soil policies should not only recognise these core principles but also encompass all dimensions of soil security. To illustrate this point, we analyse the current policy status and propose a policy framework for soil’s role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, which is a prominent topic of environmental debate. Our approach demonstrates how the policy principles are reflected in the five dimensions of soil security, leading to a policymaking framework that is soil-centric, inclusive, and verifiable.