office fédéral de l'environnement ofev under our feet, there is life! · 2019-10-21 ·...

Département fédéral de l'environnement,

des transports, de l'énergie et de la communication DETEC

Office fédéral de l'environnement OFEV

© Brändle, Zimmermann / ChervetAgroscope / LANAT BE; Brändle, Berger, Wernli BGS

Under our feet, there is life!Qualities & Challenges of Soils in the

Alpine space

[email protected]

Under our feet, there is life!

SOIL PROPERTIES

SOIL FUNCTIONS

SOIL USE

LANDSCAPE

© Brändle, Zimmermann / ChervetAgroscope / LANAT BE; Brändle, Berger, Wernli BGS

AGGREGATECLAY HUMUS

COMPLEX

HORIZON SOIL

MOLECULES LANDSCAPE

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY



Over 14 millions people live in the Alpine region* :

~ 2% of European population

About 120 millions tourists visit the Alps each year** :

~ 16% of European population (for comparison only)

Question: who knows…or worse, who cares?

*Demographic changes in the Alps (2015) Alpine Signals Special Edition 5

** wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/where_we_work/alps/problems/tourism/

Soil functions:

• Production

• Regulation

• Habitat

• Support

• Archive

• Raw material


Soil functions as defined in the Swiss Soil Strategy

Soil functions:

• Production

• Regulation

• Habitat

• Support

• Archive

• Raw material


CONCLUSION # 1

Production, regulation, habitat: ecological

functions

Support, archive, raw material: socio-

economic functions

Soil protection is the protection of soil

organisms’ habitat

Challenges for soils in the Alpine space

Soil management fit for the future

> sustainable soil management

Sustainable soil management

KNOWLEDGE

AWARNESS

POLICY

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING

PA

TH

WA

Y


KNOWLEDGE

AWARNESS

POLICY

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING

PA

TH

WA

Y

SCIENCE (research programmes)

LOCALLY HELD KNOWLEDGE (Farmers, …)

PROBLEM DEFINITION, SOLUTIONS, AWARENESS


KNOWLEDGE

AWARNESS

POLICY

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING

PA

TH

WA

Y




GENERAL PUBLIC (gobal initiatives, different medias)

AUTHORITIES (NGOs, citizen initiatives, …)

MANDATE


KNOWLEDGE

AWARNESS

POLICY

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING

PA

TH

WA

Y






MANDATE

NATIONAL (ministries, regional administration)

INTERNATIONAL (UNO conventions, FAO-GSP, …)

POLICIES, LAW PROPOSALS, GUIDELINES


KNOWLEDGE

AWARNESS

POLICY

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING

PA

TH

WA

Y






MANDATE




PARLAMENTS, GOVERNMENTS

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

LEGISLATION


KNOWLEDGE

AWARNESS

POLICY

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING

PA

TH

WA

Y






MANDATE




LEGISLATION

LOCAL (agricultural practices, …)

NATIONAL (spatial planning, …)

MANAGEMENT




KNOWLEDGE

AWARNESS

POLICY

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING

PA

TH

WA

Y






MANDATE




LEGISLATION



MANAGEMENT

DIRECT (soil monitoring, …)

INDIRECT (global footprint, …)

ASSESSMENT



CO

MM

UN

ICA

TIO

N !

!Sustainable soil management

KNOWLEDGE

AWARNESS

POLICY

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING






MANDATE




LEGISLATION



MANAGEMENT

DIRECT (soil monitoring, …)

INDIRECT (global footprint, …)

ASSESSMENT



Clay leachingCAM

BIS

OL

Cation exchange capacity

oxydo-r

eductio

nPODZOLISATION

ALLUVIAL

DEPOSITS

pH

min

eralizati

on

Solo

netz

Water soluble

fraction

Sulphur-oxidising bacteria

PLATY STRUCTURE

BULK DENSITY

C:N ratio

watt

erlo

ggin

g

azotobacter

MYCO

RR

HIZ

A

petr

ocalc

ic

hori

zon

Soil Organic Matter

SO

IL S

CIE

NC

E

Soil communication

SOIL SCIENCE

COMMUNITY

ARCHIVE

HABITAT

PRODUCTION

RAW MATERIAL

REGULATION

SUPPORT

SOIL SCIENCE

COMMUNITY

TR

AN

SL

AT

ION

Soil communication

SOIL FUNCTIONS

Soil functions as defined in the Swiss Soil Strategy

CONCLUSION # 2

Soil protection depends not only on science

Soil protection depends on the whole society

> POLITICAL SUPPORT

> FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

> SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE

Communication science – society

Milestones of Soil Protection at the International Level

1972 Stockholm Conference (Declaration on the Human

Environment)

[…] the natural ressources of the earth, including […] land […],

must be safeguarded […] for the benefit of present and future

generations […]”

Land vs Soil…

Ginzky H., Heuser I.L., Qin T., Ruppel O.C., Wegerdt P. (ed). 2017. International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2016. Springer

Soil : local, national, international resource


1992 Rio Conference

UNFCCC (Climate Change Convention) Article 3.3 “[…] cover all relevant sources, sinks and reservoirs

of greenhouse gases”

UNCBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) The CBD text does not contain specific provisions with regard

to the protection and sustainable use of soils.

UNCCD (Convention to Combat Desertification) Only legally binding convention including specifically soils.

Geographical scope limited to drylands (about 40% of the

terrestrial surface)




2012 Rio+20 Conference (The Future We Want) “We recognize the economic and social significance of good

land management, including soil […] (and) the need for urgent

action to reverse land degradation […]. […] we will strive to

achieve a land-degradation neutral world […].




2015 Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development (17

Sustainable Development Goals)

Target 15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and

soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and

strive to achieve a land-degradation-neutral world.



2015 Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development (17

Sustainable Development Goals)

Target 13.2 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-

related hazards and natural disasters in all countries .



1991 Alpine Convention (and its Soil Protection Protocol)

Only legally binding regional instrument that focuses

specifically on soil protection and sustainable use of soils.



CONCLUSION # 3

Soil is a national resource, soil functions and

ecosystem services are transboundary

International soil protection is weak…but…

The Soil Protocol : a unique legally binding

instrument focusing on soils

«Soft» laws : stimulus for the improvement

of global and national laws

Soil Partnerships

| GSP Global Soil Partnership

50 countries

21 countries

47 countries22 countries

11 countries

24 countries

24 countries

2 countries

Improve governance of the soil resources (agriculturally productive soils

for a food secure world, support essential ecosystem services)

Address five pillars of action to be implemented in collaboration with its

regional soil partnerships

PILLAR 1

soil management

PILLAR 2

awareness raising

PILLAR 3

research

PILLAR 4

information and data

PILLAR 5

harmonization

Encourage investment, technical cooperation,

policy, education, awareness and extension in

soil

Promote targeted soil research and

development focusing on identified gaps,

priorities and synergies with related productive,

environmental and social development actions

Promote sustainable management of soil

resources for soil protection, conservation and

sustainable productivity

Enhance the quantity and quality of soil data and

information: data collection (generation),

analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring and

integration with other disciplines

Harmonization of methods, measurements and

indicator for the sustainable management and

protection of soil resources

Soil Partnerships

| GSP Global Soil Partnership

Soil Partnerships

| ESP European Soil Partnership

50 countries

21 countries


11 countries

24 countries

24 countries

2 countries

Soil Partnerships

| ESP European Regional Soil Partnership

Main forces

Knowledge

Practices

Experience

Main challenges

Specific threats (urbanization, …)

Awareness raising

Collaboration, networks

Soil Partnerships

| ESP European Regional Soil Partnership

COLLABORATION

COMMUNICATION

COOPERATION

• Shared messages• Among ESP members

• Towards decision-makers,

stakeholders

• Shared visions• Set priorities

• Shared tools• e.g. Implementation plan

Identification of case studies with successfully implemented SSM at

European level

Awareness raising activities (European Soil Atlas, summer schools, …)

Soil Partnerships

| AlpSP Alpine Soil Partnership

50 countries

21 countries


11 countries

24 countries

24 countries

2 countries

Promote SSM practices relevant and applicable to the Alps

Organization adapted to local/regional decision makers

Soil protection practiced/communicated in national languages

CONCLUSION # 4

Global/European Soil Partnerships (voluntary)

> effective support and powerfull incentive

Implementation of sustainable soil

management > at local level, with local

solutions

The Alpine Soil Partnership is an answer

to the Alpine specific challenges

Soil protection on construction sites – Swiss example

Arable surface (23%)

Pasture (12%)

Forest (31%)

Lake, river (4%)

Built area (7.5%)

Unproductive surface (22%)

Federal Statistical Office, 2014 (rounded figures)


> Urban surfaces (+ 23% between 1985 and 2009)

> Essentially at the expense of agricultural soils

Land use change

1985-2009

Federal Statistical Office, 2015


> constructions on arable land (Plateau 15% urbanization)

Competition between building activities and agriculture

Remaining agricultural surfaces in 2001 if urbanization is

continuing at the same pace (1,3 m2 per seconde)



Ordinance relating to Impacts on the Soil (1998)

Art. 7 Treatment of excavated soils

1 A person who manipulates or excavates the soil shall do so in

such a way that it can eventually be used again as soil.

Commentary on the ordinance of 1 July 1998 relating to impacts on the soil (OIS) 2001 > FOEN website

Ordinance on the Avoidance and the Disposal of Waste

(2016)

Art. 18 Removed topsoil and subsoil1 Removed topsoil and subsoil must be recovered in full if possible

[…]


> Avoid soil compaction

soil properties (texture, structure, …)

soil moisture

machinery


> Avoid soil pollution

chemical pollution (transfer or on site)

biological pollution (weeds, invasive

plants)


> Preserve soil quality

soil horizons

recultivation

reuse of excavated soil offsite


EXPERTS SPECPSOIL PROTECTION EXPERT FOR

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

> multidisciplinary training course

> certification system

> quality assurance

> exchange of best practices

> SPECP « community »

Soil protection on

construction sites

Evaluation and utilisation of

excavated soils

CONCLUSION # 5

Cooperation : key to the success

Legal bases (EIA, soil ordinance, waste ordinance)

Policy support (guidelines, financial support)

Collaboration between all stakeholders (soil science

society, federal and cantonal administration, experts

SPSC, construction people, farmers, etc.)

Positive experiences (prevention costs < repair costs)

Soil protection on construction sites in Alpine context

> Climate conditions (short vegetation and work period)

> Topography and accessibility (machinery)

> Soil heterogeneity

> Natural hazards, harsh working conditions

> Fragile ecosystems Nina von Albertini (Umwelt Boden Bau)


Nina von Albertini (Umwelt Boden Bau)Excavation: soil + vegetation («sods»)


Nina von Albertini (Umwelt Boden Bau)

Reference surface 3 years after recultivation

Chemical pollution (anti-corrosion coating)

Zinc

> Guide value: 150 mg/kg

> Trigger value: 300 mg/kg

> Clean-up value: 2000 mg/kg


LAST CONCLUSION

Sustainable soil management depends on

evolving knowledge

Soil protection depends on public awareness

> SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

> LOCALLY HELD KNOWLEDGE

> INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE

> SHARED KNOWLEDGE

Soil litteracy !

Under our feet, there is a hidden landscape

Swiss Soil Strategy

SOIL USELAND USES

SOIL PROPERTIESCHEMICAL, PHYSICAL

AND BIOLOGICAL

STATE

SOIL FUNCTIONSPOTENTIAL TO

PROVIDE ECOSYSTEM

SERVICES

SOIL USE AFFECTS

SOIL PROPERTIES

SITE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS

ECOSYSTEM

SERVICESSOCIAL & ECONOMIC

VALUES

> Uneven urbanization (climate, topography): ≈15% on the Plateau region

5 biogeographical regions

Built area (%)

Jura mountain Plateau region

the Prealps

the Alps

the South Alps


Arable surface (23%)

Pasture (12%)

Forest (31%)

Lake, river (4%)

Built area (7.5%)

Unproductive surface (22%)

Federal Statistical Office, 2014 (rounded figures)

office fédéral de l'environnement ofev under our feet, there is life! · 2019-10-21 ·...

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