Ronald Vargas

The Global Soil Partnership

- A vacuum on Soil governance at global level

- Soil Investment far too low.

- Soil degradation, a continuous serious threat.

- Outdated soil information at global and regional levels. - Weakening of national soil institutions.

- Poor knowledge and appreciation of soil functions for life. - Gap on targeted soil research.

Overview of Soils by 2011

Response from FAO and its members

An Agenda for Action

of our food comes from soils

Soil is a common good!

but our soils are in danger…

today 2050

of our global soils are degraded

and we need to increase

production (quality and quantity)

sustainable soil management

Partners

450 partners: FAO members and other partners (universities, NGOs, etc)

Focal PointsSecond GSP Plenary Assembly endorsed the nomination of focal points by FAO Members.

Currently 134 countries

nominated their focal points

Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils

GSP Pillars of Action 1. Promote sustainable management of soil resources and improved global governance for soil

protection and sustainable productivity;

2. Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education, awareness and extension in soils;

3. Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps, priorities and synergies among economic/productive, environmental and social dimensions;

4. Enhance the quality and availability of soil data and information: collection, analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring, integration with other disciplines;

5. Harmonization of methods, measurements and indicators for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources.

Way forward of Plans of Action

As per the Guidelines for Plans of Action of the Rules of Procedure.

Organization of International workshops

Establishment of global Working Groups

Preparation of Draft Plans of Action

Review and endorsement by ITPS

Endorsement by Plenary Assembly

Implementation through Implementation Plans at Regional levels

RSP working on this now

Plans of Action

• Pillar 1: endorsed and implementation plans at regional level.• Pillar 2: endorsed and implementation plans at regional level.• Pillar 3: endorsed and implementation plans at regional level.• Pillar 4: endorsed and Global implementation plan under finalization.• Pillar 5: endorsed and global implementation plan under preparation.

Regional Soil Partnerships

- Main decision making body.

- Third Plenary Assembly 22-24 June 2015 at FAO

- Agenda items:

Plenary Assembly

The GSP has promoted the World Soil Day and International Year of Soils 2015, and members (under the leadership of Thailand) have supported it during the 68th UNGA.

GSP and Awareness raising

- Updated World Soil Charter (endorsed by FAO Conference)

- Establishment of Regional Soil Partnerships (all regions)

- Support to develop capacities on soils in the various regions

- Establishment of the Healthy Soils Facility

- Advocacy for inclusion of soils in the SDG

- Preparation of the Status of World’s Soil Resources Report

- World Soil Day and International Year of Soils 2015

Main Achievements

Beyond 2015

HEALTHY SOILS FACILITY$ € ¥ £

PGM/MUL/2014-2018/GSP

• Umbrella programme/Facility was already established in 2014.

• A programmatic budget of USD64 mil and 5 years of implementation period;

• Current Resource partners: European Commission (1,3 million USD), Thailand (100,000 USD), Switzerland (100,000USD); International Fertilizers Association(58,00USD); AIAG (22,000USD), Russian Federation (1 million USD).

• Potential future contribution under discussions