Soil depends on the presence of a vast community of living organisms to remain healthy and fertile: these organisms make up soil biodiversity. Soil is a living resource, plants and animals above and below ground depends on the complex processes and interactions taking place in the soil and that enable life on earth. Unfortunately, the attention mainly goes to those species that we can see, while we tend to ignore those under our feet. Plants nurture a whole world of creatures in the soil, that in return feed and protect the plants.

Fighting loss of soil biodiversity is key to global food security and the achievement of more than half of the Sustainable Development Goals. Soil biodiversity plays a vital role in the soil ecosystem as soil organisms are responsible for nutrient cycling, regulating the dynamics of soil organic matter, soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions, allowing soils to function properly. Soil biodiversity plays a central role in preserving human health through a range of pathways including water purification, climate stabilization, nutrient and food security, and immune regulation. Plants surrounded by biodiverse soils have a greater resilience against pests and diseases.

To prevent and minimize soil biodiversity loss, farmers and other land users can adopt sustainable soil management practices. Limiting waste by recycling and reusing will minimize the chances of soil pollution and therefore protect soil biodiversity. By sustaining green development and avoiding soil sealing by concrete or asphalt civil society allows soil biodiversity to breath and be alive. Governments should invest in gathering better knowledge about the status of soil biodiversity and functions, including by region and land cover type. Everyone can provide opportunities to support soil biodiversity around you by enhancing insects and other organisms habitat and allowing biomass (branches and leaves) to rot naturally.