To some European citizens, soil may look like mud or a dry patch of earth. Still, it is a complex ecosystem containing minerals, organic matter, and many living organisms that are vital to our ability to grow healthy crops and food. Soil can do even more for us. It can help counter climate change, which affects many aspects of life.
Of course, this can only happen if we help it because, let’s not forget, climate change can globally worsen erosion, decline in organic matter, salinization, loss of soil biodiversity, landslides, desertification, and flooding. Focusing on soil health and sustainable farming is vital to ensuring food security for the future. Climate change has and will continue to have a significant negative impact on European agriculture, and Latvian agriculture is no exception.
Forests, which cover 40% of Europe’s surface area, are also affected by climate change. In recent years, the risks of drought, storms, fires, pests, and diseases that affect forest health have increased.
But what can be done locally? A better understanding of soil processes can shift the focus from the long-standing emphasis on plant productivity to the entire ecosystem’s health. A healthy ecosystem is biodiverse and can contribute to the success of climate goals.
Soil fauna ensures the cycling of nutrients and enhances their availability. Therefore, a better understanding of these processes provides long-term benefits to the environment and landowners. Protecting species and genetic diversity is essential in a changing climate, as more diverse ecosystems tend to be more stable.
Research shows that more diverse soil fauna can improve soil carbon storage and is characteristic to soils containing organic matter. Greater soil fauna diversity is associated with higher biological diversity in other groups of organisms, leading to increased overall ecosystem productivity. Moreover, biologically diverse communities are more tolerant of diseases and pathogen outbreaks.
Unique Features of Latvia’s Soil Ecosystems
The primary and unique feature of Latvian soil ecosystems is the high proportion of organic soils compared to other European countries. The frequent occurrence of organic soils in Latvia is linked to geographical characteristics and specific environmental conditions. Latvia is situated on low-relief terrain and at relatively high latitudes, where peatlands have mainly formed in land depressions shaped by the last glaciation and meltwater processes. Seasonality, relatively short vegetation periods, low temperatures, and high precipitation levels create conditions where organic matter decomposes slowly and gradually.
Organic soil is distinctly different from mineral soil in terms of its structure, composition, diversity, and associated risks, all of which must be considered in decision-making and guideline development. Organic soil organisms include decomposers of organic matter and organisms that promote its accumulation. The balance between these groups is crucial, as it influences the overall functioning of the ecosystem. Regarding seasonality, all soil-dwelling organisms in this region have adapted to the annual freezing of the topsoil during the winter period.
However, Latvia’s soils are generally not very fertile. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, around 230.000 ha are threatened by wind erosion and around 380.000 ha by water erosion. According to various estimates, marshes cover 12 percent of the country’s total area. Some swamps of peat ground reach a depth of 5 m. The fertile marshy black soils can be found only in the Zemgale plain.
Investing in Soil Health: An Ambitious Desire of Soil Specialists
According to Latvian experts, investment in soil health and ecosystem services should promote the introduction of interventions in the future European Common Agricultural Policy, encouraging the diversification of structures that support soil biodiversity within the infrastructure of large farms.
“The knowledge gained during this project can provide insight into indicator species that signify soil conditions, thereby facilitating the future soil health assessment. Forest regeneration, the establishment of tree plantings in cooperation with Forest environment lab”, Dagnija Lazdina, Senior Researcher Latvian State Forest Research Institute SILAVA.
In the context of forest ecosystems, investment in understanding the risks posed by anthropogenic pressures (eutrophication, soil compaction, erosion, and forestry techniques) on soil biodiversity in natural ecosystems can promote the implementation of ecosystem-friendly forest management practices and innovative solutions for forest operations in high-risk areas.
BIOservicES Project in Latvia: Challenges, Particularities, and Key Findings
Through the Latvian State Forestry Research Institute “Silava,” Latvia is one of more than 11 countries participating in the project “BIOservicES – Linking Soil Biodiversity with Ecosystem Services and Functions in Different Land Uses: From Identification of Drivers, Pressures, and Resilience to Climate Change to Their Economic Valuation.”
The project aims, among other things, to identify the pressures and drivers affecting soil organisms and their effects, conduct an economic valuation of their contribution to the ecosystem, and develop decision-support tools and models to help design climate-resilient management, monitoring, conservation, and restoration practices.
The initial results from the soil sampling campaign carried out under the project have recently become available. These suggest that the presence of all soil indicator groups does not necessarily indicate the best soil conditions. The soil indicators used to assess soil status vary depending on land use and the main threats to soil health.
“In areas with seasonally wet soils and high organic matter content, significantly higher soil fauna diversity is expected—such as in grasslands on peat soils—compared to natural wetland ecosystems, where the soil is more saturated with water over extended periods, creating unsuitable conditions for many invertebrate species. However, this does not necessarily mean these habitats are in worse condition than well-aerated wetlands”, said Mg.biol., PhD student, Austra Zuševica, Research Assistant at Latvian State Forest Research Institute SILAVA.
“Urbanization, agricultural practices, and land management significantly impact soil health across different ecosystems. In forest soils near large cities, anthropogenic pollution, eutrophication, and invasive species create high soil pressures, reducing biodiversity. These pressures are lessened in forests with minimal or periodic anthropogenic disturbance, where typical forest species thrive, supporting healthy soil ecosystems. Similarly, grassland soils in organic-rich areas face threats from improper management, such as excessive, which degrades the organic layer. Well-managed, input-output balanced areas foster wetlands, promoting biodiversity and healthy soil ecosystems”, Austra Zuševica and Dagnija Lazdina agreed.
Soil pressures also influence peatland reclamation, particularly following extraction. In conditions with low-nutrient and limited water availability during arid summers, slow vegetation development and accelerated peat mineralization result in significant loss of organic matter and wind erosion. Balanced nutrient availability, soil reaction (pH), and optimal water table conditions support tree, plant, or sphagnum cover regeneration. However, typical bog vegetation returns slowly – at first in former ditches and nearby them. If water is increased further, microreliefs encourage wetland species, facilitating succession.
In semi-natural forest stands, high-intensity land use could lead to low species diversity and increased pest risk. Thus, selective strip-cutting practice is closer to natural processes. However, intermediate management strategies that allow deciduous regeneration promote biodiversity. Areas with balanced water tables and plant nutrient element availability experience reduced mineralization, supporting healthy soil and undergrowth.
Finally, melioration ditches in drained wetland ecosystems lead to the loss of some wetland species, and tree cower weight increases peat compaction. Where water levels fluctuate seasonally, wetland-specific species and key ecosystem features, such as alder air roots, regenerate, helping restore soil moisture conditions. However, anaerobic conditions in highly drained areas hinder soil macrofauna diversity, indicating alternative soil health indicators are needed.
Climate change and human mismanagement are causing numerous soil problems. This is why the efforts of specialists must be supported by those around us, who understand that soil health plays a crucial role in preserving life on Earth.
