Important Facts For Prelims
World Soil Day
- 05 Dec 2019
- 2 min read
Why in News
World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December to highlight the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
- The theme for WSD 2019 is ‘Stop Soil Erosion, Save Our Future’.
Key Points
- It was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness-raising platform under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership.
- 5 December 2014 was designated as the first official World Soil Day by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
- The date of 5 December was chosen because it corresponds with the official birthday of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, who officially sanctioned the event.
- FAO gives two awards in line with this day-
- The King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award- an annual award that honours individuals, communities, organizations and countries that organized remarkable and engaging World Soil Day activities or campaigns in the previous year.
- The Glinka World Soil Prize- an annual award for dynamic change-makers dedicated to solving one of our world’s most pressing environmental issue: soil degradation. It honours individuals and organizations whose leadership and activities have contributed, or are still contributing to the promotion of sustainable soil management and the protection of soil resources.
