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Soil is a vital resource that sustains life and provides crucial ecosystem services to Wales.

These services include:

• food and fibre production
• water regulation
• contributions to climate regulation
• enhancing biodiversity

Our soil is under threat due to:

• climate change
• our withdrawal from the EU
• future land use change

We need evidence-based soil policy to:

• preserve and enhance this valuable resource
• help tackle the climate and nature emergencies
• enhance the environment for future generations

The ASPS sets out the vision for protection and sustainable management of soils. It also acknowledges the crucial functions and services soils provide.

We have developed the ASPS through extensive evidence review and stakeholder engagement. 

The objectives, or goals, laid out in this statement connect with each other. Each goal is important to:

• protect against current threats
• guard against new (emerging) threats
• develop resilient agricultural soils for current and future generations

We are producing a review of Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ soil evidence from many sources including:

Soils in Wales are high in carbon. The dominant grassland systems are generally considered low risk to soil degradation. Soil carbon and biodiversity loss, soil erosion and compaction can occur in areas where:

• there is inappropriate land management
• land use has changed

In the future, climate change is likely to impact soils. So, the drivers for land use change will become more intense. But there are opportunities as some of these changes can have positive impacts on:

• the climate
• food security
• the environment

The Soil Policy Evidence Programme:

• contains policy-relevant reviews and assessments of the condition of our soil and land
• considers the current and future effects of agricultural management and climate change on soils

The Review of Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ soil evidence will provide an overview of the main outcomes from the reports.