The Red Book of soils

Theoretical basis for the creation of the Red Books of Soils

The creation of Soils Red Book is one of the applied aims of soil science however based on theoretical foundation in conjuction with the facts cumulate in the course of development of soil and related sciences.

Distinctive features of the Red Book of soils

There is a great deal of specific features of soils as natural body that distinguished soils from plants and animals. That is why the principles of construction and the rules of reference used in the Red Books of plants and animals can't be’used for the Red Book of soils. These features include:

• continuity of soil as a natural object (gradual transition from one difference to another)
• no obvious basic unit of study and classification (similar to plants and animals);
• difficult soil reproducibility as a natural historical formation;
• indissoluble connection of soil with the landscape in which it was formed

Approaches to the protection of natural soils should also be different from the methods of conservation used for wild animals and plants. The preservation of soil areas in natural landscapes is the only method represented conservation value.

The Red Book of soils is not just a list of soil differences to be protected. It contains information of representatives of the classification units indicating specific areas of reference soils. All soils in the Red Book are divided into sections and subsections according to their degree of rarity, genetic characteristics, scientific and practical values, purposes and methods of protection.