Soil

The soil is exposed to a series of threats such as:
  • pollution,
  • sealing,
  • erosion,
  • decrease of organic material,
  • salinization,
  • compaction,
  • land slides.

Damage to the soil is caused or accentuated by human activities such as agriculture and forestry based on unsuitable methods, industrial activities, tourism, urban and industrial proliferation and building activities.

Impact of damage to the soil

These activities have a negative effect because they prevent the soil from fulfilling its economic, social and ecological functions:
  • Production of food and other agricultural crops depends on the soil as does forestry.
  • Minerals, organic matter, water and all kinds of chemical compounds are stored and transformed in the soil. The soil is a storage place for harmful substances and can prevent these from coming directly into the air or water by means of conversion processes. The soil emits carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases into the atmosphere.
  • Soil is a natural filter for the groundwater and a source of water supply.
  • The soil is the natural habitat for numerous animals and plants.
  • The soil is literally the foundation for human activities and is an important element of the landscape, which is a part of cultural heritage.
  • The soil gives diverse raw materials such as clay, sand, minerals and organic material like turf.