The University of Georgia Costa Rica 2014-2015 Sustainability Report UGA Costa Rica 2014 - 2015 Sustainability Report | Page 40

Soil Ecosystem Services

Soils are composed of three
main ingredients: minerals
of different sizes, organic
materials from the remains of
dead plants and animals, and
open space that can be filled
with water or air.

25 percent water

A good soil for growing
most plants should have the
following:

5 percent organic
matter

The terrestrial landscape
is facing drastic changes
unlike any seen in human
history. Problems ranging
from desertification to water
quality threaten to impact
the way humans currently
utilize natural resources in the
ecosystems we inhabit.

40

45 percent
minerals (sand,
silt, clay)

University of Georgia Costa Rica

Soils are the foundation of these
ecosystems, representing the top
~1.4 meters of land on the earth’s
exposed surface. While there is
no agreed method to provide a
value on the services soil provide,
researchers have estimated
worldwide soil ecosystem
services provide up to $11 trillion
in services per year. It is crucial,
especially at this junction in
time, to better understand
and maintain the ecosystem
supporting processes that soils
facilitate. For this reason, the

25 percent air

45%
25%
25%
5%

68th General Assembly of the
United Nations has declared
2015 as the International
Year of Soils. The U.N. Food
and Agricultural Organization
has been instructed to raise
awareness of the “profound
importance of soil for human life”
and to promote international
investments in sustainable soil
management activities. In line
with this proclamation, UGACR
hopes to increase awareness
of soil ecosystem services
and the management efforts