Sahil’s 20,000-kilometre cycling adventure began a month ago in Queensland and will take him through four continents and 20 countries to raise awareness for global movement ‘Save Soil’. His journey, which aims to help restore the earth’s most vital resource, will span Australia, Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the goal of reaching millions of people through school events, public talks and social media campaigns. 

Through his pedal power, Sahil hopes to bring attention to the urgent need to address soil degradation, which is threatening food security, biodiversity and our planet’s health. Within just three weeks of starting, he has already presented at six schools in Queensland, visited three universities and participated in three public events. 

However, this isn’t Sahil’s first campaign for soil. At just 16 years old, he has cycled 15,000 kilometres across India, engaging over 250 institutions, political leaders and media outlets to raise awareness about soil degradation. Now, he’s taking his message to a global audience. 

Soil degradation caused by overuse, deforestation and poor agricultural practices has far-reaching consequences for the planet. Not only does it threaten food security (with predictions of a 40 per cent reduction in food production within the next 20 years), it also exacerbates climate change, contributes to biodiversity loss and leads to nutritional deficiencies for over two billion people worldwide.  

The solution to the problem lies in restoring soil health through sustainable practices like increasing organic matter in the soil, promoting biodiversity and implementing policies that prioritise soil conservation.  

As Sahil pedals his way across the globe, it’s a reminder to all of us to take action and stand up for soil health. Planting trees is one of the simplest and most powerful actions we can take to do so, as trees protect and enrich soil by preventing erosion and improving water retention. Volunteer to plant trees this National Tree Day this 27 July and help build a more resilient planet.

Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.

Image credits to Save Soil Movement.