Soil biodiversity and related ecosystem functions are neglected in most biodiversity
assessments and nature conservation actions. We examined how society, and particularly
policy makers, have addressed these factors worldwide with a focus on Europe and
explored the role of soils in nature conservation in Germany as an example. We reviewed
past and current global and European policies, compared soil ecosystem functioning inand
outside protected areas, and examined the role of soils in nature conservation management
via text analyses. Protection and conservation of soil biodiversity and soil ecosystem
functioning have been insufficient. Soil-related policies are unenforceable and lack soil biodiversity
conservation goals, focusing instead on other environmental objectives.We found
no evidence of positive effects of current nature conservation measures in multiple soil
ecosystem functions in Europe. In German conservation management, soils are considered
only from a limited perspective (e.g., as physicochemical part of the environment and
as habitat for aboveground organisms). By exploring policy, evidence, and management as
it relates to soil ecosystems, we suggest an integrative perspective to move nature conservation
toward targeting soil ecosystems directly (e.g., by setting baselines, monitoring soil
threats, and establishing a soil indicator system).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:91342 |
| Date | 13 May 2024 |
| Creators | Zeiss, Romy, Eisenhauer, Nico, Orgiazzi, Alberto, Rillig, Matthias, Buscot, Francois, Jones, Arwyn, Lehmann, Anika, Reitz, Thomas, Smith, Linnea, Guerra, Carlos A. |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:article, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | e13930 |
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