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World’s Soil Resources

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Threat to<br />

soil function<br />

<strong>Soil</strong> erosion<br />

Organic<br />

carbon change<br />

Salinization<br />

and sodification<br />

Nutrient<br />

imbalance<br />

Loss of soil<br />

biodiversity<br />

Compaction<br />

Waterlogging<br />

<strong>Soil</strong><br />

acidification<br />

Contamination<br />

<strong>Soil</strong> sealing<br />

and land take<br />

Summary<br />

Widespread across the<br />

region.<br />

Landslides are accelerated<br />

by land use in highland<br />

areas<br />

Declines are caused by<br />

deforestation,<br />

intensive cultivation<br />

of grasslands and<br />

monoculture.<br />

Caused by inadequate<br />

irrigation technology<br />

and water quality. Land<br />

use changes also promote<br />

salinization.<br />

Most countries have<br />

negative nutrient balances<br />

due to over-extraction.<br />

In some cases over<br />

fertilization also causes<br />

nutrient imbalance.<br />

Suspected to occur in<br />

deforested and overexploited<br />

agricultural<br />

areas.<br />

Caused by overgrazing<br />

and intensive agricultural<br />

traffic.<br />

Due to deforestation and<br />

poor structural conditions<br />

in agricultural areas.<br />

<strong>Soil</strong> acidification is limited<br />

to some areas with<br />

overuse of N fertilizers<br />

Industrial sources cause<br />

soil contamination in<br />

some places.<br />

Non-point soil pollution<br />

prevails in sites with<br />

intensive agriculture<br />

(e.g. herbicides residues).<br />

In some valleys and<br />

floodplains, urbanization<br />

has expanded onto fertile<br />

soils.<br />

Condition and Trend<br />

Very poor Poor Fair Good Very good<br />

Confidence<br />

In<br />

In trend<br />

condition<br />

Table 12.1 Summary of <strong>Soil</strong> Threats Status, trends and uncertainties in in Latin America and the Caribbean<br />

Status of the <strong>World’s</strong> <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> | Main Report Regional Assessment of <strong>Soil</strong> Changes<br />

389<br />

in Latin America and the Caribbean

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