Land degradation increasing at “alarming” rate. EU warns states, calls for reversing course

Brussels – It gets bad, it gets worse, and in perspective, it can get even worse. From an economic, nutritional, and sustainable perspective, the numbers don’t add up and may never add up again. Urgent action is needed to reverse soil degradation in Europe because the situation is alarming. The complaint comes from “State of Soils in Europe,” the 2024 European Soil Status Report, a collaboration between the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). The study assesses the situation in the EU and other countries in the European Economic Area, including Ukraine, Turkey and the Western Balkans, and shows an “alarming state and trends, with soil degradation having worsened significantly in recent years.” Consequently, the report stresses the need for immediate action to reverse this trend. 

As for Europe, the survey estimates that total soil erosion amounts to 1 billion tons per year across the EU. About a quarter (24 per cent) of EU soils are affected by water erosion, mainly in agricultural land, and projections indicate a possible increase of 13-25 per cent by 2050. Also, unsustainable water erosion affects about one-third (32 per cent) of farmland, and mechanical soil tillage—a common practice in agriculture—can trigger tillage erosion, significantly impacting crop fields. 

Nutrient imbalances are also rising, now affecting 74 per cent of agricultural land. In addition, changes in soil composition can have “negative consequences,” the report further specifies. “For example, nitrogen surplus is increasing and can harm human health, crops, ecosystems and climate. Meanwhile, soil organic carbon, essential for maintaining healthy soils, is decreasing in agricultural areas. 

It is estimated,” the study continues, “that 70 million tons of this organic carbon was lost from crop mineral soils across the EU and the UK between 2009 and 2018. The survey also calls the degradation of peatlands “worrying.” “These wetlands are essential carbon sinks: they absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and store them, helping to mitigate climate change. Peatlands can release those gases into the atmosphere when they deteriorate,” is pointed out. In the EU, peatland drainage is responsible for about 5 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions; 50 per cent of the EU’s peatlands are degraded, and many have been irreparably damaged. 

The situation is “equally dire” outside the EU. In particular in Ukraine, where military activities have caused “severe soil destruction” and more than 10 million of the 60 million hectares of land are estimated to be degraded due to Russia’s invasion. “Recovery from this damage could take decades or even centuries,” the study points out. 

In Turkey, about 1.5 million hectares of land have salinity problems, possibly impacting agricultural productivity and ecosystem health. In the Western Balkans, more than 100 sites have been reported contaminated or potentially contaminated by mining and industrial activities, although the true extent of soil pollution in these areas remains unknown. In conclusion, according to JRC and EEA, “the numbers are clear” and show that “soil degradation has worsened significantly over the past decade. But,” they continue, “with collective action, strengthened monitoring and legislative support, the EU can restore this vital resource.”