APSCC is proud to have contributed to Life on Land, a volume in Springer’s landmark Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals — a living reference work advancing evidence-based knowledge on land management, soil science and terrestrial ecosystems in support of SDG 15.
Edited under the series leadership of Prof. Walter Leal Filho, the Encyclopedia is a Springer Reference — a continuously updated, peer-reviewed body of scholarship that positions the world’s research community around each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. APSCC’s contributions bring soil science and landscape thinking into this global framework.
APSCC’s contributions
Two APSCC scholars shaped entries in the Life on Land series — contributing both authorship and editorial leadership:
Soil: the skin of the Earth
The chapter “Soil Fertility, Integrated Management, and Sustainability” frames soil as the living foundation of terrestrial life. Drawing on insights from the Soil Science Society of America and the FAO, it makes the case for integrated soil management as a cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda — enhancing land management, supporting resilient food systems and combating land degradation.
Soil is not just dirt — it is the skin of the Earth, the foundation of civilizations and the reservoir of life.
Landscape: a holistic view of sustainability
As Section Editor for the “Landscape” entry, Dr. Nandhivarman Muthu advanced a holistic approach to sustainability — understanding landscapes as living systems shaped by both natural processes and human activity. This framing converges with the UNFCCC’s “Nature for Climate” initiative and the growing global emphasis on nature-based solutions.
Regional relevance, global recognition
India and the wider Asia-Pacific region wrestle with soil degradation, unsustainable agriculture and rapidly changing land use. APSCC’s contributions bring regionally grounded evidence to a global platform — and the Springer Reference series lends international recognition, aligning APSCC’s work firmly with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Aligned with the SDGs
This work advances an interconnected set of Sustainable Development Goals — from terrestrial ecosystems and climate action to food systems and global partnerships:
Publication: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals — Life on Land · Springer Reference · Series Editor: Walter Leal Filho · Chapter published Jul 2020 · link.springer.com ↗