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Integration of the Soil Database of Turkey into European Soil Database 1:1.000.000 In order to extend the Soil Geographical Database (SGDBE) to the countries of Mediterranean Basin, the preparation of soil geographical database of Turkey at 1:1 million scales was initiated at the end of 2008. In the current report, the reader will be informed about the preparation of soil geographical database of Turkey compatible with European database and how the Turkish soil data have been integrated the European Soil Database. The implementation of this work has been achieved since we have built a common understanding and nomenclature of soils in Europe and Mediterranean region. A number of attributes have been transformed from local/regional/national soil datasets while some other attributes have been obtained from auxiliary datasets using remote sensing and GIS Techniques. Authors: Ece Aksoy, Panos Panagos, Luca Montanarella, Arwyn Jones (2010). Integration of the Soil Database of Turkey into European Soil Database 1:1.000.000. EUR 24295 EN. ISSN 1018-5593. ISBN 978-92-79-15306-8. DOI 10.2788/77892. 45 pp. Keywords: European Soil Database 1:1.000.000, Turkish Soil Data, GIS Techniques, Remote Sensing Download report: (Size: 5.6 MB) Preview FrontPage : Last Update: 30/03/2010

Land Quality and Land Use Information - in the European Union This monograph contains a selection of scientific papers presented on the conference on Land Quality and Land Use Information in the European Union, hold in Keszthely, Hungary. It covers topics related to various aspects of land quality including: concepts of assessment; evaluation of biomass productivity; bioindicators of land quality; quality assessment of degraded land; land use related data processing; INSPIRE; and the economic aspects of land quality. The aim of the conference was to facilitate the exchange of information and views among stakeholders involved in land management, land resources research and land use policy planning. This exchange of information contributes to an enhanced understanding on the role of land quality in rural systems and to progress the development of land information, land registries, land use planning and related services based on land quality on different levels; from farm to continental scales in Europe. Editors: Gergely Tóth and Tamás Németh, 2011 – 399 pp. – EUR 24590 EN– Scientific and Technical Research series – ISSN 1831-9424, ISBN 978-92-79-17601-2, Doi 10.2788/40725 Download report: (Size: 8 MB) Preview FrontPage : Last Update: 06/09/2011

Spatial prediction of soil properties at European scale using the LUCAS database as an harmonization layer The Land Use and Cover Area frame Statistical survey (LUCAS) is a project, initiated by Eurostat, aimed at the collection of harmonized data about the state of land use/ land cover over the extent of European Union (EU). The survey, initiated in 2006, started with the classification, through photo-interpretation, of 106 georeferenced points placed at the nodes of a 2km grid covering EU. Among these 2
105 were selected for validation and a topsoil survey was conducted at about 10% of these sites. Topsoil sampling locations were selected as to be representative of European landscape using a latin hypercube stratified random sampling, taking into account CORINE land cover 2000, the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM and its derived slope, aspect and curvature. In this study we will discuss how the LUCAS database can be used to map soil properties at continental scale over the geographical extent of Europe. Several soil properties (namely: soil texture, pH, carbon and nitrogen content) were predicted using hybrid approaches like regression kriging. Regression models were fitted using, along other variables, remotely sensed data coming from the MODIS sensor. The high temporal resolution of MODIS allowed detecting changes in the vegetative response due to soil properties, which can then be used to map soil features distribution. We will also discuss the prediction of intrinsically collinear variables like soil texture which required the use of models capable of dealing with multivariate constrained dependent variables like Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines. Cross validation of the fitted models proved that the LUCAS dataset constitutes a good sample for mapping puropses leading to regression R2 between 0.4 and 0.7 for different soil properties and normalised errors between 4 and 10%. Finally a strategy about how to use LUCAS as an harmonization layer to attune heterogeneous soil information sources is presented and discussed Access the paper Last Update: 14/10/2014

Background values in European soils and sewage sludges Results of a JRC- coordinated study on background values B. M. Gawlik and G. Bidoglio(2006) EUR 22265 EN , European Commission, Ispra, Italy, ISBN 92-79-02120-6 , ISSN 1018-5593 Part I - Evaluation of the relevance of organic micro-pollutants in sewage sludge (R. Leschber). Download Part I: (Size: 0.5 MB) Part II - Contents of trace elements and organic matter in European soils (J. Utermann, O. Düwel, I. Nagel). Download Part II: (Size: 7.5 MB) Part III - Conclusions, comments and recommendations (B. M. Gawlik , G. Bidoglio) Download Part III: (Size: 0.4 MB)

Land Information Systems: Developments for planning the sustainable use of land resources. The Proceedings are divided into 8 sections. The European Perspective on the compilation, management, distribution and application of soil- and land-related databases(Section 1-2); The National Perspective in Europe, with contributions from all over the continent(Section 3); Techniques and Technologies on the application of new methodologies(Section 4); Environmental Applications using information systems for solving practical problems in the management of land(Section 5); Land Evaluation on traditional uses of soil and land data for land suitability(Section 6); Poster presentations(Section 7); and a Database Dictionary for the Soil Geographical Database of Europe(Section 8). H.J. Heineke, W. Eckelmann, A.J. Thomasson, R.J.A. Jones, L. Montanarella and B. Buckley (eds). EUR 17729 EN 546pp. (1998). Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. Download report: (Size: 107 MB) Last Update: 10/10/2011 Navigate the Contents: Preview FrontPage:

Soils, Society & Global Change This book highlights how our ability to manage soils plays an important role in global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity reduction, food and water security, and economic and social progress. It explores policy and legal challenges, knowledge management issues, and the crucial role of soil in the successful implementation of the global environmental conventions. The book concludes with the Programme for Action which includes a number of proactive recommendations on how global policies can be improved to protect soil as a resource. The context for this book is the 2007 centennial celebrations of organized conservation and restoration of soil and vegetation in Iceland. As Europe’s northernmost nation, Iceland historically suffered acute land degradation problems and through a century of perseverance has now become a world leader in soil restoration research and techniques. A number of international partners and world-class experts on a variety of pertinent fields gathered in Selfoss, Iceland to join in an International Forum. This book outlines the groundbreaking ideas developed by these experts to address the global soil problems and innovative ways to address the combined challenges of soil, society and global change. Proceedings of the International Forum Celebrating the Centenary of Conservation and Restoration of Soil and Vegetation in Iceland Edited by Harriet Bigas, Gudmundur Ingi Gudbrandsson, Luca Montanarella and Andrés Arnalds. European Communities, pp 212, 2009. JRC50243, EUR 23784 EN, Catalogue number: LB-NA-23784-EN-C , ISSN: 1018-5593, ISBN 978-92-79-11775-6, DOI: 10.2788/84964 Download report: (Size: 10 MB) Preview FrontPage : Last Update: 30/06/2009

Methods to interpolate soil categorical variables from profile observations: Lessons from Iran Hengl T., Toomanian N., Reuter H.I., Malakouti M.J. (2007). Published by Elsevier B.V. Abstract The paper compares semi-automated interpolation methods to produce soil-class maps from profile observations and by using multiple auxiliary predictors such as terrain parameters, remote sensing indices and similar. Access the paper or contact the Author T. Hengl for more information

Validation of soil erosion estimates at European scale. A.J.J. Van Rompaey, V. Vieillefont, R.J.A. Jones, L. Montanarella, G. Verstraeten, P. Bazzoffi, T. Dostal, J.Krasa, J. Devente, J. Poesen. (2003). EUR 20827 EN, 24pp. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. Available in 2 languages: Download document: (Size: 1.7 MB) Preview FrontPage: Télécharger le document: (Taille: 1.7 MB) Prévisualiser la page de couverture:

Risk Assessment Methodologies of Soil Threats in Europe This report which presents the results of the RAMSOIL project is published. The general objective of the RAMSOIL project was to provide scientific guidelines on possibilities for EU wide parameter harmonization based on detailed information on current risk assessment methodologies of soil threats encountered within EU Member States. In RAMSOIL current risk assessments methodologies used in the EU are collected and evaluated. The results are summarized in this book. Currently, there are various risk assessment methodologies (RAMs) and the question has risen to what extent these RAMs yield similar outcome and, if not, whether the outcome can be harmonized, i.e. whether the results of the various RAMs can be made compatible or comparable. In this study i) the current status of RAMs for erosion, soil organic matter decline, compaction, and salinization in the European Union (EU27) is reviewed, and ii) the need and the options for harmonization are assessed. The need for harmonization was defined as the likelihood of achieving different outcomes when using different RAMs, whereas the options for harmonization refer to the efforts that are required to harmonize soil RAMs. Author(s):Christy van Beek and Gergely Tóth 2012 – 84pp. – EUR 24097 EN – EUR – Scientific and Technical Research series – ISSN 1018-5593 (print), ISSN 1831-9424 (online) , ISBN 978-92-79-14291-8, doi: 10.2788/47096 Download report: (Size: 1.5 MB) Preview FrontPage : Last Update: 10/05/2012

Biochar application to soils Biochar application to soils is being considered as a means to sequester carbon (C) while concurrently improving soil functions. The main focus of this report is providing a critical scientific review of the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of biochar application to soils on soil properties, processes and functions. Wider issues, including atmospheric emissions and occupational health and safety associated to biochar production and handling, are put into context. The aim of this review is to provide a sound scientific basis for policy development, to identify gaps in current knowledge, and to recommend further research relating to biochar application to soils. Verheijen, F.G.A., Jeffery, S., Bastos, A.C., van der Velde, M., and Diafas, I. (2009). Biochar Application to Soils - A Critical Scientific Review of Effects on Soil Properties, Processes and Functions. EUR 24099 EN, Office for the Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 149pp. Keywords: Biochar, sequester carbon, charcoal Download report: (Size: 1.2 MB) Preview FrontPage : Last Update: 02/02/2010

Soil carbon sequestration for climate food security and ecosystem services The international conference SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION for climate, food security and ecosystem services – linking science, policy and action (SCS2013) took place in Reykjavik Iceland on 27. – 29. May 2013. The conference was organized by the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, the Agricultural University of Iceland and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (Collaboration Agreement No 31059) in partnership with a group of international and UN agencies, universities and non-governmental organizations. The scientific soil community acknowledges that there is an urgent need to communicate better the value of soil carbon to a broader public. The message so far has not actively reached the media, the public and policy makers. The SCS2013 conference brought together a broad spectrum of soil carbon experts, in order to link science, policy and action on soil carbon sequestration issues. Approximately 200 people from 40 countries from all continents attended the conference: young and high level scientists; present and future leaders in restoration and land management; administrators and policymakers. The conference received extensive media coverage, both in Iceland and globally. Despite coming from different countries and backgrounds, with varied scientific interests and convictions, the overall message was that soil and soil management, specifically soil carbon, needs be a substantial part of the solution in mitigating climate change, ensuring food security and providing ecosystem services. Furthermore soil conservation, preservation and restoration could be considered as "win-win" processes for meeting other goals. The SCS2013 conference represented an excellent example of bridge between scientists, land managers and policy makers. The EC was actively involved in the conference and is still willing to bridge the communication gap between science and policy and to continue to act as interface. The conference proceedings aim to present how the potential role of soil carbon sequestration has been discussed along different sessions (forest/ cropland/ revegetation/ desertification/ wetland/ rangeland/ verification) and from different perspectives. Editors: Guðmundur Halldórsson, Francesca Bampa, Arna Björk Þorsteinsdóttir, Bjarni D. Sigurdsson, Luca Montanarella and Andrés Arnalds . Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union 2014 – 314 pp. – EUR 26540 EN Scientific and Technical Research series – ISSN 1831-9424 (online) ISBN 978-92-79-35595-0(PDF), doi:10.2788/17815 Download report: (Size: 117 MB) Preview FrontPage : Last Update: 02/07/2014

Landslide susceptibility mapping at 1:1M scale over France. Malet, J.-P., Thiery, Y., Puissant, A., Hervás, J., Guenther, A., Grandjean, G., 2009.. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 11, EGU2009-3274. Download the abstract: Landslide susceptibility mapping at 1:1M scale over France

Ground Based SAR and Terrestrial Laser Scanner data for the analysis of the Formigal landslide; the GALAHAD project test site in the Spanish Pyrenees. Herrera, G., Ponce de León, D., Mulas, J., Llorente, M., Hervás, J., Noferini, L., Mecatti, D., Macaluso, G., Tamburini, A., Federici, P., 2007. 7th Geomatics Week, Barcelona, Spain, 20-23 February 2007, CD-ROM, 2 pp. Download the Article: Ground Based SAR and Terrestrial Laser Scanner data for the analysis of the Formigal landslide; the GALAHAD project test site in the Spanish Pyrenees.

Towards a common approach for mapping areas susceptible to landslides in Europe. Hervás, J., Günther, A., Reichenbach, P., Guzzetti, F., Chacón, J., Pasuto, A., Trigila, A., Malet, J.-P., Tagliavini, F., 2008. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 10, EGU2008-A-12200. Download the Abstract: Towards a common approach for mapping areas susceptible to landslides in Europe

Estimate of Peatland Distributuion in Estonia Using an Integrated GIS/RS Approach. Gardi C, Sommer S, Seep K, Montanarella L. Estimate of Peatland Distributuion in Estonia Using an Integrated GIS/RS Approach. In Conference Proceedings: Proceedings of the 33rd International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment,ISBN 978-0-932913-13-5. Madison WI (United States of America): Omni-Press; 2009. Determination of the spatial extent of peatland is important for the evaluation of soil carbon stocks. At European Level there is a need to provide accurate and updated estimate of the distribution of peatland. Comparison of national data with EU wide land cover mapping shows that there is limited compatibility between the different data sets. The aim of the present study is to test a methodology of standardized mapping and monitoring of peatlands at regional level (national to supra-national bio-climatic regions) based on the enhanced integration of existing thematic maps through GIS analysis in combination with remote sensing, using Estonia as study case. Download the Article: Estimate of Peatland Distributuion in Estonia Using an Integrated GIS/RS Approach. Last Update: 26/04/2010

Introduction of European Soil Portal and Soil Mapping Panagos, P., Montanarella, L and Van Liedekerke, M. . Pages 95 - 99 Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the East and Southeast Asia Federation of Soil Science Societies (ESAFS9), Symposium on Asia-Centric Soil Informatics . 27 october - 28 October 2009, Seoul, Korea. The European Soil Portal is the joint contribution of the European Commission and the European Soil Bureau Network (ESBN) to the building of a thematic spatial data infrastructure for soils. This portal, located at http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu , is the place in which all relevant data and information regarding soils at European level has been collected. It serves also as a vehicle to promote the activities of the European Soil Bureau Network. Spatial data collection and processing within this infrastructure is performed according to emerging ideas behind the INSPIRE Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community. INSPIRE deals, among others, with difficulties to identify, access and use available spatial information in Europe. The European Soil Portal has been considered as a success story of networking different soil information in European level. It is mainly built around the European Soil Database (ESDB), which consists of a number of components of which the Soil Geographical Database of Eurasia (SGDBE) at Scale 1:1,000,000 is one. It is a representation of the diversity and spatial variability of the soil coverage across Europe and its neighbouring countries. Download the Article: Introduction of European Soil Portal and Soil Mapping Last Update: 3/11/2009

Soils, Society & Global Change. Proceedings of the International Forum Celebrating the Centenary of Conservation and Restoration of Soil and Vegetation in Iceland Edited by Harriet Bigas, Gudmundur Ingi Gudbrandsson, Luca Montanarella and Andrés Arnalds. 31 August - 4 September 2007, Selfoss, Iceland. This book highlights how our ability to manage soils plays an important role in global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity reduction, food and water security, and economic and social progress. It explores policy and legal challenges, knowledge management issues, and the crucial role of soil in the successful implementation of the global environmental conventions. The book concludes with the Programme for Action which includes a number of proactive recommendations on how global policies can be improved to protect soil as a resource. The context for this book is the 2007 centennial celebrations of organized conservation and restoration of soil and vegetation in Iceland. As Europe's northernmost nation, Iceland historically suffered acute land degradation problems and through a century of perseverance has now become a world leader in soil restoration research and techniques. A number of international partners and world-class experts on a variety of pertinent fields gathered in Selfoss, Iceland to join in an International Forum. This book outlines the groundbreaking ideas developed by these experts to address the global soil problems and innovative ways to address the combined challenges of soil, society and global change. Download the Proceedings: Soils, Society & Global Change. Last Update: 30/06/2009

Progress in landslide susceptibility mapping over Europe using Tier-based approaches. Günther, A., Hervás, J., Reichenbach, P., Malet, J.-P., 2010. Progress in landslide susceptibility mapping over Europe using Tier-based approaches. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 12, EGU2010-15275. The European Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection aims, among other objectives, to ensure a sustainable use of soil. The legal instrument of the strategy, the proposed Framework Directive, suggests identifying priority areas of several soil threats including landslides using a coherent and compatible approach based on the use of common thematic data. In a first stage, this can be achieved through landslide susceptibility mapping using geographically nested, multi-step tiered approaches, where areas identified as of high susceptibility by a first, synoptic-scale Tier ("Tier 1") can then be further assessed and mapped at larger scale by successive Tiers. Download the Article: Progress in landslide susceptibility mapping over Europe using Tier-based approaches Last Update: 20/05/2010

Legislation and Policy of European Union concerning Protection of the Environment Beata Housková - Luca Montanarella. Contaminated Sites, Bratislava 15-17 June 2009 Protection of the environment belongs to the priorities of European Union's policy. Tools of such policy realisation are Thematic Strategies. Concept of Thematic Strategies has been introduced in the 6th Environment Action Programme of the European Community. This programme is planned to be realised in time period 2002-2012. Strategies are thematic - they cover interested parts of environment and respective threats to human health and environment as a whole or specifically related. Download the Article: Legislation and Policy of European Union concerning Protection of the Environment Last Update: 17/11/2009

Desertification in Europe (15th International Congress, Budapest, Hungary). Montanarella, L. and G. Tóth 2008. 15th Congress of the International Soil Conservation Organization. 18-23 May, 2008. Budapest. Download the Article: Desertification in Europe from the Proceedings Volume Publised by the Geographycal Research Institute, Hungary ISBN 978 963 9545 20 5. Attached is also the Presentation "Desertification in Europe"

Approaches for Delineating Areas Susceptible to Landslides in the Framework of the European Soil Thematic Strategy. Günther, A., Reichenbach, P., Hervás, J., 2008. Proceedings of the First World Landslide Forum, Tokyo, 18-21 November 2008, pp. 235-238. Download the Paper: Approaches for Delineating Areas Susceptible to Landslides in the Framework of the European Soil Thematic Strategy

Landslide ground based remote sensing monitoring: Formigal case study (Huesca, Spain). Herrera, G., Ponce de León, D., Mulas, J., Llorente, M., Hervás, J., Luzi, G., Mecatti, D., Noferini, L., Macaluso, G., Pieraccini, M., Tamburini, A., Federici, P., 2007. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 9, EGU2007-A-07945. Download the Abstract: Landslide ground based remote sensing monitoring: Formigal case study (Huesca, Spain).

Geostatistical analysis of surface soil texture from Zala county in western Hungary K. Adhikari, A. Guadagnini, G. Toth and T. Hermann. Pages 219 - 224 Proceedings of the International Symposium on Environment, Energy and Water in Nepal: Recent Researches and Direction for Future. 31 March - 01 April 2009, Hotel Himalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal. Soil texture is one of the most important soil properties governing most of the physical, chemical and hydrological properties of soils. Variability in soil texture may contribute to the variation in nutrient storage and availability, water retention and transport and binding and stability of soil aggregates. It can directly or indirectly influence many other soil functions and soil threats such as soil erosion. Geostatistics has been extensively used for quantifying the spatial pattern of soil properties and Kriging techniques are proving sufficiently robust for estimating values at unsampled locations in most of the cases. Download the Article: Geostatistical analysis of surface soil texture from Zala county in western Hungary Last Update: 16/11/2009

Soil Information and Education for a Sustainable Management: The Soil Atlas of Africa. Dewitte O, Jones A, Montanarella L. Soil Information and Education for a Sustainable Management: The Soil Atlas of Africa. Oral presentation in: African Soil Science Society 5th International Conference, Yaounde, Cameroon, 22-28 November 2009, Yaounde; 22 November 2009; Yaounde (Cameroon); African Soil Science Society (Organiser). 2009 The richness of African soil resources need to be protected for future generations. A number of threats are affecting the functioning of African soils, not only for the purpose of agricultural production, but also for other important environmental services that soil delivers to all of us. The Soil Atlas of Africa is an international project involving the Institute for Environment and Sustainability of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, ISRIC, World Soil Information, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Land and Water Development Division) and scientists from the European Soil Bureau Network and the Africa Soil Science Society. The Atlas will compile existing information on different soil types in easily understandable maps (both at national to continental scale) covering the entire Africa. Download the Article: Soil Information and Education for a Sustainable Management: The Soil Atlas of Africa. Last Update: 26/04/2010

Landslide susceptibility mapping at 1:1M scale over France: exploratory results with a heuristic model Malet, J.-P., Thiery, Y., Puissant, A., Hervás, J., Günther, A., Grandjean, G., 2009. Landslide susceptibility mapping at 1:1M scale over France: exploratory results with a heuristic model. In: Malet, J.-P., Remaître, A., Boogard, T. (Eds), Proc. International Conference on Landslide Processes: from Geomorphologic Mapping to Dynamic Modelling, 6 -7 February 2009, Strasbourg, France. CERG Editions, Strasbourg, pp. 315-320. Download the Article: Landslide susceptibility mapping at 1:1M scale over France: exploratory results with a heuristic model Last Update: 17/11/2009