Assessing the socio-economic impacts of soil degradation on Scotland’s water environment
Read the full reportThe report reveals that soil degradation in Scotland, including compaction, erosion, and contamination, poses significant economic and environmental risks, with costs to the Scottish economy ranging from £25 million to £75 million annually due to reduced crop yields and increased fuel use. The increased runoff from degraded soils also threatens to exacerbate flooding risks, with additional costs to local authorities and homeowners. Climate change is expected to intensify these challenges, underscoring the urgent need for targeted soil management practices and comprehensive monitoring to mitigate further degradation and its associated costs.
The report shows that a significant proportion of cultivated soils are compacted and eroded, and degradation is linked to both land use and soil type with some soils more vulnerable than others.
The report highlights that soil sealing is another issue regarding soil degradation.
There is insufficient data to understand the extent of soil contamination in Scotland.
The report talks about the impacts and financial cost of soil degradation and how can it be minimised.
All the impacts of soil degradation are likely to be exacerbated by climate change. For example, droughts in spring will lead to additional yield reductions and increases in intensive rainfall will increase the risk of compaction, flooding, and the runoff of associated pollutants.
Recommendations for policy implementation
- Conducting a national field-based assessment of soil compaction.
- Integrating runoff estimates into flood risk models.
- Developing frameworks for combining the impacts and costs of soil compaction and erosion.
Read the full report
Assessing the socio-economic impacts of soil degradation on Scotland’s water environment