Our History

The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (the GSBI) was founded in 2011 in Wageningen, The Netherlands, by Richard Bardgett, Luca Montanarella, Johan Six, Wim van der Putten, and Diana Wall.  They recognized the need for greater international collaboration across disciplines to advance understanding of soil biodiversity and to bring this knowledge into policy and land management. [picture of the group]

From this beginning, Diana Wall played a defining role in building and leading the GSBI as an international initiative.  Based at Colorado State University, where she was University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of the School of Global Environmental Sustainability, Diana provided the leadership and institutional support that enabled the GSBI to develop its international community and grow its influence across soil biodiversity science, assessment, policy, and practice.  The GSBI operated through Colorado State University for many years, and we gratefully acknowledge the university's longstanding support. [pictures of Diana]

Under Diana's leadership, the GSBI grew through more than a decade of international research, assessment, collaboration, and engagement with policy and practice.  Diana Wall's passing in February 2024 marked a significant transition for the GSBI.  Diana had been not only a founding member, but an enduring force behind the GSBI and the global soil biodiversity community.