ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses cultural and ethical views of ancient civilizations with regard to the sustainable use of natural resources in general and the world's soil resources in particular. Soil degradation, the decline in soil quality with an attendant reduction in ecosystem services, is governed by the interactive effects of processes, factors, and causes. The causes of soil degradation are social, cultural, and political parameters encompassing institutional support, land tenure, infrastructure, access to market and credit, and level of education. The human dimension of soil degradation strongly impacts the intensity and severity of a specific process. Land rights are also important in managing soil quality on a long-term basis. R. Lal summarized basic concepts underlining sustainable management of soils, especially with regard to the serious and widespread problem of soil degradation and desertification in the developing countries of the tropics and subtropics.
