Why soil health matters for people, biodiversity, and the climate

As global communities combat climate change and biodiversity loss, one powerful solution lies right beneath our feet: healthy soil. Read on to learn why protecting and restoring soil is key for a sustainable future.  

 

a hand holding a worm
Photo Credit: Lorena Velasco for Rare
Over half of Earth’s biodiversity is found in soil 

At first glance, soil might not look like it’s bursting with life, but there’s more than meets the eye. Unlike dirt, which refers to small abiotic particles of clay, sand, silt, gravel, and stones, soil is a unique living ecosystem comprised of plants, animals, water, and minerals.  

Just one teaspoon of soil contains more than one billion microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, archaea, nematodes, and microscopic insects. Along with microorganisms, soil is home to larger invertebrates like worms, ants, beetles, and termites. Together, this rich biodiversity performs key ecosystem services like filtering water, cycling nutrients, aerating soil, and decomposing organic matter. Biodiverse soils support healthy food webs and strengthen overall ecological resilience. 

 

a farmer shoveling compost
Photo Credit: Lorena Velasco for Rare
Soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and all plant life combined 

Soil is one of Earth’s largest carbon sinks, second only to the ocean in carbon sequestration. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water to produce glucose and other essential amino acids for plant growth and development. Any extra carbon is secreted through the plant’s root system and stored in the soil as organic matter.  

Protecting soil health is an important nature-based solution for climate change mitigation. Healthy, undisturbed soils, especially those managed through regenerative agriculture practices, can lock away large amounts of carbon for decades and even centuries. 

 

a hand holding two mangos on a tree branch
Photo Credit: Jason Houston/Rare
Healthy soils are the foundation of food systems   

Soil is the cornerstone of global food systems, providing 95% of the food people and livestock consume. Soils rich in organic matter and biodiversity produce nutrient-dense crops that provide essential daily minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, and potassium to communities worldwide. Healthy soil also helps crops survive against droughts, powerful storms, and floods. Strong root systems stabilize plants, minimize erosion, and secure valuable topsoil necessary for food production.  

Worldwide, environmentally destructive practices like deforestation, monocropping, extensive chemical fertilizing, and industrial pollution are degrading soil biodiversity and threatening the health of food systems. Regenerative farming practices like composting, restoring native plants, and expanding cover crops offer a sustainable solution in rebuilding soil health to support livelihoods and food security.  

 

When we protect soil health, we protect future generations  

Soil health is not just about agriculture  — it’s about protecting global biodiversity, fostering climate-resilient ecosystems, and supporting community well-being through food security. By embracing holistic land management practices and regenerative agriculture, we can restore soil health and build a more sustainable future for people and the planet.

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