Sustainable soil management as a collective responsibility

From pollution to global warming, ecosystem services help us solve all kinds of problems, which is why they play an essential part in developing well thought-out measures to tackle climate change. And our soil is a vital source in this.

Soil, after all, can purify itself: groundwater, for example, as part of its soil ecosystem service. Soil also harbours enormous biodiversity: it is the perfect habitat for scores of organisms and stores gigantic quantities of CO₂.

Urbanization is making sustainable ecosystem services ever more important and the soil is a regulating link in various processes, such as water holding capacity, cooling in cities, cultural services, healthy living environments, etc.  This means soil ecosystem services are of great value when developing climate adaptation strategies and establishing the decision-making processes for urban development.

Antea Group already introduced soil-related ecosystem services in a few town planning projects in Belgium:

1. Together with our partners, we are putting together an all-encompassing vision for the Brussels metropolitan area (left image), aiming ultimately to set aside existing open spaces for essential axes with elements of greenery and water. Optimal routes for these greenery and water connections are being mapped based on parameters such as soil condition, pollution and permeability. This way, we provide Brussels’ policy makers with data and insights for further urban development, which will help shape the vision for a multifunctional network of open spaces. Learn more about Open Space Brussels >
    
2. We also use soil ecosystem services to help lay out the parks around the Antwerp ring road (right image). We are advising the city council not only on the infrastructure design, but also on sustainable soil and biodiversity management. The mission of the project is to create a healthy environment for people to live in, before the motorway is covered with a system of tunnels over the top. A logical, yet crucial first step is to move a major part of the soil. Transport of the soil removed to create tactical infrastructure elements is needed to preserve rare plants and to set up tree seed banks. In this way, our experts help steer towards sustainable soil and water management as well as climate adaptation. Learn more about Ringpark Groenendaal >
    
3. For a water and development project in Ghent in the Belgian Province of East Flanders, Waste Agency of Flanders OVAM’s digital soil database was made accessible and analysed in a geographic information system (GIS). This way, we could identify plots that had not been analysed but were high risk for soil pollution. To improve the water ecosystem, we also mapped out interference between (potential) soil pollution and proposed measures. All this resulted in a win-win situation where enhancing soil and water-related ecosystem services can leverage soil remediation. Public authorities will also be using this methodology, and associated data management, in other town-planning projects.

People should have the natural tendency to handle ecosystems with care, if only out of self-preservation. But that is not always the case. Sometimes, the role our soil plays as an ecosystem service is thwarted, both consciously and unconsciously at times. Indeed, erosion, compaction, salinization, loss of organic material, pollution, etc. can all threaten soil ecosystem services.

This means policy makers need to take up their caretaker roles again. Not only for our soil’s sake, but also for the benefit of all the other ecosystems around us. Fortunately, this collective responsibility is gaining ground, as is our attention for the quality and services soil and nature offer us.

The management of the soil as natural capital is called ‘soil stewardship’. Our experts are happy to point you into the right direction, towards balanced and sustainable soil management.