ABSTRACT
The fundamental cause of soil degradation is public attitude toward and perception of the overall environment and how natural resources need to be managed in a sustainable way. The lack of a basic understanding of soils is further confounded and exacerbated by the lack of knowledge with regard to the impact of anthropogenic perturbations on soil properties and processes. Taking soil for granted (e.g., it is there for human use, it can withstand abuse, its capacity to produce is limitless, degradation is temporary, and technology can fix or solve any problem) can exacerbate the problem. Also, the failure to see what the impacts of farming and other operations have on soils is not understood, yields have continued to increase even as the natural soil resource was degraded because of the increasing use of inputs and adoption of improved varieties. It was because of this masking effect of inputs on crop yields that the adverse impacts on soil degradation and decline in air and water qualities were not comprehended. Therefore, controlling soil degradation and restoring degraded soils require behavioral change to alter the attitudes and perceptions. The human dimensions of soil degradation are complex, but understanding these dimensions is important to establishing appropriate policies that minimize risks and restore degraded soils. It was not until 1972 that a policy was put in place that required restoration of mined soils.
