Under Your Feet

5

Saving the planet

A gas called carbon

dioxide (CO

2

) traps heat

in the air and makes our

planet warmer. Soils store

carbon (found in CO

2

), so

protecting them could help

slow global warming.

Green spaces

Green spaces are full of

plants that absorb CO

2

and release oxygen. Soil

creates a sturdy foundation

for roots. It provides a store

of nutrients and water that

plants use to grow.

Houses are built on

foundations that are dug

into the soil. If the soil

becomes unstable then

foundations can slip and

the house may start to sink.

Food

Many animals need

soil-growing plants to eat. In

turn, other animals need to eat

those animals to survive.

Cracks can appear

if part of the house

starts to sink.

T

h

e

l

e

a

v

e

s

o

f

t

r

e

e

s

rele

a

s

e

o

x

y

g

e

n

.

A

n

i

m

a

l

s

r

e

l

e

a

s

e

C

O

2

.

F

oun

da

tions

004-005_why_do_we_need_soil.indd 5 31/10/2019 14: