Soil Information Working Group (SIWG) W. Eckelmann, S. Bialousz, F. Carré, B. Jones, M. Kibblewhite, J. Kozak, Ch. Le Bas, G. Toth, G. Varallyay, M. Yli Halla, M. Zupan, R. Baritz, J. Boixadera, E. Van Ranst Common Criteria for Risk Area Identification according to Soil Threats

SIWG Members Special area of interest Auxilliary Data: S. Bialousz and R. Baritz ThreatErosionSOM declineSalinizationCompactionLandslides Task LeaderB. JonesM. KibblewhiteG. VarallyayS. BialouszF. Carré ContributorsChr. Le Bas J. Kozak R. Baritz M. Zupan M. Yli Halla E. Van Ranst (comments) G. Toth J. Boixadera (comments) P. Bielek Chr. Le Bas JRC Experts W. Eckelmann (Chair)

Mandate/Objectives (1) Following the Soil Thematic Strategy, the Commission is preparing a Soil Directive, which is expected to ask for the identification of risk areas for soil threats like erosion, organic matter decline, salinization, compaction and landslides. In order to combat all these soil threats, the EU Member States are proposed to identify risk areas for these threats, based on common criteria.

Mandate/Objectives (2) 1)What should be the level of detail for soil information (maps or data) used as basis for risk identification? 2)In the case models are used: what input data at least are required to assess baseline information or a trend? 3)How should the models be calibrated? 4)What can be the potential contribution of existing EU data sets or monitoring activities to risk area identification? Questions to be answered by the SIWG:

Working Plan (1)

Working Plan (2)

Expected Results (1) 1)Definition of different approaches for risk area identification, 2)Definition of common criteria for (Tier 1) risk area identification (information basis to supplement a Technical Annex of the draft Directive), 3) Identification of required, available and lacking data.

Expected Results (2) Approaches to risk area identification can be:

Application of the 2-Tiers approach No mandate of the SIWG to provide suggestions for the (national) implementation (e.g. monitoring) within risk areas 1:250,000 ?

Time Table Meeting of ESB SC at DGENV:28. April 2005 (Mandate received) 1st meeting, Brussels:25. / 26. May st draft task papers:12. to 20. June st summary writing status:28. June nd meeting, Brussels: 30 June / 01. July st draft report:29. July 2005 Final draft report:06. September 2005 Report Appendix 'Auxilliary data‘: 16. September 2005

Result presentations acc. to Threats Erosion: Bob Jones Soil Organic Matter Decline: Mark Kibblewhite Compaction: Christine Le Bas Salinization / Sodification: György Varallyay Landslides: Florence Carré (absent) and for Auxiliary Data: Stanislav Bialousz

What to do next? At the end of the first activity of the SIWG some work remains to be done: Publishing of the SIWG Report e. g. after additional modifications, Updating of the metadata about soil information relevant to threats at member state and regional level, Acquiring of data more up to date instead of ongoing manipulating with old and less accurate or even obsolete data, Providing a framework to help making national soil information more comparable across administrative boundaries, Defining methodological details for risk area delineation, as well as for (Tier 2) modeling and / or monitoring, Improving links to other soil related institutions e. g. to EEA and/or EIONET.