SoilTribes Meet-up #2: Uniting against land degradation and desertification

On the 22nd of July, the SoilTribes community gathered once again, this time to dive deeper into one of the most pressing challenges facing our planet: land degradation and desertification. Framed within the context of Objective 1 of the EU Mission Soil, the second SoilTribes Meet-Up brought together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and local innovators to exchange ideas, strategies, and knowledge for safeguarding our soil.

The session opened with a reflection on the urgent need to protect land from degradation, reminding us that every patch of soil lost to desertification is a blow to food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The discussion illuminated how soil isn’t just a natural resource; it’s a vital ally in our fight for a livable future.

Key insights came from speakers addressing the EU Soil Observatory’s role in monitoring and guiding policy, as well as the transformative potential of sustainable land management practices. The conversation also highlighted grassroots efforts to combat desertification and restore degraded lands, an issue addressed by the MONALISA project, illustrating that solutions must be both systemic and community-driven.

As the SoilTribes network continues to grow, so does its purpose: to connect knowledge, action, and communities in the shared mission of healing the Earth from the ground up. This meet-up was another step forward in that journey, fuelled by dialogue, collective wisdom, and a profound respect for the land we depend on.