Type

Book section

Author(s)

Mastrojeni, G.

Title

Soil Degradation and Migrations in the Age of the Global Environmental Crisis: A Policy-Making Perspective

Date

2017

Editor(s)

Ginzky, H.
Heuser, Irene L.
Qin, T.
Ruppel, Oliver C.
Wegerdt, P.

Book Title

International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2016

Publisher

Springer International Publishing

Abstract

There is a gap between science and policy in assessing the impact of soil degradation on migrations: policy is concluding that there is a cause-to-effect connection, already propelling massive population movements; and that action has to be taken now, even though its analysis is not yet confirmed with quantitative rigor. In the policy perspective, soil acquires a special status as an aggregator of ecosystem services that needs to be protected to prevent socio-economic and political instability which, in turn, are push factors for migrations: a set of relevant interactions between the state of soil, societal cohesion, and migration has been identified, centered on ecosystem services failures. Conversely, soil appears as a “practical object of intervention” because, more than other environmental variables, lands are concrete, localized, and understood as a fundamental value by human communities. Protecting them is likely to start comprehensive cycles of environmental and socio-economic rebalancing, with the potential of moderating population displacements. Land proper management and recovery could cost-effectively produce carbon sinks, hydric balance, biodiversity protection, food security, societal cohesion, gender benefits and more: a trans-sector approach to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Citation

Mastrojeni, G. (2017). Soil Degradation and Migrations in the Age of the Global Environmental Crisis: A Policy-Making Perspective. In H. Ginzky, I. L. Heuser, T. Qin, O. C. Ruppel, & P. Wegerdt (Eds.), International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2016 (pp. 181-201). Cham: Springer International Publishing. URL : http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42508-5_14