1Slide 1

Soil Atlas of Europe

2Slide 2

What are we trying to produce?

•Topical and Timely Publication

Soil protection legislationEnlargement of the EU

•Collaborative pan-European effort

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 16.4.2002COM(2002) 179 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THEEUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE

AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Towards a Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection

3Slide 3

Who will read the atlas?

•Reference work on European Soils for EU citizens

•Not aimed at soil scientists

•Informative, Easy •to read, graphically •stimulating

•Quality Product

4Slide 4

Format of Atlas

A book of 128 A3 Pages (Portrait

Format )

Open A2 Landscape

Spread

Mix of text, maps, pictures and diagramsEasily readable

5Slide 5

Support for Atlas

•Environment, JRC, Agriculture

•Forward by Director General of JRC

•Contributions from ESB Network

•Enthusiastic response from DG Environment

Preface by EC Commissioners

6Slide 6

Overview7 Major Sections

•Introduction•WRB•European Maps•International Section•Soil Database•Threats to soils•Supporting information

7Slide 7

Examples

8Slide 8

Examples

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An Atlas Needs Maps!•1:1M Soil Geographical Database of Europe is the heart of the atlas.

•Dominant STU assigned to each polygon.

•WRB Reference Group and FAO Label attached > Legend + Colours.

•“Generalizing procedures”.

•Individual page spreads clipped.

10Slide 10

Soils of Europe

Overview Map

11Slide 11

Regional Page Spreads

20 regional

map sheets

12Slide 12

Regional Page Spreads

13Slide 13

Regional Page Spreads• Scandinavia: north & Iceland (2.5)

•Denmark, S. Sweden, S. Norway (2.5)

•Baltic States (1.5)

• UK & Eire (2.5)

•Germany and Switzerland (2.5)

•Poland (2.5)

• France & Benelux (2.5)

• Czech Republic & Austria (1.5)

• Hungary & Slovakia (1.5)

•Spain & Portugal (2.5)

•Italy, Malta, Slovenia & Croatia (2.5)

• Romania (& Moldova) (1.5)

• Greece / Albania (1.5)

• Turkey & Cyprus (4)

•Belarus (1.5)

•Ukraine (2.5)

• Russia

14Slide 14

International Context - World

Updated FAO World Soils Data BaseAtlas WRB Legend

15Slide 15

International Context - Mediterranean

16Slide 16

International Context – Northern Soils

Transformation of US Taxonomy to WRB

17Slide 17

International Context – Northern Soils 2

18Slide 18

Soil Properties Maps and Use of DB

Soil Organic Matter

Texture Triangle

% Sand, % Silt, % Clay

Depth to rock

Available Water Capacity

Bulk Density

Parent Material

Cation Exchange

Etc….

19Slide 19

Use of SGDB

Soil Erosion Risk

0-0.1gL-10.1-0.5gL-1>0.5gL-1

Risk from pesticide leaching

N2O from soils