Biodiversity is essential for urban sustainability, providing vital ecosystem services such as air and water purification, climate regulation, and urban green spaces that enhance citizens’ well-being, however, cities worldwide are experiencing unprecedented biodiversity loss.: Between 1970 and 2020, the average size of monitored wildlife populations decreased by 73% and over 1 million species are at risk of extinction. While everyone has seen an image of a polar bear on a shrinking iceberg, the soil beneath our feet has received far less attention.

This World Biodiversity Day, ICLEI joins the international call for harmony with nature and sustainable development by shining a spotlight on soil. From microbes to mammals, the ground beneath our feet is abuzz with life with 59% of all biodiversity on Earth is found in the soil. Soil performs essential tasks from storing carbon, buffering climate to growing 95% of the food we eat. The value of soil is inarguable, yet 60% of EU soils are classified as unhealthy.

Cities, like ICLEI Member Nantes Metropole, are noticing, and taking action to reverse this trend. Collaborating systematically with stakeholders to unseal soil and minimise impermeable surfaces in new housing developments, recognises soil as a key factor in balancing affordable housing and land conservation. Such initiatives exemplify innovative approaches to combat soil degradation amidst urbanisation, climate change, and land use pressures, but their success depends on mainstreaming soil considerations into all levels of governance and planning. To effectively tackle these interconnected challenges—ranging from intensive agriculture to climate resilience—it's essential to integrate soil into nature conservation and urban planning processes across departments, fostering a holistic approach to sustainable land management.

The Berlin Urban Nature Pact developed through ongoing global city consultations and the Edinburgh Process, supported by ICLEI Europe provides a framework for action by setting specific targets to foster urban biodiversity, including a target on soil health, and provides implementation guidance for cities that become Pact signatories.

ICLEI Europe is actively supporting cities in advocating for coordinated (inter)national responses and innovative local solutions through Horizon Europe projects focused on soil conservation, while recent EU policies like the “A Soil Deal for Europe,” the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, and the soon to be adopted Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law underscore a growing commitment to soil health and biodiversity. The ambitious “A Soil Deal for Europe” aims to restore and protect soils while the forthcoming EU Soil Monitoring Law will establish a legal framework for soil data collection and sustainable management.

Projects like SOLO, SPADES, SoilTribes and tools like Urban Nature Plans which integrate soil considerations into urban planning are helping cities address knowledge gaps. SPADES, seeks to embed soil health into planning practices through pilot projects and a survey to inform the develop Navigator tool, fostering bottom-up engagement and innovative approaches to soil conservation, while SOLO aims to create a knowledge hub for soil health research and innovation. Cities or regions wanting to learn from other soil health frontrunners can join the SoilTribes Community of Practice to engage in peer learning, networking, and access to a grants scheme totalling more than € 1.5 million.

"SoilTribes and its community of practice combine science, technology, policy, and the arts to foster soil literacy and raise ecological awareness. The project will fund and support the development of 30 creative communication campaigns and public engagement initiatives based on compelling “back-to-Earth” narratives. Our hope is that these will generate and multiply impact, by inspiring a deeper connection to the land, transforming our perceptions, feelings and actions towards our soils.” -Stephania Xydia, ICLEI Europe Expert, Built Environment, Culture and Heritage

Biodiversity Day serves as a vital reminder of the importance of our natural ecosystems and the urgent need to protect them. Among these ecosystems, soil plays a fundamental role as the foundation of life and maintaining the health of countless species. Preserving soil health and promoting urban green initiatives can help mitigate environmental challenges and ensure a healthier, more vibrant future for urban populations. As cities continue to grow, it is essential that we prioritise soil health to maintain ecological balance and improve quality of life for all citizens. Want to lend your voice to the soil biodiversity movement? SPADES is currently collecting insights from planning professionals and municipalities to better understand current gaps, needs, and opportunities in soil planning.