Towards a Harmonised Soil Monitoring Framework Across Europe

One of the key components of the European Soil Mission is the development of a robust, harmonised soil monitoring framework to assess policy impacts and track soil health trends. Aiming to bridge knowledge gaps, especially in urban, forest, and industrial soils, the PREPSOIL project has made significant progress in integrating data from agricultural soil monitoring projects while expanding coverage to non-agricultural soils.
The initiative aims to address existing gaps, assess the suitability of soil indicators, and harmonise methodologies for monitoring diverse land use types across Europe.

Task 5.1 methodology includes two key phases:

1. Review of Soil Monitoring Projects: Analyzing 23 EU-supported projects dedicated to soil monitoring, providing a comprehensive database of current and past efforts.
2. Inventory of National Practices: Documenting soil monitoring programs in five countries, with a focus on non-agricultural areas. This includes information on land use, sampling strategies, threats, and indicators, along with identifying weaknesses and offering recommendations for improvement.

The initial findings highlight gaps in coverage for non-agricultural soils and provide insights into soil monitoring techniques. These findings serve as a foundation for broader discussions involving soil experts, national hubs, and related organisations.

The ongoing dialogue aims to refine soil monitoring recommendations and expand geographical representation, with updates expected as the project progresses toward its 24-month goal. Ultimately, Task 5.1 seeks to consolidate and harmonize monitoring frameworks to ensure sustainable soil management across diverse landscapes in Europe.

This initiative marks a vital step toward understanding and protecting Europe's soils, laying groundwork for informed policymaking and sustainable land management.

Want to know more about PREPSOIL’s work towards a shared soil monitoring framework? Please visit PREPSOIL’s website on the topic, and for further, detailed information please find the deliverable Analysis of knowledge base available to monitor soil indicators proposed under the Soil Mission on Zenodo.

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