Background
World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources - United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO).
Every year, the UNFAO along with the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) adopt a theme to focus on. The theme that was selected for the year 2019 was titled Stop Soil Erosion, Save our Future. Soil erosion is perceived as the greatest challenge for sustainable soil management according to a report with the same title released by the UNFAO. This is a very relevant topic to the UAE as 75% of the soil in the country is eolian sand or wind-blown sand, which means that it is undergoing almost constant wind erosion and is highly susceptible to water erosion.
In order to combat soil erosion and to build a deeper appreciation for soils and the minerals they contain, The Emirates Soil Museum is organizing a full day event suitable for students in grades 4 - 6.
Event Activities
This half day event from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm on Thursday December 5 2019 will include:
- Tree Planting- a selection of native trees will be provided so each pair of students could plant their own tree!
- Tour of the Emirates Soil Museum & Scavenger Hunt.
- Tour of the Temporary Exhibition on Soil Erosion in collaboration with the Decrustate Collective, Photographer Mohammed Ahli and Installation Artist Asma Alahmed.
- Painting workshop using soils and plant based materials with Artist Asma Alahmed.
- Crystallization workshop using salts and minerals of the UAE with the The National Pavilion United Arab Emirates (UAE) – La Biennale di Venezia. Each student will take home his/her own crystal!
This event will cost 100 AED per student for the half day including access to all exhibitions, 1 tree per pair, all workshops (including facilitation and materials), 2 take home items as well as water/tea/coffee.