Where do you fit in soil governance?

Mapping soil governance in your context

Step 1 – Identify a Soil Issue in Your Region

Choose one soil-related issue that is relevant in your region. You may use the same example you selected in the Soil Diary: Who decides about soil?

Possible examples include:

• Urban soil sealing
• Agricultural soil erosion
• Contaminated land
• Loss of soil organic matter
• Flooding linked to land use
• Desertification or land degradation

Keep this issue in mind, as you will use it in the next steps.

🔎 Step 2 – Explore National Soil Legislation (FAO SoiLEX)

To better understand how soil is governed nationally, use the FAO SoiLEX database:

👉 FAO SoiLEX database

SoiLEX is a global database on soil protection, conservation, and sustainable management legislation. It is developed and maintained by the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

How to Use SoiLEX

1. Open the SoiLEX website.
2. Use the country search function.
3. Select your country.
4. Review whether:
   • there is a dedicated soil protection law
   • soil is regulated under environmental, agricultural, or land-use legislation
   • the legislation refer to land degradation, contamination, or sustainable soil management

You do not need to read full legal texts. Focus on the structure and scope of soil-related legislation in your country.

Reflect Briefly

Consider the following questions:

• Does your country have a specific soil protection law?
• Is soil regulation comprehensive, or is it fragmented across different legal areas?
• If you are in the EU, how might national soil regulationrelate to Directive (EU) 2025/2360 on Soil Monitoring and Resilience?

✍️ Step 3 – Map Governance Across Levels

Using your chosen issue and your SoiLEX findings, briefly describe how this issue is governed across different levels. Consider which international, European, national, regional, or local frameworks may influence how the issue is monitored, managed, prevented, or restored.

💬 Forum Discussion

Post a short summary answering the question below:

In your example, which governance level has the greatest influence on soil outcomes and why?

After posting, explore and compare your findings with a participant from another country. Compare how soil governance differs across national, regional, or local contexts.

Click “Complete” after you have uploaded your post in forum.