In a landmark decision, the International union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has adopted Motion 007 on Soil Security Law, marking the first time that a global conservation body formally recognised soil security as central to food systems, water supply, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience.

The motion was co-sponsored by Save Soil (Isha Outreach) and the Global Centre for Environmental Legal Studies of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in the United States, with inputs from Aurora, the Soil Security Think Tank in Australia. The adoption of the motion sets the stage for the development of the world's first Model Law for Soil Protection.

"This is a historic win for soil, and an outcome of immense effort and commitment from people across the world," said Praveena Sridhar, Chief Science and Technical Officer, Save Soil. She noted that the resolution paves the way for countries to adopt legally robust soil protection frameworks, according to a release issued on Monday.

Congratulating the IUCN membership and volunteers who advocated for the motion at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, Sadhguru, founder of the Save Soil movement, described the development as "a significant step toward global recognition of the need for holistic, committed soil protection," and called for collective efforts to implement the law in practice.

With the resolution's adoption on October 15, IUCN will now form a working group to frame concepts and parameters for an international convention or legal instrument on soil security. Over 90 member-nations are expected to be encouraged to integrate the forthcoming Model Soil Security Law into national regulatory frameworks.

The proposed law is expected to guide the incorporation of soil protection across agricultural policy, climate action, and ecosystem restoration programmes, while improving legal accountability and supporting regenerative farming practices to protect farmer livelihoods and ecological sustainability.

Save Soil and partner organisations had been advocating for the motion since January 2025 through consultations with representatives from several countries, including France, Germany, Japan, and Canada, and through global awareness initiatives. At the Abu Dhabi Congress, the motion was passed with strong support, securing 87.1 per cent backing from government members and 95.45 per cent support from NGOs and Indigenous groups.