Ronald VargasSecretary GSP

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

VGSSM as a tool to facilitate

implementation of the revised World Soil

Charter

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

Outline of the VGSSM

• They are of voluntary nature and are not legally binding;

• They elaborate the principles outlined in the revised World Soil Charter;

• They take into account the evidence provided in the SWSR;

• They address technical aspects of SSM (also key challenges and potential solutions to address them);

• Although initial focus was on agriculture, it was broadened to address

ecosystem services provided by soils.

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

“Zero” order draft (ITPS)

Open Ended Working Group (OEWG)

Plenary Assembly

For endorsement

First order draft

The process

Implementation at all levels

ITPS

Regional Soil Partnerships workshops in 2015: needs and priorities for SSM

COAGFAO Council

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

Objectives

To present generally accepted, practically proven and

scientifically based principles to promote SSM and to

provide guidance to all stakeholders on how to translate

these principles into practice, be it for farming, pastoralism,

forestry or more general natural resources management.

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

The guidelines are not expected to provide detailed recommendations, but are designed to inform strategic and context-specific decision-making at all relevant levels.

They are intended to contribute to global, regional and national efforts towards the eradication of hunger and poverty due to the importance of soils in sustainable development.

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

The potential target audience of the VGSSM includes:

government officials, policy makers, farmers, pastoralists, forest and land managers, extension services and

agricultural advisors, development partners, civil society, private sector, academia, etc.

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

VGSSM Implementation

Implementation at national level is up to the national institutions.

The Secretariat will however develop tools for facilitating the implementation in direct connection with the GSP Pillars.

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

• Cuts across all 5 GSP Pillars• but especially Pillar 1

Pillar 1SSM

1. Sustainable soil management

implementation

Identify site-specific priorities, systems and

practices

VGSSM Implementation

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

• Elaborate on technical details by developing technical manuals to address 10 major soil threats

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

• Ways to advocate the use of the VGSSM

Pillar 2

Public Awareness

Education

Policy

Technical Cooperation

Investment

Extension

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

Open-Ended Working Group