Stepping on invisible land: on the importance of communicating the value of soils

• DOI: 10.1007/s43621-022-00093-8
• Publication Date: 2022-08-09T11:02:34Z
• Authors: Agnieszka E. Lata...; Magdalena E. Mark...; Bruna Medeiros; Maiara S. Mendes; Aline F. Rodrigues; Fernanda Gomes; Breno D. Valle; Katarzyna Lisowska; Adam Drosik; Claudio Capeche; Veronica Maioli; Karolina Fedorowicz; Luciana Azevedo
• Keywords: Dirt

Abstract Soils play fundamental roles in the functioning of Earth's ecosystems. Despite numerous initiatives to protect soils, it continues be generally perceived as dirt or, at best, surface we walk on. To better understand soil perception by public, conducted a survey with 99 participants from Poland and Brazil. We applied opportunity sampling semi-structured interviews 40 respondents 30 Brazil, 29 unstructured Most (53%) associated where plants grow, while 27% said that is ground step When asked about pro-environmental campaigns, none pointed soil-related initiatives. (99%) claimed there need increase their knowledge importance mostly through education (30%). The majority Brazil indicated provision services provided soils for youth engagement communication, corroborating results interviews. address this, present on artistic workshops an experimental model teaching dissemination. two short documentary movies reporting can used data gathering tools, tools dissemination purposes. This novel approach communicating relevant stakeholders promote more sustainable resource management.