ZMO Warns of Rapid Loss of Arable Land

In a statement marking 5 December World Soil Day, Uluçam stressed that healthy cities depend on healthy soils, adding that the lack of legal safeguards leaves the country increasingly vulnerable.

Recalling that this year’s World Soil Day theme is “Healthy Soils for a Healthy Life in Cities,” Uluçam noted that the day has been officially observed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) since 2014 to raise global awareness of soil protection. He said accelerating urbanisation, soil sealing, deforestation, land-use pressures and population growth worldwide are placing severe stress on the ecosystem services that soils provide.

Uluçam underscored that soil is not merely a physical space but also a regulator of nutrients and water for plants, a guardian of biodiversity and a vital carbon sink in the fight against climate change. “Unfortunately, 62 per cent of the world’s soils are affected by degradation processes,” he said. Erosion, pollution, salinisation, acidification, eutrophication and uncontrolled construction were among the leading threats he highlighted.

Healthy soils, Uluçam said, regulate urban temperatures, store carbon, filter air and water, retain rainwater and contribute directly to urban food security. “When properly managed, urban soils form the most important natural defence line against flooding, extreme heat and pollution,” he added. He emphasised the need to expand green infrastructure, reduce impermeable surfaces, implement sustainable drainage systems and promote urban agriculture.

Uluçam also noted that individuals can play a role by composting, practising organic gardening, creating green spaces and supporting local initiatives. However, he stressed that the situation in the country is particularly alarming.

Pointing to the lack of a Soil Protection Law in Northern Cyprus, Uluçam warned that arable land is disappearing at an alarming rate. He said the country’s agricultural land inventory was last updated in 2010 and that no further work has been carried out due to shortages of personnel and financial resources. “Between 2000 and 2010, around 75,000 dönüms of land were removed from agricultural use, including 45,000 dönüms of first- and second-class farmland,” he said. As farmland shrinks, he added, production declines and imports rise. “If we ignore this trend, we will become a country that imports all agricultural products and pays much more for them.”

Emphasising that soil is the country’s most important natural resource, Uluçam issued a call to action: “We must protect our soils to ensure the continuity of local agricultural production. We urge the authorities to act.”