ENVASSO – ENVironmental ASsessment of Soil for mOnitoring Mark Kibblewhite & Bob Jones NSRI Cranfield University Silsoe UK European Commission DG RTD Brussels ESBN Plenary, London October 2005 FP6 SSP Research Project DG RTD Framework Programme 6

European Soil Information The impact of human activities on soil Blocking of soil functions important to the ecology of the landscape Destruction of soil Gradual destruction of soils Reduction in soil fertility Soil erosion Manures and fertilisers Sewage sludge Gravel extraction Compaction Gradual disappearance of farms Pesticides & herbicides Destruction of soil Changes in the structure of soils Reduction in soil fertility Sealing Distruction of humus Accumulation/ contamination Heavy metals Contamination of soils and ground water with applied agrochemicals and atmospheric pollutants Changes in soil composition Adverse impacts on living organisms in the soil Acidification Release of toxic substances Acids Diffuse input of contaminants as particulates Persistent substances salinisation

Threats to Soil identified in COM(2002) 179  Erosion  Organic matter loss  Soil contamination (1)  Soil sealing (1)  Soil compaction  Decline in soil biodiversity (1)  Salinisation  Floods and landslides Threats in red are directly part of Desertification 1) These threats not included in current draft Soil Framework Directive

ENVASSO Project – Proposal no  ENVASSO will design and test a single, integrated, EU-wide and operational set of measurable criteria and indicators as a basis for a harmonised comprehensive European soil and land information system.  The choice of criteria and indicators within ENVASSO will build on previous outputs from Technical Working Groups (TWGs) of the Soil thematic Strategy.  Formal protocols, procedures, tools and implementation recommendations will be developed for the collection, collation and reporting of harmonised soil European-wide information.  The objectives will be achieved by 5 core partners supported by 32 additional partners drawn from all 25 EU member states ensuring maximum impact to enhance soil protection at European level.  All the partners are members, or have close links with the European Soil Bureau Network and include EU and Associated States.  Criteria and indicators for the characterisation of soil and procedures / protocols for inventory and monitoring will be major deliverables.

+ 32 other participants for the enlarged EU and Candidate Countries

Role*No.NameShort nameCountryDate enter project** Date exit project** CO1CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY CUUK Month 1Month 24 CR2BUNDESANSTALT FUER GEOWISSENSCHAFTEN UND ROHSTOFFE BGRGERMANY Month 1Month 24 CR3UMWELTBUNDESAMT GMBH UBA-AAUSTRIA Month 1Month 24 CR4INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE (INRA) INRA InfoFRANCE Month 1Month 24 CR5SZENT ISTVAN EGYETEM SIUHUNGARY Month 1Month 24 CR7OESTERREICHISCHE AGENTUR FUER GESUNDHEIT UND ERNAEHRUNGSSICHERHEIT AGESAUSTRIA Month 1Month 24 CR8BUNDESFORSCHUNGS UND AUSBILDUNGSZENTRUM FUER WALD, NATURGEFAHREN UND LANDSCHAFT BFWAUSTRIA Month 1Month 24 CR9BUNDESAMT FUER WASSERWIRTSCHAFT BAWAUSTRIA Month 1Month 24 CR11UNIVERSITEIT GENT UGENTBELGIUM Month 1Month 24 CR12NIKOLA POUSHKAROV INSTITUTE OF SOIL SCIENCE ISSNPBULGARIA Month 1Month 24 CR13CESKA ZEMEDELSKA UNIVERSZITA V PRAZE CUACZECH REPUBLIC Month 1Month 24 CR14KOEBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET IGUCDENMARK Month 1Month 24 CR15DANMARKS MILJOEUNDERSOEGELSER NERIDENMARK Month 1Month 24 CR16POLUMAJANDUSUURINGUTE KESKUS ARCESTONIA Month 1Month 24 CR17MAA-JA ELINTARVIKETALOUDEN TUTKIMUS KESKUS MTTFINLAND Month 1Month 24 CR18AGENCE DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT ET DE LA MAITRISE DE L'ENERGIE ADEMEFRANCE Month 1Month 24 CR20MAGYAR TUDOMANYOS AKADEMIA TALAJTANI ES AGROKEMIAI KUTATO INTEZETE RISSACHUNGARY Month 1Month 24 CR21CENTRAL SERVICE FOR PLANT PROTECTION AND SOIL CONSERVATION CSPPSCHUNGARY Month 1Month 24 CR19AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS AUAGREECE Month 1Month 24 ENVASSO - Participants

Role*No.NameShort nameCountryDate enter project** Date exit project** CR22MISKOLCI EGYETEM UNIMISHUNGARY Month 1Month 24 CR23LIETUVOS ZEMES UKIO UNIVERSITETAS LZUULITHUANIA Month 1Month 24 CR24LATVIJAS LAUKSAIMNIECIBAS UNIVERSITATE LLULATVIA Month 1Month 24 CR25MINISTRY FOR RURAL AFFAIRS AND THE ENVIRONMENT – MALTA MRAEMALTA Month 1Month 24 CR26ALTERRA B.V ALTERRANETHER-LANDS Month 1Month 24 CR27RIJKSINSTITUUT VOOR VOLKSGEZONDHEID EN MILIEU RIVMNETHER-LANDS Month 1Month 24 CR28NORSK INSTITUTT FOR JORD OG SKOGKARTLEGGING NIJOSNORWAY Month 1Month 24 CR29POLITECHNIKA WARSZAWSKA WUTPOLAND Month 1Month 24 CR30INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACAO AGRARIA E DAS PESCAS INIAPPORTUGAL Month 1Month 24 CR31INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARI PENTRU PEDOLOGIE SI AGROCHIMIE ICPAROMANIA Month 1Month 24 CR32VYSKUMNY USTAV PODOZNALECTVA A OCHRANY PODY SSCRISLOVAKIA Month 1Month 24 CR33UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI UL-BFSLOVENIA Month 1Month 24 CR35GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA (SARA) SARASPAIN Month 1Month 24 CR36SVERIGES LANTBRUKS-UNIVERSITET SLUSWEDEN Month 1Month 24 CR37CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS CSICSPAIN Month 1Month 24 CR38LANDESUMWELTAMT NORDRHEIN-WESTFALENLUA NRW GERMANY Month 1Month 24 CR39SACHSISCHES LANDESAMT FUR UMWELT UND GEOLOGIE LfUGGERMANY Month 1Month 24 CR40THE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TEAGASCIRELAND Month 1Month 24 ENVASSO – Participants - 2

WP1 Criteria and indicators WP3 Database Design

Probable Timetable  Proposal submitted February 2005  Evaluation April/May 2005  Contract negotiation July-Sep 2005  Awaiting final contractual arrangements  Contract CU—EC  Bilateral agreement CU-Participant  Contract will begin in 2006  February/March  Kick off meeting 15 days after start date  Scientist in-charge + deputy