Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI)

The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI), now open to all interested in sustaining soils, was formed based on growing international concern by scientists, policy makers and the public over the status of the world's soils and increased recognition that the life in soil is key to sustaining our food production, ecosystem maintenance and control of global atmosphere and climate warming. The GSBI will serve as a primary means of informing the newly announced Global Soil Partnership (GSP - www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership) operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and signed in Rome (Italy) in September 2011 by three international conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Convention on Desertification, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.