Beneath the Surface: Global Effort to Save Soil Biodiversity Takes Root

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has officially launched the Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory (GLOSOB), a major international initiative aimed at systematically measuring, monitoring, and protecting the rich diversity of life beneath the Earth’s surface.

Announced at COP15, the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, GLOSOB is expected to become a key global platform for scientific cooperation and policy development. The launch comes in support of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM GBF), a 2020–2030 plan that calls for systematic monitoring of soil biodiversity as a vital part of halting nature loss.

Despite growing interest in the microbial and invertebrate life that underpins ecosystems, soil biodiversity remains largely unaccounted for in national conservation policies. “We lack standardized monitoring protocols and actionable strategies to integrate soil biodiversity into national frameworks,” said Dr. Jacob Parnell, lead author of a recent commentary on GLOSOB published in Nature Ecology and Evolution. His article, available freely until August 14, outlines the Observatory’s key goals and its role in coordinating global efforts through both top-down leadership and bottom-up scientific networks.

Filling Gaps in the Underground Frontier

Soils are home to a staggering array of life, from earthworms and fungi to microbial communities that support crop production and carbon cycling. Yet, much of this biodiversity remains poorly documented, particularly in extreme or marginal environments such as hyper arid deserts or acidic wetlands. These areas often lie outside existing protected zones, even though their below ground organisms serve as critical genetic reservoirs.

“Despite major progress in understanding soil macrofauna and microbial carbon, we still know very little beyond a few familiar species like earthworms and nematodes,” Parnell explained. The lack of data limits the ability of scientists and policymakers to assess soil health, particularly as climate change, deforestation, invasive species, and pollution continue to degrade soil systems worldwide.

Building Better Tools and Broader Capacity

A central aim of GLOSOB is to develop stronger indicators for soil biodiversity, including both taxonomic and functional measurements known as Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs). These tools will support national governments in crafting evidence-based policies for soil conservation and sustainable land use.

GLOSOB’s tiered system is designed to scale up monitoring capabilities progressively, from basic chemical and enzymatic analyses to advanced techniques such as decomposition tracking with litter bags and metagenomic sequencing to explore microbial genetic diversity. However, achieving this vision will require significant investments.

“We need more well-equipped laboratories, expanded training programs, and internationally standardized monitoring frameworks,” said Parnell. “Only then can countries effectively gather, analyze, and interpret soil biodiversity data.”

Integrating soil biodiversity into national soil surveys and information systems will also be critical. By embedding biodiversity considerations into routine agricultural and environmental assessments, GLOSOB aims to mainstream soil life into the broader conservation agenda.

As climate pressures intensify and food security becomes ever more urgent, protecting the unseen life beneath our feet may prove as vital as safeguarding the forests and oceans above ground.