Soil protection

Soil is an indispensable basis of life for nature and society, their development and sustainable usability. Soil cannot be reproduced and has only a limited resilience. Once damaged, soil regenerates and recovers only very slowly, if at all. Threatening dangers can arise from the gradual accumulation of environmentally hazardous substances in the soil.

In addition to water and air, the protection of soil has also been legally defined as a further object of environmental protection. For all impacts on the soil, the precautionary principle of economical and careful use of land and soil must be observed in order to maintain the natural soil functions to a sufficient degree. Harmful soil changes or contaminated sites must be remediated. In this way, the diversity of possible uses can be preserved for future generations.

Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance (BBodSchV) (opens in a new tab)