Healthy soil is critical for human and planetary health. Researchers are digging deeper into what constitutes healthy soil.

World Soil Day, 5 December, is upon us, signalling the need to get down dirty with that basic substance that supports our existence.

Promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, this year’s campaign around the Day — Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity — aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in managing soils, maintaining biological diversity in soils, increasing wider and deeper awareness of soil and encouraging governments, non-governmental organizations, communities and individuals around the world to commit to actively improving the health of our soils.

The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) are leading the way in developing greater knowledge of the state of our planet’s soils through the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework, which provides a biophysical baseline understanding of the health of soils and ecosystems and supports monitoring as soil either degrades or recovers through rehabilitation. Governments can use the Framework to meet their commitments to the United Nations’ Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Bonn Challenge and the African Landscape Restoration Initiative.

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This story was produced by the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems, led by the International Water Management Institute in partnership with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF). CIFOR-ICRAF are non-profit, scientific institutions that conduct research on the most pressing challenges of forest and landscape management around the world. CIFOR-ICRAF envision a more equitable world where forestry and landscapes enhance the environment and well-being for all.Using a global, multidisciplinary approach, we aim to improve human well-being, protect the environment, and increase equity. Our work focuses on innovative research, developing partners’ capacity, and actively engaging in dialogue with all stakeholders to inform policies and practices that affect forests and people. Our work spans the globe, with expertise in the ‘global South’. Founded in 1993 and 1978 respectively, CIFOR-ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving management of natural resources. We thank all donors who support research in development through their contributions to the CGIAR Fund.