soiltrec kick-off symposium 27-29 january 20101 soiltrec assessing soil vulnerability panos panagos...

SoilTrec Kick-off Symposium 27-29 January 2010 1

SoilTrecAssessing Soil Vulnerability

Panos PanagosSoil Action, Land Management & Natural Hazards Unit, Institute for Environment and Sustainability

Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

E-mail: [email protected]

Work Package 4 Leader


Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection

3 Components (Adopted by Commission 22/9/2006):

DIRECTIVE establishing a framework for the protection of soil risk from erosion, compaction, salinisation, decline of soil organic matter, landslides, contamination, sealing and loss of soil biodiversity

COMMUNICATION on the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection: Why further action is needed?

IMPACT ASSESSMENT Report: Analysis of economic, social and environmental impacts

The strategy is one of 7 Thematic Strategies that the Commission has presented. The other strategies cover air pollution, the marine environment, waste prevention and recycling, natural resources, the urban environment and pesticides..

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


SealingErosion

Organic matter decline

Compaction

Salinisation

Landslides

Contamination

Decline in soil biodiversity

Threats to soil as identified in Thematic Strategy for protection of

Soils:


Soil Erosion

Erosion is a natural process, which can however be significantly accelerated by human activities

Human driving forces for soil erosion:o removal of vegetative soil covero increased field sizeo abandonment of terraceso Overstockingo inappropriate use of heavy machinery (in agricultural, forestry practices,

construction works) Soil Erosion - Water Risk: estimated at 115 million ha, or one eighth

of Europe’s total land area Wind Erosion: 42 million ha are affected, of which 2% severely

affected The Mediterranean is particularly prone to erosion when heavy rain

occurs after long dry periods. Significant annual costs: € 0.7 – 14.0 billion according to Impact

Assessment of the Thematic Strategy (only 13 countries included) Since there is a difficulty to assess the affected area, erosion risk

has been proposed as an indicator of actual erosion, which can be assessed on the basis of predictive models such as PESERA


Soil Erosion Data

Policy Makers: According to the obtained results it is possible to define the soil erosion risk areas at European level

Input Data:Climate: Rainfall, Temperature, etc Soil: European Soil Database ver 2.0 Land cover: Corine Land Cover 1990Topographic data: SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission)

Soil erosion estimates (t/ha/yr) by applying the

PESERA GRID model at 1kmx1km

Data are freely available


Erosion Vulnerability

PESERA predicts:o 3.4% of the area is at erosion risk of more than 10 tonnes (t) ha-1 yr-1

o 18% of the area (54 million ha) are at risk of losing soil above 1 t ha-1yr-1 o 25% of the area (75.5 million ha) is at risk to lose more than 0.5 t of soil ha-1

yr-1

More about Soil Erosion in the European Soil Portal: Soil Erosion Risk Assessment (INRA Model 2000) Soil Erosion in the ALPS (Future Scenarios 2070, 2100) Wind Erosion: dataset available related to Number of erosive

days per year, etc……. Soil Erosion Assessment (RUSLE Model): Currently under

development In the context of its European Soil Data Centre activities and in

response to DG ENV soil data requirements, the JRC is responsible for collection and management of European soil data (Soil Erosion and Organic Carbon) in collaboration with EIONET members

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/erosion/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/erosion/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/erosion/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/erosion/


Organic Matter Decline

Soil organic carbon is a source of food for soil fauna and contributes to soil biodiversity by acting as a reservoir of soil nutrients.

Soils containing organic matter have an improved structure that improves water infiltration and reduces the susceptibility to compaction, erosion and landslides.

There are two groups of factors that influence inherent organic matter content: natural factors (climate, soil parent material, land cover and/or vegetation and topography), and human-induced factors (land use, management and degradation).

Around 45% of soils in Europe have a low or very low organic matter content (0-2% organic carbon) and 45% have a medium content (2-6%).

Low SOM exists in particular in the Southern countries, where 74% of the soils have less than 3.4% organic matter.

Significant annual costs: €3.4 – 5.6 billion according to Impact Assessment of the Thematic Strategy

Actual SOC content: Gradual decrease from north to south


Soil Organic Carbon (%) in topsoil (0-30cm)

Input Data:ClimateSoilLand cover Topographic data

The data are in GRID format (1kmx1km) These data are freely available upon

request In European level, there is a serious lack

of geo-referenced, measured and harmonised data on soil organic carbon available from systematic sampling programmes.

SoCo Project: Soil Conservation in Europe. Updated data and maps will be presented soon…..

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ESDB_Archive/octop/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ESDB_Archive/octop/octop_download.htmloctop_download.html

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ESDB_Archive/octop/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ESDB_Archive/octop/octop_download.htmloctop_download.html


Soil Susceptibility to Compaction

When pressure is applied to the soil surface, compaction takes place. This alters soil properties and Pores become disconnected. Root growth becomes restricted.

Soil compaction reduces the soil’s capacity to retain water and to supply oxygen to plant roots (water run-off increases and soils will be more vulnerable to soil erosion)

Soil’s natural susceptibility is based on the creation of logical connections between relevant parameters, called pedotransfer rules.

Input Parameters: Attributes of the European soil database: Soil type, texture, soil water regime, depth to textural change and

the limitation of the soil for agricultural use.

Data & Maps: Available for Download

In order to perform more in depth research on hotspots (i.e. soils with a high or very high natural susceptibility to compaction), further ground validation is needed.http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/

compaction/compaction/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/

compaction/compaction/


Soil Salinization

Salinisation, the accumulation in soils of soluble salts mainly of sodium, magnesium, and calcium, can occur naturally in low, poorly drained areas in hot and dry climates

Sodification is the process by which the exchangeable sodium (Na) content of the soil is increased

Main human-induced driving forces for salinisationo Poor irrigation technologyo Inappropriate drainageo Use of saline waters for irrigation and the overexploitation of groundwater

Salinisation affects around 3.8 million ha in Europe. Most affected are Campania in Italy, the Ebro Valley in Spain, and the Great Alföld in Hungary, areas in Greece, Portugal, France, Slovakia and Austria

With the increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation characteristic of climate in recent years, the problem of salinisation in Europe is getting worse.

Annual costs: € 158 – 321 million according to Impact Assessment of the Thematic Strategy (only 3 countries included)


Saline and Sodic Soils in the European Union

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/Salinization/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/Salinization/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/Salinization/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/Salinization/

Two major data sources are available to delineate areas at risk of salt accumulation in Europe: o The European Soil Database (ESDB,

2004) and o The map of salt affected soils in Europe

compiled by Szabolcs (1974).

Saline and Sodic Soils in the European Union: Status and Potentials

Methodology is presented in the portal

Data & Maps: Available for Download


Contamination

Main human induced driving forces: Industrial installations, Mining installations, Illegal waste dumps and landfill sites not properly managed, Storage of chemicals, Military sites, etc.

Most experts acknowledge that the data available are insufficient for assessing certain parameters, such as the total surface area contaminated per class of contaminant, the % of population exposed to the contamination, the environmental damage caused by contaminated sites, etc.

More than 3.500.000 Contaminated Sites in EU according to STS

Nitrates and phosphates: Codes of good agricultural practices were set up to reduce pollution by nitrates. Vulnerable zones increased from 35.5% of EU 15 territory in 1999 up to the 44% in 2003 (SoCo Project)

Annual Cost: €2.4 – 17.3 billion according to Impact Assessment of the Thematic Strategy


Heavy Metal Content in topsoil

Using the 1588 geo-referenced topsoil samples from the FOREGS Geochemical database Mapping concentrations of 8 heavy metals. The concentrations were interpolated using block regression kriging over the 26 EU countries that contributed to the database.

Maps in Google Earth, Scripts, Interpolation Methodology: http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/foregshmc/

Data Available for:o As - Arsenic o Cd - Cadmium o Cr - Chromium o Cu - Copper o Hg - Mercury o Ni - Nickel o Pb - Lead o Zn - Zinc


PH - Acidification

Using the 12.333 soil pH Measurements from 11 Data sources in ESDAC pH Values using regression kriging over the 27 EU countries

pH highly dependant on nature of the parent material.

16.7% of territory has pH < 4.2

Only 1.9% of territory has pH > 8. Higher pH values are present in Mediterranean areas due to calcareous parent material.

Data and maps will be available soon in the portal.

Further assessment should take into account Organic Matter content, Soil Texture and other auxiliary data


Soil Biodiversity Biodiversity decline has consequences to the process of desertification

through reduced food web functioning and consequently crop yield losses; reduced soil formation; increased plant pests and diseases; reduced water infiltration rate and water holding capacity; etc.

Insufficient data exist on the status of soil biodiversity in Europe, as the biological quality of soil cannot easily be predicted

Lack of standardised methods to estimate biological indicators in Soil (Bacteria, fauna…etc) and difficult to measure Biodiversity

Inventory and monitoring are the necessary tools for the achievement of an adequate level of knowledge on soil biodiversity status

Annual Cost: According to Impact Assessment of the Thematic Strategy, no estimate possible

Database of soil Biodiversity: include field studies of soil biodiversity in EU27, hosted online, easy access to soil biodiversity researchers , Increase Awareness

Production of an Atlas of Soil Biodiversity in Europe: Target: general audience, Contributors include leading European experts on soil biodiversity http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/Biodiversity/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/Biodiversity/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/Biodiversity/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/Biodiversity/


Landslides Landslides are natural phenomena (triggered by natural processes such

as heavy or prolonged rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, rapid snow melt……), which can be intensified by human activity .

Main human-induced driving forces for landslideso Rupture of topography such as due to construction workso Land use changes such as deforestation and land abandonmento Extractions of materials

There are no sufficient data on the total affected area in the EU. o In Italy, more than 50% of the territory has been classified as having a high

or very high hydro-geological risk, affecting 60% of the population, i.e. 34 million inhabitants.

Online landslide inventories in Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy

Wide range of costs for landslides to be between €11 to 600 million per event

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/LandSlides/LandSlides/

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/themes/LandSlides/LandSlides/


Soil Sealing

Soil Sealing in EuropeSoil Sealing in Europe: Dataset at 20x20m

“Connected” to Food Security: • Cereals production in Europe is until now,

more or less stable, but there are several question marks for the future (shrinking of agricultural land, Soil Sealing, Degradation, climate change…..)

• Agricultural productivity loss (EU 20) estimated in 4.5 milions of tonnes of wheat

• More than 8,000 Km2 of agricultural land have been lost between 1990 and 2000

During 1990-2000 the sealed area in EU-15 increased by 6%


Soil Portal: http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu

DataData

MapsMaps

ApplicationsApplications

DocumentsDocumentsProjectsProjects

DisseminationEvents

DisseminationEvents

NetworksSoil Bureau

NetworksSoil Bureau

European Soil Portal

European Soil Portal

62 major updates in 2009


join

t re

sear

ch c

entr

eEuropean Commission

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

Thank you for your attention!

soiltrec kick-off symposium 27-29 january 20101 soiltrec assessing soil vulnerability panos panagos...

Documents

soil erosion erosion

soil protection

soil fauna

soil organic matter

soil erosion water risk

soil erosion risk areas

protection of soil risk

t of soil ha