The thin, fertile layer of soil – where plants grow, water is stored, and many small organisms live – is the foundation for life and food. Protecting it is crucial for stabilizing the climate, preserving nature, and maintaining the balance between humans and the environment. This layer is only about 30 cm thick and takes hundreds of years to rebuild.
Sustainable land use — a term that sounds as dry as a field during a scorching summer. But it’s actually the key to shaping a future where the Earth not only feeds us but also supports a life in harmony with our environment.
It’s about managing the thin skin of the Earth — the fertile soils, forests, and meadows — so they can do more than just meet our basic needs. They should keep the balance between people and nature, promote biodiversity, and help fight the climate crisis.
We don’t need miracles to achieve this, but we do need strategies that already exist: agroforestry, regenerative farming, urban gardening, and rewilding are just a few examples. They show that agricultural production and ecosystem services don’t have to be at odds.
Imagine that every piece of land — whether it’s farmland, pasture, a city park, or your own backyard — plays a role in a larger network. A network that stores carbon, stabilizes water cycles, and provides habitats for insects, birds, and other wildlife.
The thin, fertile skin of the Earth, known as soil or humus layer, is of vital importance for life on our planet. Although soil makes up only a tiny fraction of the Earth’s crust, it is crucial for food production, the stability of ecosystems, and the climate. In relation to the entire Earth’s mass, this layer is minuscule, yet its significance is immense.
Fertile soil extends only about 0.5 to 2 meters across the Earth’s surface. Compared to the Earth’s diameter of approximately 12,742 kilometers, this is just a thin strip. To put it in perspective: if the Earth were the size of an apple, the fertile layer would be thinner than the skin of the apple.
Despite its thinness, soil is the foundation for around 95 percent of the world’s food production. Plants draw water and nutrients from the soil, ensuring our food supply. Moreover, soil is a unique ecosystem of its own. It is home to countless microorganisms and insects, which regulate the nutrient cycle and support biodiversity.
Soil also plays a crucial role in regulating the climate. It stores large amounts of carbon—more than the atmosphere and vegetation combined. Healthy soils help slow down climate change by sequestering carbon and reducing the release of greenhouse gases.
Another essential function of soil is its ability to store and filter water. This property not only supplies plants with water but also helps protect against flooding and naturally filters water before it reaches the groundwater.
However, this fertile layer is under threat worldwide. Intensive agriculture, deforestation, and poor soil management lead to erosion and the loss of this valuable layer. Increasing urbanization is sealing off soils, disrupting their natural functions. Heavy agricultural machinery and overgrazing compact the soil, making it harder for water to infiltrate and roots to grow. Additionally, chemical fertilizers and pesticides damage soils, while improper irrigation leads to salinization.
This thin skin of the Earth, in proportion to its size, is a true marvel that must be protected. Without it, the world as we know it would not be able to sustain life. Preserving this fertile layer should therefore be one of the most important tasks of our time—not just for humanity’s food security, but also for maintaining ecological balance and stabilizing the climate.
Land is a scarce resource, but how we use it can go beyond the physical space and have a positive impact on the global system. This is why sustainable land use is one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle for our planet’s future.
This brings us to an important point we often overlook: how we use land is not just an agricultural issue. It’s deeply connected to many global challenges — from climate change and food security to biodiversity protection.
Agriculture is not only a producer but also a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. At the same time, soils and forests offer enormous potential to capture CO₂. How we use land will determine if we turn it into an ally in the fight against climate change or a contributor to its acceleration. It’s a matter of bringing together different factors: soil health, water management, biodiversity, and climate balance. The question is whether we can piece these together to form a sustainable whole.
Sustainable land use can help slow down species loss, improve living conditions in rural areas, and prevent soil erosion. It’s about creating a balance between human needs and nature’s needs. It is the link that connects many global goals: climate neutrality, biodiversity preservation, social justice, and food security.
This is why sustainable land use is not just a farming practice. It’s a societal necessity — one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for the future of our planet.