On World Soil Day, FAO educates 700 students in the Republic of Moldova

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is holding an intensive awareness campaign in the Republic of Moldova to mark World Soil Day, celebrated globally on 5 December.

Under the theme Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities, the campaign aims to educate and engage the next generation on the critical importance of soil health and land degradation neutrality.

The campaign – held in schools in the Orhei, Rezina and Soldanesti districts of the Republic of Moldova and in the capital city of Chisinau – underscores the vital link connecting good rural soil management practices, soil health and urban well-being.

“By showing children the profound link between healthy soil and a healthy life in both villages and cities,” said project coordinator Mihail Ojog, “we are laying the groundwork for a new generation of sustainable land use leaders.”

The lessons are vital to creating future land stewards by promoting soil-friendly practices and establishing a platform for continuous learning, Ojog said.

The fertile land of the Republic of Moldova faces increasing pressure from land degradation. Solving this significant challenge requires an integrated approach to natural resources management, including fostering positive attitudes and sustainable land use practices among future generations.

This initiative is a core activity of a USD 1.6 million project launched in 2020 by FAO and the Global Environment Facility to promote sustainable land management practices in 32 rural communities throughout the country.

Building on the success of similar public lessons from 2020 to 2024, the campaign is designed to influence attitudes towards land use among the rural population, aiming to reach more than 700 pupils in 30 schools.