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| FIGURE: From Pen Press, UDUS |
You have been using and taking from me for generations, recently with almost no duty of care for me. Today, I need you to tell me why I should keep giving! The soil spoke! It has fed families, grown forests and crops, supported businesses, filtered water and sustained life. Yet humanity continues to demand more while giving less back. Panic spread round the entire planet. The soils had taken form and interacted with us humans. It must be critical and people feared what would happen if the soil began to hold back.
Introduction
Imagine waking up one morning to discover that the soil beneath your feet could speak. What would it say? Perhaps it would ask a simple but uncomfortable question: “You have taken from me for generations. What have you given back?”
To most of us, soil is easy to overlook. We walk on it, build on it and sometimes treat it as a convenient place to dump waste. Yet beneath our feet lies one of the foundations of human survival. The food we eat, the vegetation around us, the water we depend on and many of the livelihoods that sustain communities are connected to healthy land and soil.
Soil is much more than dirt. It is a living ecosystem containing microorganisms, organic matter, minerals, water and air. It supports plants, stores carbon, helps regulate water and provides habitat for a remarkable diversity of organisms. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that soil is home to more than 25% of the planet’s biodiversity (FAO, 2021-a).
The question, therefore, is not whether we need soil. We clearly do. The more important question is whether we are taking care of the soil that takes care of us.
More Than Dirt: Why Soil Matters
To most of us, soil is easy to overlook. We walk on it, build on it and sometimes treat it as a convenient place to dump waste. Yet beneath our feet lies one of the foundations of human survival. The food we eat, the vegetation around us, the water we depend on and many of the livelihoods that sustain communities are connected to healthy land and soil.
Soil is much more than dirt. It is a living ecosystem containing microorganisms, organic matter, minerals, water and air. It supports plants, stores carbon, helps regulate water and provides habitat for a remarkable diversity of organisms. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that soil is home to more than 25% of the planet’s biodiversity (FAO, 2021-a).
The question, therefore, is not whether we need soil. We clearly do. The more important question is whether we are taking care of the soil that takes care of us.
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| FIGURE 2: Organic Soil |
More Than Dirt: Why Soil Matters
Every meal begins, directly or indirectly, with the land. Farmers depend on fertile soil to produce crops, while forests and other ecosystems depend on it to support vegetation and biodiversity. Healthy soil performs several functions at the same time. It provides nutrients for plants, stores and filters water, supports organisms, cycles nutrients and stores carbon. These functions make soil important not only to agriculture but also to climate resilience and ecosystem health.
The importance of soil becomes even clearer when we consider how slowly it forms. The FAO notes that producing just 2–3 centimetres of soil can take up to 1,000 years under natural conditions (FAO, 2025-b). This means that soil lost through erosion or severe degradation cannot simply be replaced within a human lifetime.
Soil is also a biodiversity hotspot. According to the FAO, more than 25% of the planet’s biodiversity is found in soil, while only about 1% of soil microorganism species have been identified (FAO, 2025-a). Beneath the surface is therefore a world of life that remains largely unknown to us.
When the Soil Begins to Suffer
The relationship between humans and soil becomes dangerous when we continuously take from the land without allowing it to recover. Deforestation, overgrazing, excessive cultivation, erosion, poor irrigation practices, pollution, indiscriminate waste disposal and inappropriate use of agricultural chemicals can all contribute to land and soil degradation.
The scale of the problem is significant. The FAO's State of Food and Agriculture 2025 estimates that approximately 1.7 billion people live in areas where human-induced land degradation has contributed to lower crop yields. The report further estimates that crop yields in these areas are around 10% lower because of accumulated human-induced degradation (FAO, 2025a).
This is not simply an environmental problem. It is a food security and livelihood problem.
When soil loses its fertility and structure, farmers may struggle to produce enough food. When vegetation is removed, erosion can increase. When waste and pollutants enter the soil, they can affect soil organisms, plants and water systems. When land becomes severely degraded, communities that depend on it can become more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity.
The problem is also visible in Nigeria. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification reports that 21.07 million hectares of Nigeria's land were classified as degraded in 2019, representing 23.41% of the country's total land area (UNCCD, 2026-a). Although this figure is based on the country's 2019 reporting year, it demonstrates the scale of the challenge Nigeria faces.
The scale of the problem is significant. The FAO's State of Food and Agriculture 2025 estimates that approximately 1.7 billion people live in areas where human-induced land degradation has contributed to lower crop yields. The report further estimates that crop yields in these areas are around 10% lower because of accumulated human-induced degradation (FAO, 2025a).
This is not simply an environmental problem. It is a food security and livelihood problem.
When soil loses its fertility and structure, farmers may struggle to produce enough food. When vegetation is removed, erosion can increase. When waste and pollutants enter the soil, they can affect soil organisms, plants and water systems. When land becomes severely degraded, communities that depend on it can become more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity.
The problem is also visible in Nigeria. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification reports that 21.07 million hectares of Nigeria's land were classified as degraded in 2019, representing 23.41% of the country's total land area (UNCCD, 2026-a). Although this figure is based on the country's 2019 reporting year, it demonstrates the scale of the challenge Nigeria faces.
The Cost of Ignoring the Soil
Land degradation can create a chain reaction.
Degraded soil → lower productivity → reduced food security → pressure on livelihoods → greater environmental vulnerability.
The consequences can extend beyond rural communities. Cities also depend on healthy land because food systems, water resources and ecosystems are connected across rural and urban areas.
The FAO's 2025 land and water assessment reports that more than 60% of human-induced land degradation occurs on agricultural lands. This is particularly concerning because agriculture is already under increasing pressure to produce more food while using limited land and water resources (FAO, 2025b).
There is, however, an important message of hope.
FAO estimates that reversing just 10% of human-induced degradation on existing croplands through sustainable land management practices could restore enough agricultural production to feed an additional 154 million people every year (FAO, 2025a).
In other words, the soil is not asking us to perform a miracle. It is asking us to change how we manage what we already have.
Degraded soil → lower productivity → reduced food security → pressure on livelihoods → greater environmental vulnerability.
The consequences can extend beyond rural communities. Cities also depend on healthy land because food systems, water resources and ecosystems are connected across rural and urban areas.
The FAO's 2025 land and water assessment reports that more than 60% of human-induced land degradation occurs on agricultural lands. This is particularly concerning because agriculture is already under increasing pressure to produce more food while using limited land and water resources (FAO, 2025b).
There is, however, an important message of hope.
FAO estimates that reversing just 10% of human-induced degradation on existing croplands through sustainable land management practices could restore enough agricultural production to feed an additional 154 million people every year (FAO, 2025a).
In other words, the soil is not asking us to perform a miracle. It is asking us to change how we manage what we already have.
From Taking to Giving Back
Healing the soil requires practical action.
One important step is sustainable agriculture. Practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, agroforestry, mulching and the responsible use of organic matter can help maintain soil structure, reduce erosion and improve soil health.
Farmers should also have access to soil testing and reliable information so that fertilizers and other inputs can be applied according to actual soil needs rather than guesswork.
Another major step is protecting vegetation. Trees and other plants help protect the soil surface from erosion, improve organic matter and support biodiversity. Agroforestry, which combines trees with crops or livestock, can therefore contribute to both agricultural production and environmental restoration.
Waste management also matters. The soil should not become a dumping ground for materials that we do not know how to dispose of. UNEP's Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 projects that municipal solid waste could increase from about 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050 if current trends continue (UNEP, 2024). Better waste reduction, separation, recycling, composting and disposal are therefore essential parts of protecting the land.
Technology can strengthen these efforts. Soil testing, geographic information systems, remote sensing, digital soil mapping and precision agriculture can help farmers and decision-makers understand where degradation is occurring and determine what interventions are appropriate.
Healing the soil Is Everyone’s Responsibility
No single group can solve the soil crisis alone. Governments must develop and enforce policies that protect land and encourage sustainable practices. They can also provide incentives, research funding, extension services and infrastructure that make sustainable land management more accessible.
Farmers are central to the solution because they work directly with the land. They need practical knowledge, affordable inputs, access to finance and technologies that allow them to protect soil while maintaining their livelihoods.
Scientists and researchers can provide the evidence needed to understand changing soil conditions and develop appropriate solutions. Businesses can reduce pollution, adopt sustainable production practices and invest in responsible waste management. Communities can protect local vegetation, prevent indiscriminate dumping and participate in land restoration.
And young people can become powerful advocates for environmental responsibility. Through education, innovation, community projects and social media, young people can help turn soil conservation from an environmental slogan into everyday behaviour.
The UNCCD estimates that humans have already altered about 70% of the world's ice-free land, affecting more than 3.2 billion people. At current rates, the organization warns that 90% of land could be affected by human activity by 2050 (UNCCD, 2026-b).
These figures remind us that soil and land degradation are not problems for governments alone. They are problems for all of us.
Becoming the Healers
Healing the soil does not necessarily begin with a large international project. It can begin with something as simple as refusing to dump waste on bare land, planting a tree, composting organic waste, protecting vegetation or encouraging a farmer to adopt a soil-friendly practice.
Small actions become meaningful when they are repeated and multiplied.
The goal should not be to use the soil less simply for the sake of using it less. The goal is to use it responsibly while maintaining its ability to support life in the future.
We must move from seeing soil as an unlimited resource to understanding it as a living system that requires care.
The soil has spent generations giving to us. It has fed us, supported our communities and helped sustain the ecosystems around us. Now, it is our turn to give something back.
Conclusion
The health of our soil is closely tied to the health of our societies. When soil is healthy, it supports food production, biodiversity, water systems, livelihoods and climate resilience. When it is degraded, the consequences reach far beyond the ground beneath our feet.
The challenge before us is therefore clear: we must stop treating soil as something that can endlessly absorb our demands and begin treating it as something worth protecting.
We cannot heal every degraded piece of land overnight. But we can change the way we farm, build, consume, dispose of waste and manage natural resources.
We are The Healers.
And healing the soil begins with one simple change in mindset: we are not owners of the soil. We are its caretakers for the generations that come after us.
Authors
Green Switch Academy (GSA) Cohort – SoilMates
Green Switch Academy Group (GSAG): The Healers
Green Switch Academy Master (GSAM): Rofiat Abubakar
GSAG Members:
Murtala Taiwo Tajudeen
No single group can solve the soil crisis alone. Governments must develop and enforce policies that protect land and encourage sustainable practices. They can also provide incentives, research funding, extension services and infrastructure that make sustainable land management more accessible.
Farmers are central to the solution because they work directly with the land. They need practical knowledge, affordable inputs, access to finance and technologies that allow them to protect soil while maintaining their livelihoods.
Scientists and researchers can provide the evidence needed to understand changing soil conditions and develop appropriate solutions. Businesses can reduce pollution, adopt sustainable production practices and invest in responsible waste management. Communities can protect local vegetation, prevent indiscriminate dumping and participate in land restoration.
And young people can become powerful advocates for environmental responsibility. Through education, innovation, community projects and social media, young people can help turn soil conservation from an environmental slogan into everyday behaviour.
The UNCCD estimates that humans have already altered about 70% of the world's ice-free land, affecting more than 3.2 billion people. At current rates, the organization warns that 90% of land could be affected by human activity by 2050 (UNCCD, 2026-b).
These figures remind us that soil and land degradation are not problems for governments alone. They are problems for all of us.
Becoming the Healers
Healing the soil does not necessarily begin with a large international project. It can begin with something as simple as refusing to dump waste on bare land, planting a tree, composting organic waste, protecting vegetation or encouraging a farmer to adopt a soil-friendly practice.
Small actions become meaningful when they are repeated and multiplied.
The goal should not be to use the soil less simply for the sake of using it less. The goal is to use it responsibly while maintaining its ability to support life in the future.
We must move from seeing soil as an unlimited resource to understanding it as a living system that requires care.
The soil has spent generations giving to us. It has fed us, supported our communities and helped sustain the ecosystems around us. Now, it is our turn to give something back.
Conclusion
The health of our soil is closely tied to the health of our societies. When soil is healthy, it supports food production, biodiversity, water systems, livelihoods and climate resilience. When it is degraded, the consequences reach far beyond the ground beneath our feet.
The challenge before us is therefore clear: we must stop treating soil as something that can endlessly absorb our demands and begin treating it as something worth protecting.
We cannot heal every degraded piece of land overnight. But we can change the way we farm, build, consume, dispose of waste and manage natural resources.
We are The Healers.
And healing the soil begins with one simple change in mindset: we are not owners of the soil. We are its caretakers for the generations that come after us.
Authors
Green Switch Academy (GSA) Cohort – SoilMates
Green Switch Academy Group (GSAG): The Healers
Green Switch Academy Master (GSAM): Rofiat Abubakar
GSAG Members:
Murtala Taiwo Tajudeen
Mansurat Abdulkarim
Aishat Sharafadeen
Mubarak Olalekan Abdulganiyu
Saudat Saheed
Aransiola Favour
Folarin Durodola Ìdòwú
Kusoro Mosepefoluwa
Zahra Shodimu
Ahmed Afolabi Muritala
Kafang Iwuwa
Ibrahim Ayomide Oba
Akinola Kayode
Akintunde Solomon Timilehin
Sanusi Bilal Olamilekan
Chiamaka Orisakwe
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