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Soils Data Needs: an EU perspective

Arwyn Jones

European CommissionJoint Research Centre

SOIL Action

ISIS Stakeholder Workshop

Dublin

10 September 2013

ISIS: expectations?

A knowledge base to support the development and assessment of policies to manage and protect the soils of

Ireland.

Underpinned by scientifically sound data.

Repository and basis for national monitoring programme.

Support to scenario analysis and impact assessments.

Why do we need it?

European Union drivers of soil data…

Communication

COM(2006)231, 22.9.2006

Proposal for a

Soil Framework DirectiveCOM(2006)232, 22.9.2006

Impact AssessmentSEC(2006)1165 & SEC(2006)620, 22.9.2006

Report on the Implementation

of the STS (2012)

The Soil Thematic Strategy

�Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

�Climate Change Policy (Post-Kyoto debate, LULUCF)

�Energy Policy (Renewable Energies Directive)

�Biodiversity (Nature) Protection Policy (EU Biodiversity Strategy)

�Water Protection Policy (WFD, Groundwater Directive)

�Forest Protection Policy (Forest FOCUS, ICP Forest)

�Regional Policies (Structural funds)

�Food Safety (PPR Registration, EFSA)

�Food Security (FAO)

�Development Policy (ACP-Observatory)

�Waste Policy (Biowaste Directive, Sewage Sludge Directive)

�Nature conservation (NATURA 2000)

……………..etc.

Soil in EU Policy Areas

Resource Efficiency Roadmap, COM(2011) 571:

� Milestone: By 2020, EU policies take into account their

direct and indirect impact on land use in the EU and

globally, and the rate of land take is on track with an aim

to achieve no net land take by 2050; soil erosion is

reduced and the soil organic matter increased, with

remedial work on contaminated sites well underway.

� The Commission will (…) publish guidelines on best

practice to limit, mitigate or compensate soil sealing (in

2012)

Priority objective 1:

To protect, conserve and enhance the EU’s natural capital

� (23) To reduce the most significant man-made pressures on land, soil and other ecosystems in Europe,

action will be taken to ensure that decisions relating to land use at all relevant levels give proper

consideration to environmental as well as social and economic impacts. The Rio+20 Summit outcome called

for a 'land degradation neutral world'. The EU and Member States should reflect on how best to make such

a commitment operational within their respective competencies as well as to address soil quality issues

within a binding legal framework (COM(2006) 232). Targets will also be set for sustainable land use and

soil.

� (26) In order to protect, conserve and enhance the EU's natural capital, the programme shall ensure that

by 2020: (e) Land is managed sustainably in the EU, soil is adequately protected and the remediation of

contaminated sites is well underway.

�This requires, in particular: (e) Increasing efforts to reduce soil erosion and increase soil organic matter,

to remediate contaminated sites and to enhance the integration of land use aspects into coordinated

decision-making involving all relevant levels of government, supported by the adoption of targets on soil

and on land as a resource, and land planning objectives.

COM(2012) 710, 29.11.2012

Guidelines on best practice to limit, mitigate or compensate soil sealingSWD(2012) 101 final/2, 15 May 2012

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/soil/sealing_guidelines.htm

Available in all EU official

languages

Available in selected EU official languages

� Limit, mitigate or compensate soil sealing and

thus limit land take on greenfields

� Promote the regeneration of brownfield

sites and more generally the remediation of

contaminated sites, respecting the 'polluter

pays' principle

Regional Policy proposalsCohesion Policy Regulation, COM(2011) 612, 6.10.2011European Regional Development Fund, COM(2011) 614, 6.10.2011

� Policy instruments such as LFA, GAEC and

Rural Development look to improve soil quality,

limit erosion and preserve SOM.

� Preliminary research into preservation and

sequestration of OC in agricultural soils.

� Management of peatlands.

Agricultural Policy proposalsGreening of the CAP

� Increased pressure on land use from population

growth, urbanisation, soil sealing, the rising

consumption of meat and dairy products, and the

increased use of biomass for energy and other

industrial purposes

� Issues exacerbated by climate change services,

especially in relation to biodiversity, water cycle

and carbon stocks.

� Efficient Resources Use - agriculture and

horticulture are highly dependent on the good

management of soils for their long-term viability.

Implementation of EU STS (2012)

Rio+20: 'The future we want'

205. We [the Heads of State and Government and high-level

representatives] recognize the economic and social significance of

good land management, including soil, particularly its contribution

to economic growth, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and food

security, eradicating poverty, the empowerment of women, addressing

climate change and improving water availability. (…)

206. We recognize the need for urgent action to reverse land

degradation. In view of this, we will strive to achieve a

land-degradation neutral world in the context of sustainable

development. This should act to catalyse financial resources from a

range of public and private sources.

� Meeting of the Open Working Group on SDGs on 22-24

May 2013 on the cluster Food-Agriculture-DLDD

� First plenary assembly of FAO's Global Soil Partnership on

11-12 June 2013

� FAO's proposal to the UN General Assembly to endorse the

World Soil Day on 5 December

� FAO's proposal to the UN General Assembly to proclaim an

International Year of Soils in 2015

� UNCCD developments

� Second Global Soil Week organised by the IASS on 28-31

October 2013 in Berlin

International developments

UNCCD

CBD

Climate Change

BiodiversityDesertification

IPCC

CST

IPBES

Food Security

IP

Global Soil Partnership: Soil is a cross-cutting theme between

food security, climate change, desertification and biodiversity

Discussion / Issues

1. Much attention focused on threats versus spatial assessments of soil functions (MDG/SDG, biology, etc).

2. Very limited understanding and quantitative assessments of actual trends – national monitoring programme?

3. Impact assessments/scenario analysis/foresight – do we have the data for the questions asked 10-20 years from now?

� Economic estimate of the services provided by soil: fertility, water

retention, break down of pollutants, genetic pool, carbon cycle etc.

� Parameters to be considered in risk assessments for contaminated

sites & development of less-costly, more sustainable soil

remediation techniques for contaminated sites, evolution of

agricultural policies.

� Models for evaluating the effect of soil sealing on floods at local and

regional levels

� Concepts, baseline and indicators for implementing the Rio+20 goal

towards a 'land-degradation neutral world

� Preservation and enhancement of OC stocks (management of peat)

Typical impact assessments

Discussion / Issues 2

4. Multiscale assessments?

5. Integration with other data providers?

6. Awareness raising and capacity building

7. 2015 EC Communication on land as a resource

Thank you very much

for your attention.

arwyn.jones@jrc.ec.europa.eu