Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

The role of soils in the regulation of hazards and extreme events

Patricia Saco, Kelsey R. McDonough, José F. Rodríguez, Johanie Rivera-Zayas, Steven G. Sandi

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · 2021

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Summary

This review examines soils as a critical ecosystem component for mitigating natural hazards and extreme events, including floods, droughts, landslides and sand/dust storms. It integrates evidence within the nature's contributions to people (NCP) framework, which emphasises enhancing ecosystem benefits to reduce hazard vulnerability and support human well-being. The paper contributes to understanding soil-based nature-based solutions in the context of climate change, population growth and ecosystem degradation.

Regional applicability

As a global review, findings are broadly applicable to United Kingdom conditions, particularly regarding soil-based flood and drought mitigation in agricultural and urban contexts. The framework is relevant to UK policy and practice, though specific transferability depends on soil type, climate zone and land management context—the review likely discusses variability across regions.

Key measures

Qualitative synthesis of soil's hazard-regulating functions across multiple hazard types; framework analysis through the NCP lens

Outcomes reported

This review synthesises evidence on the modulating role of soils in regulating natural hazards and extreme events, specifically floods, droughts, landslides and sand/dust storms. The study contextualises soil functionality within the framework of nature's contributions to people (NCP) and ecosystem services.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Soil health assessment & monitoring
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Other
DOI
10.1098/rstb.2020.0178
Catalogue ID
SNmomgxm82-vow06g

Topic tags

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