Resource Library
Feature Resource:
2023 CA4SH Annual Report
For the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), 2023 was marked by continual learning and exponential growth, and we are celebrating by launching the inaugural Annual Report. Highlights include a reflection on our roots and growing the Coalition (which now has over 170 multistakeholder members and counting!), zooming in on key engagements, advocating for soil health in the climate agenda, achievements, lessons learned, and a look at what’s to come.
Advocating for Soil Health
This presentation is for use by CA4SH members and stakeholders to introduce CA4SH and communicate key messages around why we should scale soil health.
Regenerative Agriculture Metrics: Guidance for Business
To accelerate regenerative agriculture and transition agricultural models that work within planetary boundaries, it is essential to converge on an integrated measurement architecture. This includes addressing and overcoming the key challenges to alignment – a lack of cohesion on definition and outcomes, fragmented and siloed data collection and reporting, a need to translate global frameworks into local action plans, and a lack of inclusivity of farmers and Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) in the process.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has prioritized strengthening corporate performance accountability systems for carbon, nature and equity. To this end, WBCSD has launched the Regenerative Agriculture Metrics (RAM) joint working group with the One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B) coalition. This collaborative effort involves more than 50 members and 27 business-focused partners, representing more than 1,100 businesses.
Natural Carbon Sequestation: Leveraging Soils for Mitigation, Storage & Biodiversity Benefits
This presentation was given in a side event from the British Society of Soil Science at the UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai.
Learn more and download the presentation
EU Mission Soil Week Event Material
The European Mission Soil Week is an annual event aimed at promoting the Mission Soil, raising awareness about the importance of soil health, and driving action to protect and restore our soils.
The EU Mission Soil Week website has compiled a library of event materials from the November 2023 event including presentations, recordings, graphics and more.
Towards a definition of soil health
The Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) defines soil health as “the ability of the soil to sustain the productivity, diversity, and environmental services of terrestrial ecosystems”. In managed systems, soil health can be maintained, promoted or recovered through the implementation of sustainable soil management practices. As with human health, there is no single measure that captures all aspects of soil health. The preservation of these soil services requires avoiding and/or combating all types of soil degradation.
SOIL the hidden part of the climate cycle
Excerpt:
“Soil is a natural resource which most of us either ignore or take for granted. Yet the thin layer of ‘dirt’ that covers much of the surface of the Earth is vital to the environment and invaluable to our societies.
However, soil quality is declining in many areas, meaning that it is less able to perform its essential functions. One area of concern is the effect of soil degradation on the climate, and vice versa.”
Read the full report from the European Commission (2011)
Fertilizer and Soil Health in Africa: The Role of Fertilizer in Building Soil Health to Sustain Farming and Address Climate Change
The new paper is a conceptual framework relating to fertilizer, crop productivity, and soil health. It features a number of key recommendations, generated from scientific information, which address soil health, climate change, farmer incentives, soil health investments, localization, and not only fertilizers but also auxiliary interventions.
Soil Health Inquiry - Response
The Government of the United Kingdom launched an inquiry into how they can reach their target of having all British soil sustainably managed by 2030.
Download the response from CA4SH member, the British Society of Soil Science.
IUCN Restoration BarometerReport 2022
The 2022 Restoration Barometer Report demonstrates the progress that reporting countries have made on their restoration targets during the as of the 2021-2022 reporting period.
Supporting farmer innovation to restore: An illustrated five-step guide to applying the Options by Context approach to land restoration
This manual provides restoration practitioners and trainers with a step-by-step guide on how to apply the Options by Context (OxC) approach in land restoration efforts and offers practical examples and case studies from eastern Kenya.
RURAL 21: The International Journal for Rural Development (volume 56)
Rural 21 has dedicated more than 50 years to rural development. In this issue, authors and interviewees share examples of global and national initiatives and policies as well as research and practical examples addressing soil health.