{"id":21306,"date":"2025-05-19T16:29:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T14:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.etifor.com\/en\/?p=21306"},"modified":"2026-08-12T14:58:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:58:22","slug":"soil-degradation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.etifor.com\/en\/updates\/soil-degradation\/","title":{"rendered":"Soil degradation: why it matters and how we can measure its impact<\/span>"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Each time soil loses its fertility, structure, or biodiversity, we also lose the invisible yet essential services that ensure food security, water quality, and climate stability. Soil degradation<\/strong> is a silent but devastating process, often underestimated. Understanding its causes and effects\u2014and especially being able to quantify its impact on ecosystem services\u2014is the first step toward regenerating landscapes and building more resilient territories.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What Is Soil Degradation?<\/h2>\n

Soil degradation<\/strong> is a process of deterioration that compromises the soil\u2019s ecological, productive, and regulatory functions. In practice, it means the soil loses its ability to provide vital ecosystem services<\/strong> such as food production, water filtration, carbon sequestration, and support for biodiversity. According to the United Nations, around 24 billion tons of fertile soil are lost every year, worsening issues like hunger, desertification, and the climate crisis.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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What Are the Causes of Soil Degradation?<\/h2>\n

The causes of soil degradation are multiple and interconnected. Key drivers include:<\/p>\n