Celebrate Scotland's soil biodiversity with SEPA at this year's
Royal Highland Show
EXT01 – A20
The importance of Scotland's soils, their health and rich
biodiversity, will be the theme of the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency's (SEPA) stand at this year's Royal Highland Show
on 24–27 June 2010 at the Highland Show Ground, Ingliston,
Edinburgh.
The United Nations has designated 2010 as the International Year
of Biodiversity. To mark this important event SEPA will be
championing the importance of biodiversity to Scotland's
environment and economy, along with other Scotland's Environmental
and Rural Services (SEARS) partners in the SEARS tent.
Focusing on soil biodiversity and the importance of healthy
soils, an important asset on which life depends, SEPA's stand will
feature a number of activities which will be used to show the
importance and diversity of our soil ecosystems. As well as
microscopes showing the creatures which live in Scotland's soils
and a soil invertebrates slideshow, SEPA ecology staff will
demonstrate how to build your own wormery, different types of
wormeries will be on display, and there will be a chance for
children to win a desktop wormery for their school with an
earthworm quiz.
Healthy soils carry out a wide range of essential environmental,
social and economic functions, such as growing food and trees,
controlling the quality and quantity of water flow and storing
carbon. Good soil management can therefore help ensure good water
quality, and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as
helping reduce downstream flooding risks. Scotland's agricultural
and forestry industries also rely on soils for their very
existence, and these industries each contribute a great deal to the
Scottish economy. But the impact of soils extends well beyond rural
Scotland, for example in the food, drink and construction
industries. Soil also underpins nationally and internationally
valued and rare habitats; these are important in their own right
but they also attract many tourists annually.
The large majority of processes taking place in soils are driven
by soil organisms, thus their 'wellbeing' and diversity are vital.
To ensure that soils can continue to carry out all the essential
functions for future generations, which underpin the sustainable
economic growth of Scotland, it is essential that soils and their
inherent biodiversity are managed sustainably and protected where
necessary.
To find our more about biodiversity and SEPA's role in its
promotion and protection visit www.sepa.org.uk/biodiversity.
Ends
Notes to editor
The SEARS tent at this year's Royal Highland Show is part of the
world-wide celebrations of 2010 as the International Year of
Biodiversity. The diversity of life on earth is
crucial for human well-being and now is the time to act to preserve
it. For information on events, initiatives and exhibitions
across the UK visit www.biodiversityislife.net
- The SEARS marquee will be situated on 4th Avenue
beside the Forestry Arena and the main ring.
- Other SEARS partners exhibiting at the event include
- Loch
Lomond and Trossachs National Park
- Scottish
Government (RPID)
- Forestry
Commission Scotland
- Scottish
Natural Heritage
- Crofters
Commission
- Animal
Health
-
Cairngorm National Park Authority