How to read the map: This 'convergence of evidence' map shows where scientific evidence converges to indicate areas that are likely to be affected by soil degradation processes. Three maps are presented: one showing all available soil degradation indicators (19 indicators), one showing the erosion indicators (6 indicators), and one showing the pollution indicators (6 indicators).

All data sources and used thresholds are listed here. The resulted binary maps (healthy/unhealthy) are available here.

In each pixel, the map indicates the number of soil degradation processes likely to be present. The legend should be read as follows. "Soil sealing" (grey colour) indicates pixels where soil is sealed, masking out all other types of soil degradation. The coloured range, ...from 0 to 8, applies to pixels without soil sealing and for which data are available (not all indicators apply to all pixels).‘0’ (green colour) indicates that none of the soil degradation indicators available in this pixel exceeds the thresholds set (see below). ‘1’ indicates that one of the soil degradation indicators available in this pixel exceeds the threshold set. And so on for ‘2’ until ‘8’, with 8 being the maximum number of concurrent degradations found based on the current evidence. When clicking on a pixel, the type of degradation process(es) available and their status is shown. The map resolution is 500 meters, i.e. each pixel is 500mx500m.

The map provides an indication of where unhealthy soils may be located in the EU. This map will be updated as new scientific evidence becomes available. Each dataset is subject to a degree of uncertainty (e.g. scale, resolution, method of assessment, date) and underlying assumptions, which need to be taken into account when reading this map.

Thresholds have been set for each soil degradation process to categorise healthy from unhealthy soils. These thresholds have been based on a combination of scientific estimates and adopted critical limits. They represent an estimate of the point beyond which most soils can reasonably be considered unhealthy or vulnerable to a certain process. Given the very wide range of soil types, some EU-wide thresholds may result in large uncertainties. They are used here only in the context of this ‘convergence of evidence’ exercise. Work is currently ongoing to assess the feasibility of applying locally based thresholds. The thresholds used are detailed here for transparency but the authors of this map stress that these are by no means precise enough to determine soil health at a local level, which should take into account local conditions notably soil type and climate. In the section on ‘Soil degradation indicators’, four different thresholds can be selected for the soil erosion indicators.

The EUSO dashboard, developed and maintained by the JRC’s soil team (JRC.D3), supports the policy case for the proposed Soil Monitoring law and the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 by providing evidence about the extent of soil degradation in the EU. It also comes in support to the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, of which soil health monitoring is a key component. Over time, demonstrating that the health of European soils is improving would be a clear indicator of the success of the Mission Soil, the Soil Strategy, the proposed Soil Monitoring Law and of the EU Green Deal policies at large. In the long term, the EUSO dashboard could be supplemented by data provided through the formal reporting of soil health by Member States.