A sombric horizon (from French sombre, dark) is a dark-coloured subsurface horizon containing illuvial humus that is neither associated with Al nor dispersed by Na.
A machine learning algorithm [that] uses a different combination of prediction factors to train multiple regression trees.
The trickle down of growth from one region to another.
It measures the total amount of land that is necessary for the production of a product/service in a sustainable way, and is based on the assessment of mass and energy flows needed all along a product/service life cycle.
A plant or animal that indigenous peoples and local communities deem to be of particular importance in accordance with the traditions and/or customs because of its religious or spiritual significance.
Chemical destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer, particularly by substances produced by human activities.
Not directly emitted as such, but forms when other pollutants (primary pollutants) react in the atmosphere.
Relating to, resembling, or affecting apes or monkeys.
Disturbance, such as displacement or compaction, which may or may not be intense enough to be detrimental soil impact.
A pool of salt water heated by the sun and used either as a direct source of heat or to provide power for an electric generator.
The ratio of sediment delivered at the basin outlet to gross erosion within the basin.
A novel coronavirus causing the 2019– 2020 coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. On 11 February 2020, WHO named the new virus SARS-CoV-2 because the virus is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003. While related, the two viruses are different. WHO announced ‘COVID-19’ as the name of this new disease on the same day, following guidelines previously developed with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2)
Natural process of soil loss or degradation that results in partial or complete loss of agricultural or livestock productivity. It can be naturally caused by the abrasive action of water or wind, and enhanced by overgrazing, or by unsuitable cultivation practices.; The net long-term balance of all processes that detach soil and move it from its original location.
A soft, flocculent, finely-divided soil.
A salic horizon (from Latin sal, salt) is a surface horizon or a subsurface horizon at a shallow depth that contains high amounts of readily soluble salts, i.e. salts more soluble than gypsum.
The sustainability principles have clearly a distinct and strategic meaning for urban development and the built environment. They relate to land use, architecture, monument conservation, infrastructure, housing, commercial buildings and public facilities. At the same time, it ought to be recognized that the realization of targets of urban sustainability may extend beyond the borders of the city (the 'ecological footprint'), implying that sustainable urban planning and development requires a balanced portfolio of policy measures.
A characteristic or state whereby the needs of the present population can be met without compromising the ability of future generations or populations in other locations to meet their needs.
The number of species within a given sample, community or area.
Particles floating in the air with a diameter is below 10 µ m. Studies have shown that high SPM concentrations in the air can have a detrimental impact on respiratory organs.
An artificial channel or conduit, usually underground, for carrying off and discharging waste water and the refuse from houses and towns.
Biodiversity at the species level, often combining aspects of species richness, their relative abundance and their dissimilarity.
Area of land equipped for spate irrigation.
he sulfuric horizon (from Latin sulfur) is an extremely acid subsurface horizon in which sulphuric acid is formed through oxidation of sulphides.
Stunting is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. Children are defined as stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median.
It refers to the presence of a chemical or substance out of place and/or present at higher than normal concentration that has adverse effects on non-target organisms.
A social structure made up of a set of actors, such as individuals or organizations, and the ties between these actors, such as relationships, connections or interactions.
Sediment that bounces along the soil surface (wind erosion) or channel bed (rill, gully, or fluvial transport) during transport.
Profusion of grass-like marine plants, usually on shallow, sandy or muddy areas of the seabed.
Physical or reactive geochemical and biological processes which may attenuate, concentrate, immobilize, liberate, degrade or otherwise transform substances in soil.
Soil material has stagnic properties (from Latin stagnare, to flood) if it is, at least temporarily, completely saturated with surface water, unless drained, for a period long enough to allow reducing conditions to occur (this may range from a few days in the tropics to a few weeks in other areas), and show a stagnic colour pattern.
A concept that challenges global agriculture (crops, livestock, forests, fisheries) to achieve a doubling in world food production while sustaining the environment in which we live. Food production efficiency needs to double in order to feed a growing global population using only currently available land while protecting our living environment and conserving natural and agricultural biodiversity. Sustainable agricultural intensification provides the means to do this with limited available resources. This ambition is highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals. The resources to achieve this increase in food production will not increase, so the efficiency with which they are used will have to be enhanced to ensure ecosystems services are maintained. Sustainability also requires ensuring social equity in the productive and environmental benefits from sustainable agricultural intensification, otherwise the poorer sections of the farming population and women farmers risk being left behind or displaced by the promotion of intensification.
Sustainable agricultural intensification
Water that has been in contact with sprouts during the sprouting process.
The traditional method of step microterracing is directly derived from the bench terracing method, and consists of digging steps 50 cm wide, which are then moved 25 cm each year in order to keep a rough surface, and turning in the plants that grow during the fallow period. This method exerts a brake on runoff energy on slopes of up to 80%, but does not prevent the soil cover from slowly creeping downhill due to dry mechanical erosion.
Social reproduction is a sociological term referring to processes which sustain or perpetuate characteristics of a given social structure or tradition over a period of time.
also called ‘physical distancing’, means keeping six feet (two meters) of space between yourself and other people outside of your home, not gathering in groups, staying out of crowded places and avoiding mass gatherings.
It is the term used for the moisture condition of a horizon at the time the profile is described.
of, relating to, or involving a combination of social and economic factors.
In chemistry sorption is a physical or chemical process by which one substance becomes attached to another.
Any process, activity or mechanism that releases a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas or aerosol into the atmosphere.
The shallow water zone, often only a few feet deep, which is influenced by tides but never completely drained at low tide.
Hunting without collection of a food or other commercial product; hunting for trophy or prize.; A specific and selective legal form of wildlife use that involves payment for a hunting experience and the acquisition of a trophy by the hunter.
The peerto-peer-based activity of obtaining, giving, or sharing the access to goods and services, coordinated through community-based online services
Measures the magnitude and rate of response in proportion to the magnitude and rate of climate change.; The degree to which an agro-ecological or socio-economic system responds, both positively and negatively, to a given change.
A modified slope, feature, or land area where much or all of the natural soil has been mechanically removed (e.g., scraped off) due to construction or other management practices.
A uniform removal of soil in thin layers from sloping land, which occurs where the velocity of surface run-off is about 0.3 to 0.6 meters per second. More commonly, however, the direct impact of raindrops on soil particles causes their detachment and gradual downhill movement - splash erosion.; Detachment and transport of soil by raindrops and overland flow; also called sheet erosion.
A process that: i) defines aspects of a social and natural phenomenon affected by a decision or action; ii) identifies individuals, groups and organisations who are affected by or can affect those parts of the phenomenon (this may include nonhuman and non-living entities and future generations); and iii) prioritises these individuals and groups for involvement in the decision-making process.
Water suspended in the uppermost belt of soil, or in the zone of aeration near the ground surface, that can be discharged into the atmosphere by evapotranspiration.
Spatial planning is a process that should consider the social, economic, environmental and governance objectives of sustainable development, in order to aim at an integrated management of land, water and living resources for the development of aquaculture and expansion of the sector in a sustainable and equitable way, including mitigation measures for changing climatic conditions.
Solid material that originates mostly from disintegrated rocks and is transported by, suspended in or deposited from water, wind, ice and other organic agents.
A decision analytical framework (DAF) in which the benefits of ecosystem services are assumed to be incalculable and should be preserved unless the costs of doing so rise to an intolerable level, thus shifting the burden of proof to those who would convert them. A restriction (taboo, prohibition, harvesting season) which limits the use of resources to levels that are thought to be safe, e.g., conservation of a sufficient area of habitat to ensure the continued provision of ecological functions and services, at the ecosystem level.
Underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity.
The job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organization or property.
A range of analytical and participatory approaches that aim to integrate environmental considerations into policies, plans and programmes and evaluate the links with economic and social considerations. An SEA is undertaken for plans, programmes and policies. It helps decision makers reach a better understanding of how environmental, social and economic considerations fit together.
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
The upper layer of the Earth’s crust transformed by weathering and physical/chemical and biological processes. It is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms organized in genetic soil horizons.
It comprises the surface layer and subsoil layers that have been altered by soil formation.
A part of a holding managed by a particular person in the household.
Significant adverse impacts are those that compromise ecosystem integrity (i.e. ecosystem structure or function) in a manner that impairs the ability of affected populations to replace themselves and that degrades the long-term natural productivity of habitats, or causes on more than a temporary basis significant loss of species richness, habitat or community types. Impacts should be evaluated individually, in combination and cumulatively.
Significant adverse environmental impact
A method that can be used to assess the social and sociological aspects of products, their actual and potential positive as well as negative impacts along the life cycle.
All water naturally open to the atmosphere, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, streams, impoundments, seas and estuaries. The term also covers springs, wells or other collectors of water that are directly influenced by surface waters.
Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work.
Needs that, if met, would enable the transformation of existing power imbalances between women and men.
The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health and quality of forest and woodlands to meet the targeted diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis.; The theory and practice of controlling the establishment, composition, constitution and growth of forests.; The growing and cultivating of trees.
A viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, SARS- associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). First reported in Asia in 2003, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained. Since 2004, no known cases of SARS have reported anywhere in the world.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
To deposit or fertilize spawn; to produce young especially in large numbers.
It is the removal of excess water from the surface of the land.; Planned removal of excess water from the land surface by means of natural or constructed channels, including the shaping and grading of land surfaces where necessary.
refer to places, buildings or infrastructural facilities which are to be shared and to become convergence spots for the local and surrounding communities. It has become a basic necessity for villages and settlement areas to have well-built and complete social amenities for the benefit of the local and surrounding communities, so as to facilitate them in conducting social functions and activities, which in turn would help shape a united, harmonious, advanced, dynamic and progressive society.
It refers to the increase of toxic compounds (heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) in a soil that constitute, directly or indirectly (via the food chain), a hazard for human health and/or for the provision of ecosystem services assured by the soil.; Occurs when the concentration of a chemical or substance is higher than would occur naturally but is not necessarily causing harm.
The factors that define the kind and intensity of soil formation processes.
The term secondary carbonates refers to translocated lime, soft enough to be cut readily with a finger nail, precipitated in place from the soil solution rather than inherited from a soil parent material. As a diagnostic property it should be present in significant quantities.
It is defined as an increase of the exchangeable sodium content of the soil, often accompanied by a loss of soil structure.
Sand and dust storms are common meteorological hazards in arid and semi-arid regions. They are usually caused by thunderstorms – or strong pressure gradients associated with cyclones – which increase wind speed over a wide area. These strong winds lift large amounts of sand and dust from bare, dry soils into the atmosphere, transporting them hundreds to thousands of kilometres away. Some 40% of aerosols in the troposphere (the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere) are dust particles from wind erosion. The main sources of these mineral dusts are the arid regions of Northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia and China. Comparatively, Australia, America and South Africa make minor, but still important, contributions. Global estimates of dust emissions, mainly derived from simulation models, vary between one and three Gigatons per year.
Rules that are neither strictly binding in nature nor completely lacking legal significance. They are weakened along one or more of the dimensions of obligation, precision and delegation. In the context of international law, soft law refers to guidelines, policy declarations or codes of conduct which set standards of conduct. However, they are not directly enforceable.
It refers to the permanent covering of the soil surface with impermeable artificial materials such as asphalt and concrete.
Managed ecosystem dominated by indigenous or naturally occurring grasses and other herbaceous species.
A land cover class that includes any geographical area dominated by natural shrubs having a cover of 10 percent or more.
A dry, flat area at the lowest part of an undrained desert basin in which water accumulates and is quickly evaporated; underlain by stratified clay, silt, or sand and commonly soluble salts.; The level, salt-encrusted bottom of a dried up lake or pond.; A shallow basin, usually in a desert region, containing salt, gypsum, etc, that was deposited from an evaporated salt lake.
The general expression of the status of a body of surface water, determined by the poorer of its ecological status and its chemical status. Thus, to achieve 'good surface water status' both the ecological status and the chemical status of a surface water body need to be at least 'good'. Ecological status refers to the quality of the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems of the surface waters.
The concept of a safe biological limit has been developed and is being used increasingly in stock assessments to indicate the status of stocks. Stocks are considered to be within safe biological limits if the spawning stock biomass is above a precautionary value which is higher than the level at which recruitment is impaired and fishing mortality is below a precautionary value which is lower than that which would give rise to a high probability of recruitment failure. Poor recruitment or a high level of fishing mortality do not in themselves, therefore, give an indication of the real status of a stock.; Stock is considered to be outside safe biological limits (SBL) when the spawning stock biomass (SSB) (the mature part of a stock) is below a biomass precautionary approach reference point (Bpa), or when the fishing mortality (F) (an expression of the proportion of a stock that is removed by fishing activities in a year) exceeds a fishing mortality precautionary approach reference point (Fpa). However, a stock can be considered within safe biological limits even when the spawning stock biomass is lower than the biomass precautionary approach reference point (Bpa) but the Fishing mortality is lower than the fishing mortality precautionary approach reference point (Fpa) (SSB<Bpa but Fpa<F).; 3. A Limit reference point, usually the stock biomassbelow which recruitment will decline substantially.
Any actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal orcoercive conditions.
A description of how the future may unfold based on if-then propositions, typically consisting of a representation of an initial situation, a description of the key drivers and changes that lead to a particular future state. For example, “given that we are on holiday at the coast, if it is 30°C tomorrow, we will go to the beach”.
A culture medium containing substances that inhibit the growth of certain organisms while permitting or encouraging growth of pathogens of diagnostic interest.
These arise when two or more processes, organizations, substances or other agents interact in such a way that the outcome is greater than the sum of their separate effects.
It is required when the land is already degraded to such an extent that the original use is no longer possible and the land has become practically unproductive.; It is used to refer to the re-establishment of soil ecosystem functions after these have been affected or impaired by land degradation.
The preservation of soil against deterioration or erosion, and the maintenance of the fertilizing elements for crop production.
Soil texture class characterized by the following features: Is loose and single grained. The individual grains can be readily seen and felt. Squeezed in the hand when dry, sand falls apart when pressure is released. Squeezed when moist, it forms a cast, but crumbles when touched. The soil remains loose and can only be heaped into a pyramid.
An appreciation of the situation of a stock, usually expressed as: protected, under exploited, intensively exploited, fully exploited, over-exploited, depleted, extinct or commercially extinct.
When companies from rich countries buy fishing rights in the waters of poor countries.
Organic carbon in mineral and organic soils (including peat) to a specified depth chosen by the country and applied consistently through the time series.
Term used to refer to a variety of sexual practices that reduce the risk of transmitting or catching HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For example: (1) Sexual practices that do not involve the exchange of bodily fluids, including blood, sperm, vaginal secretions and saliva. (2) Sex without penetration, or sex using latex condoms and Nonoxynol-9 spermacide and/or vaginal dams. (3) Monogamy.
A particular form of harassment which includes unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favour or unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, especially when it interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Relates to personal and environmental security. It includes access to natural and other resources, and freedom from violence, crime and war, as well as security from natural and human-caused disasters.
The proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments is the number of seats held by women members in single or lower chambers of national parliaments, expressed as a percentage of all occupied seats.
Seats held by women in national legislatures
Soil mineral particles are commonly split by size into clay (< 2 μm), silt 2-5 μm), and sand (0.05 mm to 2 mm).
Quantity of sediment carried in a unit volume of water.
A smart city is a designation given to a city that incorporates information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance the quality and performance of urban services such as energy, transportation and utilities in order to reduce resource consumption, wastage and overall costs. The overarching aim of a smart city is to enhance the quality of living for its citizens through smart technology.
Salt patches on soil surface less than 1% with ¾ occurrence of saline groundwater.
These areas are defined in the 92/43/EEC, also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. They are to protect the 220 habitats and approximately 1000 species listed in annex I and II of the directive which are considered to be of European interest, following criteria given in the directive. They must be chosen by the State Members and designated SAC by an act assuring the conservation measures of the natural habitat.
Also known as the white-crowned or white-collared mangabey (Cercocebus atys), the sooty mangabey is a mostly terrestrial Old World monkey. Its distribution once ranged from the Casamance River in Senegal to the Sassandra/Nzo River system. Today, the species’ conservation status is ‘near-threatened’, with its range now restricted to the west coast of Africa in Sierra Leone, Liberia and the western part of Ivory Coast, where these foraging monkeys can be found walking along the forest floor gathering fruits and seeds. Sooty mangabeys are considered to be mostly extinct in their former habitats in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and parts of Guinea.
An inert chemical that absorbs water from its surroundings and will give up this water by evaporation when heated.
Plasticity is the ability of soil material to change shape continuously under the influence of an applied stress and to retain the compressed shape on removal of stress.
Specialized zoos where the captive animals are housed in any large naturalistic enclosures and the visitors are allowed to enter the enclosure to view the animals in a mechanized vehicle or a predetermined route from close quarters.
A land cover class that includes any geographic areas where the cover of natural vegetation is between 2 percent and 10 percent.
Water that does not contain harmful bacteria, toxic materials, or chemicals, and is considered safe for drinking.
The stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and potential to fulfill, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.
A continuous time model that operates on a daily time step at basin scale.
Sex-disaggregated data is data that is cross-classified by sex, presenting information separately for men and women, boys and girls. Sex-disaggregated data reflect roles, real situations, general conditions of women and men, girls and boys in every aspect of society. For instance, the literacy rate, education levels, business ownership, employment, wage differences, dependants, house and land ownership, loans and credit, debts, etc. When data is not disaggregated by sex, it is more difficult to identify real and potential inequalities. Sex-disaggregated data is necessary for effective gender analysis.
Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
Spatial poverty traps may be geographically remote (remote regions or areas), they may be ‘low potential’ or marginal areas with poor agricultural or industrial potential, they may be ‘less favoured’ politically or they may be ‘weakly integrated’ into the nation state and into markets.
The capacity of soil to function as a living system.; The continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, to sustain biological productivity, promote the quality of air and water environments, and maintain plant, animal, and human health.
A layer within the soil that has a distinct morphology (e.g. colour, structure, texture (percent sand, silt, clay).
Residual organic material derived from sewage.; Solid materials removed from the wastewater stream originating from a public sewage system.
It refers to the particle size or the relative amounts of sand, silt and clay.
A plastic tube 2 cm in diameter and with open ends, filled with 0.5 percent (M/M) agar in KCl solution.
Any process, activity or mechanism which removes a greenhouse gas, an aerosol, or a precursor of a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.
A system is a collection of component parts that interact with one another within some boundary.
The use, in irrigation, of sewage or waste water from towns or institutions, the object being the innocuous disposal of the waste water and also its use as a fertilizer.
Essential to the ecological and biological requirements of at least one of the life stages of the species; crucial for the recovery and/or the long term sustainability of the marine biological resources and the assemblages to which the priority species belongs; any other habitat of high biodiversity importance potentially impacted by fisheries and other activities.; Fragile habitat that is recognized internationally as ecologically important and which supports important assemblages of commercial and non-commercial fish species and which may require special protection.
An interbreeding group of organisms that is reproductively isolated from all other organisms, although there are many partial exceptions to this rule. A generally agreed fundamental taxonomic unit that, once described and accepted, is associated with a unique scientific name.
cause foodborne illness, commonly called food poisoning, with symptoms of diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps. It is estimated that Salmonella causes one million foodborne illnesses every year in the United States. In the past few years, outbreaks of Salmonella illness have been linked to contaminated cucumbers, pre-cut melon, chicken, eggs, pistachios, raw tuna, sprouts, and many other foods.
Soils with perched water. They show periodically reducing conditions resulting in stagnic properties.
Permanent woody or herbaceous areas in agricultural landscapes such as permanent grasslands, grassy field margins or ditch banks, tree or shrub hedgerows, woodlands.
A person to whom the holder delegates the authority to sub-manage a sub-holding.
The spodic horizon (from Greek spodos, wood ash) is a dark coloured subsurface horizon which contains illuvial amorphous substances composed of organic matter and aluminium, with or without iron. The illuvial materials are characterized by a high pH-dependent charge, a large surface area and high water retention.
A state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity.
It is an attitude of a person of one sex who thinks that he or she is superior to a person of the other sex.
Liquid waste matter, usually containing human excrement.
In GEO-5, sequestration refers to the capture of carbon dioxide in a manner that prevents it from being released into the atmosphere for a specified period of time.
Stickiness is the quality of adhesion of the soil material to other objects determined by noting the adherence of soil material when it is pressed between thumb and finger.
The blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
May refer to a site, object, structure, area or natural feature or area, held by national Governments or indigenous communities to be of particular importance in accordance with the customs of an indigenous or local community because of its religious and/or spiritual significance.
Any form of man-made, synthetic (non-natural) debris deposited directly into seawater from a vessel, facility or activity that is situated in or on, or is taking place entirely on or within, the ocean, from the intertidal to pelagic zones, and encompassing open ocean-adjacent seawater bodies including harbors, bays, estuaries and lagoons.
Complex adaptive systems composed of many diverse human and non-human entities that interact. They adapt to changes in their environment and their environment changes as a result.
The spatial, temporal (quantitative or analytical) dimension used to measure and study any phenomena. Specific points on a scale can thus be considered levels (such as local, regional, national and international).
The slope gradient refers to the slope of the land immediately surrounding the site.
The natural, sequential change (stage) of species composition in an ecosystem in a given area.
The use of land resources, including soils, water, animals and plants for the production of goods to meet changing human needs while ensuring the long term productive potential of these resources and the maintenance of their environmental functions.
Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
It refers to the decline of organic carbon stock in the soil affecting its fertility status and climate change regulation capacity.
Soil management is sustainable if the supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services provided by soil are maintained or enhanced without significantly impairing either the soil functions that enable those services or biodiversity.
Septicemia is a severe generalized infection resulting from hematogenous dissemination of pathogenic microorganisms.
It is a decline in the diversity of (micro- and macro-) organisms present in a soil.
The integration of trees and shrubs in pastures with animals for economic, ecological and social sustainability.
Strictly, the act or process of depositing sediment from suspension in water or ice. Broadly, all the processes whereby particles of rock material are accumulated to form sedimentary deposits. Sedimentation, as commonly used, involves transport by water, wind, ice and organic agents.
A cross-sectional view of the layers (also known as horizons) in a soil.
Environmentally friendly, economically viable, socially appropriate and have significant advantages over conventional lighting sources.
Sustainable Agriculture puts the emphasis on methods and processes that improve soil productivity while minimising harmful effects on the climate, soil, water, air, biodiversity and human health. It aims to minimise the use of inputs from nonrenewable sources and petroleum-based products and replace them with those from renewable resources. It Focuses on local people and their needs, knowledge, skills, socio-cultural values and institutional structures. It ensures that the basic nutritional requirements of current and future generations are met in both quantity and quality terms. It provides long-term employment, an adequate income and dignified and equal working and living conditions for everybody involved in agricultural value chains. It educes the agricultural sector’s vulnerability to adverse natural conditions (e.g. climate), socioeconomic factors (e.g. strong price fluctuations) and other risks.
A mapping unit used in detailed and reconnaissance soil surveys where two or more defined soil units are so intimately intermixed geographically that it is impractical, because of the scale used, to separate them.
The sociological process of training individuals in a society to act or respond in a manner generally approved by the society in general and peer groups within society. The concept is stronger than that of socialization, which refers to the process of inheriting norms, customs and ideologies.
Substances such as methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and many hydrofluorocarbons, which have a significant impact on climate change, and a relatively short lifespan in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide and other longer- lived gases.
A steep-sided, V-profile trench or valley winding along the continental shelf or continental slope, having tributaries and resembling unglaciated, river-cut land canyons.
It is defined as the increase in water-soluble salts in soil which is responsible for increasing the osmotic pressure of the soil.
A loosely defined strip of transitional vegetation that separates the Sahara desert from the tropical savannahs to the south. The region is used for farming and grazing, and because of the difficult environmental conditions at the border of the desert, the region is very sensitive to human-induced land-cover change. It includes parts of Senegal, the Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Chad.
The process by which water-soluble salts accumulate in the soil. Salinization may occur naturally or because of conditions resulting from management practices.
The deposition of finely divided soil and rock particles on the bottom of stream and riverbeds and reservoirs.
It is a waterlogged deposit containing S, mostly in the form of sulphides, and only moderate amounts of calcium carbonate.
It refers to a soil's water content when practically all pore spaces are filled with water.