The theme for December 5, 2026, has not yet been announced. Last year, the day was held under the slogan " Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities ." This motto reminds us that the health of soils determines the quality of life in urban areas.
Beneath the concrete and asphalt of modern megacities lies the forgotten foundation of urban life: the soil. While skyscrapers and highways symbolize urbanization, the condition of the soil largely determines the quality of life in cities. By 2050, when nearly 70% of the world's population will live in cities, this issue will become critical to the survival of megacities.
Urbanization has brought with it a dangerous phenomenon called "soil compaction," where natural soil is covered with impermeable materials like concrete, asphalt, and buildings. This doesn't just isolate the land from the atmosphere; it disrupts the vital functions that healthy soils perform. They stop absorbing water, regulating temperature, and supporting biodiversity. Cities are turning into "heat islands," where temperatures can be up to 10 degrees higher than surrounding areas.
The consequences of this approach are already obvious. Modern megacities lose up to 50% of rainwater as runoff—ten times more than forest ecosystems. This leads to overloaded sewer systems and polluted water bodies. Dark surfaces, such as roofs or paved roads, exacerbate overheating, increasing air conditioning costs and creating health risks for city residents, especially vulnerable groups.
However, solutions exist, and they are surprisingly elegant. Nature offers us tools for transforming urban environments: green roofs that cool buildings and absorb rainwater; permeable surfaces that allow the soil to "breathe"; urban gardens and parks that restore soil biodiversity. These natural tools don't just solve environmental problems—they create more pleasant environments, reducing stress and improving the mental and physical health of city residents.
Preserving suburban lands—those fertile areas on the outskirts of cities, gardening communities, and dacha communities that historically provided food for city residents—is particularly important. Their loss not only threatens food security but also severing city residents' connection to the land, depriving them of an understanding of where their food comes from.
Urban soil regeneration isn't nostalgia for the past, but an investment in the future. Investments in soil restoration yield multiple returns: reduced weather cleanup costs, savings on air conditioning, and improved public health. But even more importantly, it's a contribution to quality of life that can't be measured in monetary terms.
We need to rethink the role of soil in urban environments. It's not just a foundation for construction, but a living system that can be our ally in creating the cities of the future—sustainable, healthy, and livable. The choice we make today—whether to seal soil under concrete or restore its vital functions—will determine whether our cities can survive in a changing climate. Caring for the soil in an urban context becomes an act of caring for ourselves and future generations—a practical philosophy that can transform not only our cities but also our relationship with the planet as a whole.
World Soil Day is celebrated annually on December 5th . The day aims to highlight the fundamental importance of soil for life on Earth and raise awareness of the complex balance of all its elements and the processes occurring within it. Soils are constantly exposed to external forces, both natural and anthropogenic. Excessive pressure on the soil leads to deterioration of its quality, loss of biodiversity, and can lead to irreversible destruction. Soil Day is an opportunity to remind ourselves and others of the factors that threaten the fertility of the soil and ways to address these problems.
Humanity currently knows more about soils than ever before. Paradoxically, fewer and fewer people understand the value of soil. Advances in science and technology have meant that most people don't work the land directly, and city dwellers only see fields and meadows when traveling. This distinguishes soil from other vital resources—water, food, air, and energy. Nevertheless, growing human society depends more than ever on both soil fertility and its contribution to the biosphere.
For humans, soil is primarily a source of biomass . These are the plants we eat and feed our animals. They provide wood for building houses and furniture, and are a source of fuel. They also provide industrial fibers for creating fabrics and raw materials for the chemical industry. The production of biodiesel from plants has recently become increasingly important. All of this is essential for the continued well-being of humanity and is impossible without fertile soils.
Soil is a vital carbon reservoir . Of all the carbon accumulated in the biosphere, only 19% is in plant biomass; 81% is concentrated in the soil. Soil is part of the carbon cycle, absorbing and sequestering carbon from decomposing organic matter and the air, and releasing it back as carbon dioxide emissions. Depending on the soil type and climate conditions, carbon can both accumulate and escape from the soil. Soil-damaging phenomena such as erosion, pollution, and others also lead to increased carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Given the climate crisis, this function of soil is of particular interest to ecologists.
Soil is a source of nutrients . Along with carbon, it contains many other elements essential for plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and many others. Plants are vital to humanity as a source of food, fuel, fiber, and raw materials for the chemical industry. These elements naturally enter the soil through the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms and soil fauna. Intensive farming requires the application of mineral fertilizers, but worldwide, this is generally ineffective. Combined with the natural circulation of nitrogen, excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers prevents soil and plants from absorbing all of it, resulting in nitrogen leaching into water and air. Nitrous oxide is a more dangerous greenhouse gas than CO2 . Adherence to scientific and agricultural recommendations would not only save money but also help combat climate change.
Soil is part of the water cycle . To thrive, plants need access to both water and air, so fertile soil must simultaneously retain moisture and allow it to percolate into groundwater. The ideal soil depends on climate conditions. In arid regions, clay soils, which retain moisture for long periods, are more fertile. In rainy regions, sandy soils, which drain well, are more fertile. Furthermore, soil filters and purifies water, preventing flooding by maintaining a balance between rivers and groundwater. Maintaining adequate soil moisture protects it from erosion.
Soil is a reservoir of biodiversity . It harbors entire ecosystems of plant roots, microorganisms, fungi, insects, and animals living on and around them. Just 10 grams of soil contains 1,000 microorganisms of 100 different species. Science knows of 360,000 species of soil-dwelling animals. These complex systems of organisms are essential for soil conservation and the normal functioning of ecosystems. Soil inhabitants participate in the conversion of soil organic matter into compounds readily available to plants, play a vital role in maintaining the carbon balance, and purify water through the soil.
Soil is essential to human social and cultural life . It's the very foundation of our parks, gardens, and lawns. It's often forgotten, but our homes and roads are also built on soil. These lands are considered lost, and often cannot be restored to their natural state due to pollution, over-compaction, and depletion. Furthermore, soil preserves our cultural heritage in the form of archaeological artifacts. Soil itself can have cultural significance, shaping picturesque landscapes and historically significant sites.
A selection of literature on "Land Conservation and Rational Use"Soil fertility conservation is a critical issue for Belarus. Agricultural land accounts for over 40% of the country's territory, a significant portion of which consists of drained peatlands. Soil pollution is also a pressing issue, particularly in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Belarusian scientists are actively working in promising areas such as sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and precision agriculture. The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus's Scientific and Practical Center for Agriculture includes specialized institutions: the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry and the Institute of Land Reclamation. Researchers at institutions such as the Institute of Forestry also address the state of the country's soils in their research. A list of monographs, conference proceedings, and textbooks on land conservation and use can be found in our library's collection.
Start Date: 05.12.2026
End Date: 05.12.2026