As the World prepares to mark the 2020 World Soil Day, Nigerian Soil Scientists have raised the alarm over the rate of soil and biodiversity degradation in Nigeria, saying at the current rate, it will hinder Nigeria food security efforts.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), Prof. Victor Chude, in a statement on Sunday, said if nothing is done soon, the fertility of Nigeria land will continue to be adversely affected at an alarming rate, threatens global and national food supplies, food and nutrition security.
He said this year’s World Soil Day theme: “Keep Soil Alive, Protect Soil Biodiversity,” is to raise awareness of the importance of sustaining healthy ecosystem and human well being, adding that addressing the increasing challenges of soil management.
“It is worthy of note that beneath our feet lies an outstanding diverse community of plants, animal and microbes that makes up our souls.
“Soil Biodiversity is under threat due to some unsustainable farming practices such as tilage and misuse of agro-chemicals, the effects of climate change and soil pollution are just a few of the things that can have adverse consequences for the health and biodiversity of soil.
“Also, land use change, unsustainable soil management practices, soil sealing, pollution and increased fire can damage soil biodiversity and it’s function beyond repairs. Some ecosystem may never recover in human live time, hence the need to preserve our souls before it reaches that stage,” he said.
Chude said the Institute is using this year celebration to raise awareness and advocacy for soil biodiversity education managing soil resources sustainably, supporting soil biodiversity and sustainability research, investing in innovation and refusing, reducing, and recycling materials before sending them to a landfill.
He said fighting loss of soil Biodiversity is key to global food security and achievement of more than half of the sustainable development goals
