MASERU — The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has commemorated World Soil Day under the theme “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities” which is officially observed annually on December 05 noting that this year’s commemoration was held later than the actual date as part of continued public awareness efforts.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Mr. Letsema Adonts’i, said soil is a living and finite resource that must be protected, measured, and managed responsibly for the benefit of present and future generations. He stressed that for Lesotho, soil is not an abstract concept but the foundation of food security, water regulation, landscape stability, climate resilience, and the national economy.
Mr. Adonts’i noted that when soils are degraded, development is weakened, but when soils are healthy, nations prosper. He emphasized that the Government of Lesotho affirms soil health as a matter of national security and, guided by FAO principles, remains committed to evidence-based land and soil management grounded in sound scientific knowledge.
He explained that effective land use planning must begin with a clear understanding of soil capabilities and limitations to guide decisions on farming, construction, conservation, and infrastructure development. Planning without soil information, he said it lacks a foundation, and sustainable development cannot be achieved without science-based guidance.
He emphasized that to strengthen this approach, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is integrating soil data, land capability assessments, and environmental safeguards into national and local planning frameworks.
He further explained that the government continues to enforce land use planning legislation and calls on all sectors to share responsibility for protecting the nation’s soils.
Principal Soil Scientist and Land Monitoring Expert at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Mr. Polao Moepi explained that the purpose of World Soil Day is to educate communities about the importance of soil and to encourage responsible land use.
He mentioned that though December 05 has passed, the ministry felt it was important to continue bringing knowledge to the public on soil conservation and management.
Mr. Moepi highlighted that soil plays a critical role in all aspects of life, including agriculture, housing, and economic development. . .
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