Soil protection and territory use plannig

This work aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of soils in sustaining agricultural systems and ecosystems. The functions and capacities that soils help develop are presented. Due to the fact that not all soils are equal, neither their suitability for various uses varies considerably. The concept of sustainable development is then discussed, as are the necessary objectives to achieve this end. A distinction is made between degradation and degradation stress, and the different kinds of soil degradation processes are compared. Finally, some cases are analysed, one focusing on the El Nacimiento Forest (Tlaxcala, Mexico), which involves a permanent sealing of soil by housing construction. This example illustrates the uses of territory, the risks of soil degradation, and the origins of possible conflicts of interest. To resolve such conflicts of interests, a holistic approach is needed, encompassing political, social, economic and ethical dimensions to land planning. A model of development must be established, one which is socially accepted by the various agents interacting in a given territory, if a winwin result is to be achieved in the democratic planning of territory use