A review of topsoil governance for mining and agriculture in South Africa and abroad

Topsoil is taken for granted as the dirt under our feet. Yet, humanity hinges on 15 cm of topsoil. As with potable water, topsoil is a natural resource we depend on daily. This review examines the chronological development of topsoil conservation through the governance of legal and other instruments since 1701. It highlights how topsoil is defined, its global and South African status, and which events enabled its conservation. We found that early on, topsoil was prioritized as a critical national resource in the United States, Australia, and South Africa. However, since then, regulatory developments in South Africa have limited its ability to both protect topsoil as a national asset and to meet its own needs and global commitments. Our investigation into socio‐economic conditions, legislation, environmental awareness, litigation, governance, and international agreements over the last 325 years provides a unique perspective from which to propose reforms to enhance the status of topsoil. Given South Africa's current topsoil situation and projected population growth, the country urgently needs coordinated governance to safeguard and restore its topsoil.