Fostering Sustainable Soil Governance in Africa: Note by the Secretariat - African Ministerial Conference on the Environment Eighteenth Session

Soil is the thin layer of organic and inorganic materials that covers the Earth’s rocky surface. The organic portion comprises plant and animal decayed remains, while the inorganic portion is made up of rock fragments. Soil can also be defined as the fine earth that covers land surfaces as a result of the in-situ weathering of rock materials or the accumulation of mineral matter transported by water, wind or ice.