Chartered Environmentalists | Consultation: Ten principles of good soils and stones management
Overview
In Spring 2021, SocEnv published a report led by Chartered Environmentalists working across construction, resource management, forestry, engineering, and agricultural/land management. Freely accessible via the SocEnv website, the report rectified the glaring need for a joined-up study on the use of soils and stones across sectors.
Among the report's recommendations was the need for an overarching Soils and Stones framework against which existing legislation and regulation can be reviewed and improved.
The document seeks to provide a brief and clear outline of how to use and re-use soils and stones – in a way that reflects their huge value as vital resources.
More about the principles
The ten principles (found below) seek to provide this vital framework for good soils and stones management, achieved by giving soils a quantifiable value that will:
- Preserve, protect, remediate, and enhance natural soils as a living system.
- Present a hierarchy of options for excavated soils, stones, and dredgings.
- Make soil a material consideration in all land-use and development projects.
It is aimed that these principles will be embedded into all Government policies and mobilise the expertise of environmental professionals working across disciplines.
The principles will be of use to legislators, land managers, developers, consultants, and soils practitioners. They will also benefit those working in agriculture, forestry, leisure, construction, remediation, waste management, aggregate and landscaping industry sectors.
Society for the Environment are keen to gain feedback on and determine support for the principles, to ensure they reflect a wide understanding of how soils and stones should be managed and used. Therefore, please find a copy of the draft principles for your consideration. Please do get in touch with Sarah Ridgeon ([email protected]) by 6 January 2023, indicating whether you support the principles as they stand.
If you respond please also send a copy of your responses to Joanne Rowlands, Project Management Executive, [email protected]
