The contribution of natural burials to soil ecosystem services: review and emergent research questions

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dc.contributor.authorPawlett, Mark
dc.contributor.authorGirkin, Nicholas T.
dc.contributor.authorDeeks, Lynda K.
dc.contributor.authorEvans, Daniel L.
dc.contributor.authorSakrabani, Ruben
dc.contributor.authorMasters, Peter
dc.contributor.authorGarnett, Kenisha
dc.contributor.authorMarquez-Grant, Nicholas
dc.date.accessioned2023-11-23T11:54:54Z
dc.date.available2023-11-23T11:54:54Z
dc.date.issued2023-11-22
dc.description.abstractThe modern funeral industry faces many environmental risks and challenges, such as the use of sustainable materials for coffins, the release of potentially damaging materials and organisms to the soil and groundwater, and reduced space available for cemeteries. “Natural burial” proposes an alternative and more sustainable funeral practice, omitting the use of preservatives that inhibit body decomposition, thus proposing to reduce environmental degradation and benefit soil ecosystem services. This study conducted a literature review to identify proposed risks and benefits of “natural” compared to “traditional” burial practices, identifies knowledge gaps, and proposes further research questions. The approach was multidisciplinary, including literature from soil, environmental, forensic, and archaeological sciences, and the Humanities. Results identified that here are some clear environmental benefits to natural burial, such as habitat creation and aboveground biodiversity. However, there is a substantial deficit of research that compares the unseen risks and benefits of natural burial practice. Multiple potential risk factors include: (i) groundwater contaminated with biochemical products of decomposition, pathogens, and pharmaceutical products, (ii) atmospheric emissions, including greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O). There is also a deficit of information related to the release of cadaver decomposition products to soil ecological processes. More detailed scientific research is required to identify the risks and benefits of funeral options, thus develop fit for purpose regulations and legislation and to describe the cultural incentives for natural burial. This paper identifies key areas of research required to understand and mitigate the potential environmental and cultural implications of human burial practices.en_UK
dc.identifier.citationPawlett M, Girkin NT, Deeks L, et al., (2024) The contribution of natural burials to soil ecosystem services: review and emergent research questions. Applied Soil Ecology, Volume 194, February 2024, Article number 105200en_UK
dc.identifier.issn0929-1393
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105200
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/20579
dc.language.isoenen_UK
dc.publisherElsevieren_UK
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subjectNatural Burialen_UK
dc.subjectFunerary practiceen_UK
dc.subjectSoil ecosystem servicesen_UK
dc.subjectSoilen_UK
dc.subjectEnvironmental impacten_UK
dc.titleThe contribution of natural burials to soil ecosystem services: review and emergent research questionsen_UK
dc.typeArticleen_UK

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