Soil governance refers to the systems through which societies regulate how soils are used, conserved, and restored through policies, institutions, and management practices (Hannam, 2021). It involves legal frameworks, institutions, policy instruments, and the actors responsible for implementing them.
As defined in the literature:
“Soil governance refers to the system of formal and informal rules, institutions, policies, and processes by which societies make decisions about the use, management, and protection of soil resources. It encompasses the distribution of rights and responsibilities among different actors and the procedures for making and implementing decisions concerning soils at local, national, and international levels.” (Heuser, 2022)
Soil governance operates across multiple levels and involves both formal authorities and societal actors. Without effective governance frameworks, even the most advanced soil science cannot be translated into sustainable soil management practices (Peake & Robb, 2022).
Soil protection therefore requires more than scientific knowledge. It also requires coordinated decision-making across different actors and levels of governance.
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