Land and soil are limited natural resources. ‘Land’, can be defined as the terrestrial bio-productive system that
comprises soil, vegetation, other biota, and the ecological and hydrological processes that operate within the system (according to UNCCD Art 1e). It is fundamental for food and raw materials, for protecting biodiversity, for storing carbon emissions, for filtering contaminants and for recycling water, as well as hosting human development and infrastructure. Used efficiently, it can provide these key functions and ‘ecosystem services’ into the future.By 2020, EU policies take into account their direct and indirect impact on land use in the EU
and globally, and the rate of land take is on track with an aim to achieve no net land take by 2050; soil erosion is reduced and the soil organic matter increased, with remedial work on contaminated sites well underway.