Soil ecosystem services: trends, challenges, and opportunities for Colombia

As a fundamental ecosystem component, soil houses incredible biodiversity in terms of richness and functionality, so inter and transdisciplinary approaches are needed to understand its dynamics. On a global scale, the suitability of soils and their Ecosystem Services (ES) are decreasing due to the increase in inadequate production or use practices, which reduces the capacity to regulate these essential services for sustainability. It is widely recognized that soil is also a determining factor in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to its role in generating healthy food, water regulation, carbon capture, and prevention of biodiversity loss. However, in the case of Colombia, the zoning that has been implemented is mainly due to the supply of land for production and its relationship with food security, without considering the different ES, which generates an incomplete interpretation of its potential and benefits, which leads to the degradation and deterioration of this resource. This review describes general aspects of ES, such as its definition, history, background, and classifications and tools to measure, assess, and model them. Subsequently, the ES are addressed exclusively from soils, and a review of the studies done in Colombia is presented. It concludes by mentioning some challenges and research opportunities regarding the topic and other considerations, which can lead environmental and territorial planning and management decision-makers to address the consideration of ES when planning the use and management of this resource. This study highlights that the study of soil and its ES has taken on greater relevance at a global level due to its role in addressing problems such as climate change, the decrease in biodiversity, water and energy security, and the eradication of hunger or food safety.