Brussels, 29/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - Soil performs a multitude of environmental, economic, social and cultural functions and thus plays a vital role in conserving biodiversity and supporting global environmental systems. It is a living system and, once it is destroyed, it is lost for ever. Erosion, contamination, decline of organic matter content, sealing due to factors such as housing and infrastructure, landslides and flooding all contribute to the degradation of a resource that is...