Soil health and biodiversity rely heavily on a complex web of organisms and natural processes that have often been overlooked in modern land management practices. Research and observations highlight the critical role that dead and decaying wood plays in sustaining forest ecosystems, supporting as many as 40 percent of forest-dwelling species.

Until the 1970s, fallen wood was commonly cleared from forests and gardens, but this approach is now largely recognized as detrimental. Retaining dead wood in wooded areas encourages the proliferation of numerous organisms, from fungi to insects, which contribute to soil fertility and overall ecosystem resilience. Some gardeners have taken this lesson to heart by deliberately creating damp log piles in less maintained areas to foster biodiversity.

Among the intriguing creatures associated with soil and forest habitats is a mite species that has reproduced without males for an estimated 100 million years through parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction. This phenomenon has garnered interest due to its rarity and evolutionary implications. Other noteworthy species include the invasive Asian jumping worm, the extinct trigonotarbid—an ancient relative of modern spiders—and the velvet worm equipped with unique adhesive organs on its head.

One striking example of subterranean life is the Badischer Riesenregenwurm, a giant earthworm endemic to Germany’s Black Forest, which can reach lengths of up to two feet. Earthworm populations like this one play a vital role in soil aeration and nutrient cycling.

Grasslands, particularly ancient and minimally disturbed ones, can harbor some of the richest soils in the world, sometimes containing as much as 100 tons of living biomass per hectare underground. To illustrate this quantity, it has been compared to the weight of about 15 African bull elephants beneath the area of a standard rugby pitch.

Historically, forests covered at least 80 percent of the Earth’s land area, but today they account for approximately 32 percent. While changes in land cover are not inherently problematic, efforts to restore or augment forested areas must be strategic. Experts emphasize the value of agroforestry or “wood pasture,” a land-use system combining trees, shrubs, and crops or grasslands, which resembles many traditional European farmlands and supports both agricultural productivity and biodiversity.

Despite ongoing habitat shifts and land-use pressures, soil degradation remains a severe global challenge, with around one-third of the planet’s soils classified as moderately to severely degraded. Recognizing and preserving soil health is increasingly critical for sustaining natural ecosystems, wildlife populations, and human livelihoods.