World Soil Day, or WSD, is held on December 5 annually as a way to raise awareness about the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable use of soil resources. An international soil day was recommended in 2002 by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), and late last year it was approved to celebrate the day worldwide. Read the article thoroughly to learn everything about WSD.
World Soil Day 2023 Date
World Soil Day is observed across the world on 5 December every year. According to an article by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it is observed as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. This year the day will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
What is soil?
Definition of Soil: According to the traditional meaning, the soil is the natural medium for plant growth. Soil is also defined as a natural body consisting of layers that are composed of mineral materials, organic materials, air, and water. It is an essential component of "land" and "eco-system," both of which are broad concepts that include vegetation, water, and climate. It is also known as "dirt," "waste," or "earth."
History of World Soil Day
The international observation was proposed by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002 to raise public awareness of soil hazards, risks, and prevention. Led by the Kingdom of Thailand and under the guidance of the Global Earth Partnership, FAO facilitated the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness platform.
The FAO Conference unanimously approved World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. The UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day in December 2013.
Significance of World Soil Day
Soil pollution processes mainly involve soil salinization and modification. This is a threat to the ecosystem and is recognized as one of the world’s greatest threats to agricultural production, food security, and sustainability. The day intends to spread awareness around the world about the need for a healthy ecosystem.
What is the theme for World Soil Day 2023?
World Soil Day Theme 2023: The theme of World Soil Day 2023 is "Soils: Where food begins" to recognize the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being, addressing growing challenges in land management, increasing land use awareness, and empowering citizens to promote soil health.
What is the Goal of World Soil Day?
The campaign of this year's World Soil Day is "Soils: where food begins".
Do you know that there are more living creatures in a tablespoon of soil than there are people on earth? Like us, soils need a balanced and varied supply of nutrients in appropriate amounts to be healthy. It loses nutrients with each harvest, and if it is not managed sustainably, it loses fertility progressively and produces nutrient-deficient plants. And therefore, World Soil Day vows to raise awareness among the people on earth to take the necessary steps to keep the soil safe and nutritious.
Why is soil so important?
Below are the reasons why soil is very important for life –
- Healthy soils are important for healthy seed and plant growth, human consumption, and water filtration.
- Healthy soil favours a landscape that is more resilient to the effects of drought, fire, or flood.
- Soil enables regulating the Earth’s climate, and supplies more carbon than all the plants in the world.
- Soil gives plants footholds for their roots and carries nutrients needed for plants to grow.
- It filters rainwater and rectifies excess rainwater runoff to prevent flooding.
- it avoids contaminants, thereby protecting groundwater.
How to Celebrate World Soil Day?
There are many ways to observe the day, among them we discussed 5 ways to celebrate World Soil Day below:
1. Begin composting
Observe World Soil Day at your home, school, or community. First, start small experiments with composting to see the amazing properties of soil.
2. Raise awareness
Behind the day to raise awareness of how humans are recklessly damaging the planet. Much of it stems from ignorance, and the best way to deal with it is to enlighten ourselves and those around us.
3. Visit a community garden
Develop a lasting relationship with the soil, every time you are around it. Visit a community garden with your loved ones, plant seeds, and watch them grow.
4. Volunteer in social organisation
Join a hand-distributing leaflet and arrange a seminar on the importance and condition of the soil.
5. Throw a party on the soil
A tea party or picnic may be arranged on this occasion especially on the open field to get closer to the soil.
Facts on Soil
On the occasion of World Soil Day let's learn about some interesting facts about soil –
- 95% of our food arises from the soil.
- There are 18 naturally occurring chemical elements essential to plants from which 15 elements found from soil.
- Agricultural production will have to be increased by 60% to meet the global food demand around 2050.
- 33% of soils are eroded.
- Up to 58% more food could be produced through sustainable soil management.
Why Do We Celebrate World Soil Day?
This day is a powerful advocacy tool to educate the public on issues of concern, mobilize political will and resources to address the issues, and celebrate and strengthen the achievements of humanity.
Happy World Soil Day 2023 Wishes, Messages
World Soil Day is an annual observation that takes place on December 5. Make your loved ones conscious of the soil by sharing these wishes and messages below:
- The soil has been neglected for years and we need to take care of it as soon as possible. Happy World Soil Day!
- On World Soil Day, let’s make everyone around us aware of the importance of soil for every single person on this planet.
- We all need to take better care of the land in different ways before it is too late. Happy World Soil Day!
- Do not undervalue the strength of the soil as we have done so far. Consider the scale of the problem seriously. Happy World Soil Day!
World Soil Day 2023 WhatsApp Status
There could be no other better way to make people aware of the danger of soil damage than social media. Below is a collection of WhatsApp, and Facebook statuses to share on this day –
- Celebrate the things that hold the roots of our lives, celebrate soil. Conserve it on this World Soil Day.
- Don’t live your whole life without experiencing the power under your feet. Save it and celebrate this occasion of World Soil Day.
- Don’t forget the soil that holds the planet together and gives it life. Celebrate and promise to protect the soil on this World Soil Day.
- Protect the environment, stop soil pollution, and take measures to protect our soil. Happy World Soil Day!
World Soil Day 2023 SMS
We have to rise before danger knocks at our door. There is not so much time. Let's prepare to save soil. Text your loved ones with these short messages (SMS) to warn them of the matter:
- Just as it is impossible to imagine the earth without all the plants and animals, it is impossible to imagine the earth without soil. Happy WSD!
- We’ve always owned the soil and now we’re at a point to lose it if we don’t take care of it. Happy World Soil Day!
- We celebrate World Soil Day because we need to be aware of every one of its importance.
- Join hands together on World Soil Day to stop soil-damaging activities and their pollution!
Happy World Soil Day 2023 Slogans, Captions
Below are world Soil Day slogans and captions for Instagram –
1. Let us conserve soil before it is too late. Happy WSD!
2. Let us not neglect the problems our soil is facing.
3. We need fertile and healthy soil for a better life. Happy World Soil Day!
4. Soil needs our care and we need to wake up. Happy WSD!
5. Together we can protect soil and also life.
6. Protecting soil is about saving our planet.
World Soil Day Quotes
Below are a collection of Soil Quotes to inspire everyone to care about soil which gives us life
1. “Land is not merely soil, it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants and animals.” - Aldo Leopold
2. “We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot.” - Leonardo Da Vinci
3. “To be a successful farmer one must first know the nature of the soil.” - Xenophon
4. “Essentially, all life depends upon the soil… There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together.” - Dr Charles E Kellogg
5. “The farther we get away from the land, the greater our insecurity.” - Henry Ford
Celebrated annually on December 5, World Soil Day strives to raise awareness about soil and highlight the impacts of land management. This is a special day because it’s important for human health and ecosystems. We need to know about the importance of soil for sustaining our existence. If soil perishes, our existence will face a terrible challenge soon.