Overview
- Urban soils that remain permeable and vegetated help absorb rainfall, cool neighborhoods, store carbon and support biodiversity, whereas sealed surfaces lose these functions.
- New SNPA data show nearly 84 square kilometers were converted to artificial surfaces in 2024, the highest level of the past decade and up 16% from 2023.
- India reports about 147 million hectares of degraded land and has set a goal to restore 26 million hectares by 2030 to bolster food security.
- Soil salinization is flagged as a growing global threat, with estimates that up to half of soils could be salt‑affected by 2050 and annual economic losses around $27.3 billion.
- World Soil Day is held on December 5, an FAO‑declared date originating from an IUSS proposal, chosen to honor the birthday of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.