During the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, the Soil Security Law Motion 007 “Recognizing Soil Security in Law” was adopted, thus calling for an integration of soil security principles into governance frameworks. This year’s IUCN meeting was held in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 15^th October.

Now, an IUCN working group will be set up to take forward the operative part. Until now soils have not been granted the same level of legal protection as water, air, or biodiversity, thus leading to a lack of policies that protect and ensure the protection, restoration and the sustainable management of soils worldwide.

The Motion 007 requests to collaborate with the World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) and other relevant IUCN Commissions, international organizations and interested members to develop a global legal instrument on soil security and to evaluate and propose national or regional policies and measures for the protection and restoration of soils. The document aims for the implementation of harmonized regional laws, that strengthen national frameworks and the amplification of indigenous and local voices.

Adopted motions by IUCN members influence third parties and guide the policy and programme of the IUCN. IUCN motions are approved through the vote of IUCN members. Once they’re adopted they turn into resolutions and recommendations and become a part of the IUCN’s general policy.

The motion 007 was promoted by the Centre for Environmental Legal Studies and further co-sponsors. 108 states and therefore 87 percent of the votes cast voted for the adoption of the motion, 16 states against and 38 states abstained. Further 609 NGOs, amounting to 95 percent of the votes cast voted in favor, 29 NGOs against and 44 abstained.

The whole information and further information can be viewed here. View the vote results here.