Ladies and gentlemen, friends, and partners,
Today, on World Soil Day 2025, gives each of us who inhabit these beautiful islands in the Caribbean, an opportunity to focus on this very limited resource we call soil and unite under the theme “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.” This year’s theme is a reminder for us that beyond all the hustle, bustle, asphalt, concrete, and buildings lies soil, which is vital for urban ecosystems and well-being. All of us enjoy looking at the lush green hillsides surrounding our urban centers and relaxing in the green spaces that exist within our cities.
This year’s theme reminds us that the health of our soil is inseparable from our lives, livelihoods, and economies – as it plays a major role in supporting and sustaining our region.
For Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where land resources are scarce and the pressures on those resources are immense, sustainable land management is not a choice—it is a necessity for our future survival.
The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) was created to help Caribbean nations meet this urgent need. Since its inception, PISLM has been committed to strengthening the capacity of our countries to participate fully in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and to implement actions that promote resilient landscapes, productive soils, and sustainable livelihoods.
Integrated land use management is vital for the Caribbean SIDS. Our limited landmass must support forestry, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, housing, recreation, and biodiversity—all while remaining closely linked to coastal and marine systems that are themselves under stress. The way we manage our soils and use land directly affects erosion, water quality, food security, and the protection of our reefs and coastlines. Healthy soils truly are the foundation of our resilience.
The UNCCD provides a powerful framework for addressing land degradation, advancing SDG 15.3, and contributing to poverty reduction and food security. PISLM was created so that Caribbean voices and Caribbean solutions can be central to this global effort. From its adoption at the Forum of Ministers of the Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2003 to its evolution into an autonomous intergovernmental organization in 2014, PISLM has grown through regional cooperation, shared purpose, and a commitment to protecting our land for future generations.
In April 2024, Caribbean ministers responsible for the UNCCD reaffirmed that commitment by establishing PISLM as an independent intergovernmental organization headquartered in Grenada. This milestone reflects the trust our governments place in the institution and the increasing importance of soil and land management in shaping the region’s sustainable development agenda.
As we mark World Soil Day this year, I call on all partners—governments, farmers, scientists, youth, and civil society—to continue championing the cause of sustainable land management. Our soil is under threat, but it is also part of the solution. By restoring degraded lands, improving soil fertility, and strengthening land governance, we can build more resilient communities and ensure a healthier, more food-secure Caribbean.
On behalf of the PISLM Secretariat, I extend appreciation to all who continue to support this mission. Let us reaffirm today that protecting our soils is protecting our future.
Happy World Soil Day 2025.
