Soil: the living treasure under our feet

Soil is a key component of Europe’s natural capital. It contributes to basic human needs by, among other things, supporting food provision and water purification. But our soils are threatened and undergoing degradation. Binding EU targets would be necessary if we are to restore and protect this essential resource.

There are around 2.8 million contaminated sites in Europe. Industrial activities and waste disposal are the primary sources of soil contamination.

Soil sealing destroys or covers soils with buildings, constructions and other impermeable layers, leading to irreversible loss of soil functions.

Imbalance of nutrients in soils alter and harm life in lakes, rivers and seas

Excessive nutrient inputs to soils is a great source of concern as it leads to reduced plant species richness in a broad range of European ecosystems.

It is estimated that for approximately 65-75 % of the EU27 agricultural soils, nitrogen inputs through fertiliser, manure, biosolids and nitrogen-fixing crops exceed critical values beyond which eutrophication can be expected.

On average across Europe, about a 40 % reduction in nitrogen inputs would be needed to prevent this exceedance.

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