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Department of Soil Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany (e-mail: wolfgang.burghardt{at}uni-essen.de)
Sealing implies separation of soils from the atmosphere and above-ground biosphere by impermeable layers. Sealing has a strong impact on soils. The degree of sealing is related to the type of land use and to the population density. Sealed areas are still increasing, and it is often the most fertile soils which are sealed. The negative effects of sealing are partial or total loss of soils, e.g. for plant production and habitats, and an increase in floods, as well as an increase in health and social costs. On the other hand, sealed areas contribute hugely to the gross national product of a country. The most effective contributions for reducing soil sealing are expected to come from the engineering sciences. Other contributions could be made by the economic and social sciences. It is also important to address the problem at a political level, e.g. by passing an international convention to prevent soil consumption. Despite all these problems, soils can still exist underneath sealed areas. Their properties can be used to mitigate the negative effects of sealing.
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  W. E. H. Blum, B. P. Warkentin, and E. Frossard Soil, human society and the environment Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2006; 266: 1 - 8. [Abstract] [PDF]
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