Kyiv Communique On Ukrainian Soil Partnership

In the framework of the national workshop “Ukrainian collaboration to promote Sustainable Soil
Management (SSM) within the framework of the National Soil Partnership” on 23-24th May, with the
support of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy
and Food and the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, the prospects and potential for
the establishment and development of the Ukrainian Soil Partnership (GPA) under the auspices of the
Global Ground Partnership (GGP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) was discussed.

The Ukrainian soil science community along with the governmental representatives and others
expressed their deep interest in the growth and dissemination of information, developments,
technologies and knowledge of soil science and land use, as well as increased interaction with the
Global Soil Partnership.

Participants of the workshop recognized the necessity of broadening the representation of national
interests in the global soil science community, to strengthen the interaction between leading state
institutions, business and the public in the field of soil science.

We, the Ukrainian soil science community, intent and have a common desire to unite the potential and
efforts by the formation of the Ukrainian Soil Partnership.

We recognize the benefits of this association to be gained from further sharing of the available
information, data on soil survey, and soil mapping, as well as contributing to capacity building to
formulate and implement a sustainable land management policy and achieve zero-level soil degradation
in Ukraine.

We are aware of the benefits of combining efforts with the further exchange of available information,
data from soil surveys and mapping, as well as contributing to capacity building to formulate and
implement a sustainable land management policy and achieve neutral soil degradation in Ukraine.

We agree that the priorities of this partnership should be as fallows:

  • Promoting sustainable soil management;
  • Sharing and transferring soil knowledge and technology within and beyond the Ukraine;
  • Providing soil information to all those with an interest in the sustainable use of soil and land resources in a sustainable form;
  • Building consistent and updated National monitoring system, Ukrainian Soil Information System and starting to contribute to the global soil information system;
  • Training new generation of experts in soil science using state-of-the-art technologies and knowledge by local universities;
  • Raising awareness of all stakeholders including decision makers on importance of soil information to promote sustainable land and soil management.

After an active discussion, we, participant partners, decided to recommend:

  • Establish Ukrainian Soil Partnership in the form of the Association of legal entities and in accordance with the main pillars of the Global Soil Partnership;
  • Register the national Association as soon as possible;
  • Establish Governance for the Ukrainian Soil Partnership as folows:
  • Head
  • Vice-head
  • Secretary
  • Appoint chairs of the GSP 5 pillars of action;
  • Agree and adopt the working plan of the Ukrainian Soil Partnership for the next 5 years;
  • Authorize Ukrainian Soil Partnership in the Global Soil Partnership;
  • Prepare appropriate working documents for the next meeting of the Ukrainian Soil Partnership and hold the next meeting. Such draft documents be sent 20 working days before the next meeting to all stakeholders.

The participants of the international workshop “Ukrainian collaboration to promote Sustainable Soil
Management (SSM) within the framework of the National Soil Partnership” with a support of Ministry of
Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food and the
National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine