Lebensraum Boden (Video, 3sat.de)
A few centimeters beneath our feet lies a hidden universe: the soil. We need this fragile world to survive. Yet we are in the process of destroying it permanently.
It is a thin layer that surrounds our planet, but more living creatures exist in it than there are people. The deepest part of this layer took a million years to form. The upper one, which feeds us and regulates the climate, centuries.
The soil: A diverse habitat
Healthy fertile soil is the most densely populated and diverse habitat on Earth. Only the interaction of billions of microorganisms and small organisms creates this thin layer, which is essential for survival. As part of the water and nutrient balance, it stores rainwater and nutrients, protects groundwater from pollution, reduces greenhouse gases and regulates moisture.