The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, through the Department of Soil and Water Conservation, marked Soil Day 2025 with a special commemoration held on 6 February. Although the official United Nations observance falls on December 5, this delayed celebration underscored the country’s commitment to sustainable land management and highlighted its active role as a member of the Global Soil Partnership (FAO-GSP) and the African Soil Partnership. The event brought together stakeholders, experts, and community representatives to reflect on the vital role of healthy soils in food security, climate resilience, and environmental protection.

World Soil Day, observed annually on December 5, serves as a global reminder of the vital role soil plays in sustaining life on Earth. Often taken for granted, soil is the backbone of agriculture, a regulator of water cycles, and a natural reservoir for carbon. This international observance, designated by the United Nations, calls on individuals, communities, and organizations to take meaningful action toward soil conservation, sustainable farming, and ecosystem preservation. By protecting this critical resource, societies safeguard food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience for generations to come.

The celebration aimed to highlight the importance of soil health for sustainable development under the GSP pillar of awareness raising through:

• Green Walk: Symbolic march to promote soil conservation awareness.
• Educational displays: showcasing practical initiatives on sustainable soil management and environmental protection.
• Guest speeches: Distinguished speakers shared insights on soil health. Sustainability, urban resilience, and policy direction.
• Public Engagement: Farmers, youth, students, and communities interacted with tertiary research institutions to learn innovative soil conservation practices.

The day was commemorated under the 2025 theme “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”. 

Significance of the Theme

• Corrects the misconception that soil conservation is only for rural farming communities
• Highlights soil’s role in urban resilience, infrastructure, and sustainable cities
• Connects soil health to broader development goals

This commemoration not only reinforced the global message of soil stewardship but also localized it to emphasize how healthy soils underpin healthy cities, bridging rural and urban sustainability

Distinguished Participants

• Honourable Minister of Environment and Forestry
• Representatives of development partners
• Line ministries
• Tertiary research institutions and projects
• General public