Abstract

Soil degradation, enhanced during the recent decades by inappropriate use of natural resources, has become a major threat to the well-established ecosystems of the globe and to food and water security. The ever-increasing world population, together with the so-called development of site-specific modern technologies that disregard the integrated basin-wide management of the ecosystems, has led to unsustainable overuse of soil/land and water. Measures to halt and reverse the decline in quantity and quality of the major natural resources (soil and water) of the world must be based on sustainable management concepts and contexts that accord with the principles set out in resolutions agreed by 1) the European Soil Protection strategy of the Institute of Environment and Sustainability of Europe; 2) the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and its aftermath; and 3) the recent United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention.