1 Ispra, 2009 Simon Jeffery and Ciro Gardi EUROPEAN COMMISSION JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Institute for Environment and Sustainability TP 280 I Ispra (VA), Italy Research Activities in Soil Biodiversity at the Joint Research Centre

2 Ispra, 2009 Our Role Provide scientific support to policy regarding soil biodiversity –“To fill the information gaps and enhance awareness of the importance of soil biodiversity for land-use practices, food security, climate change mitigation, provision of critical ecosystem services and environmental protection”

3 Ispra, 2009 Our Role Cont. –To develop common criteria for the measurement of soil biodiversity –To develop, on the basis of existing data, a first version of a new Pan-European soil biodiversity database as a component of the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC)

4 Ispra, 2009 Soil Biodiversity in Europe Atlas / book of soil biodiversity in Europe –Including contributions from experts from a range of European countries –Possibly also include maps detailing soil biodiversity in Europe and its threats Database of soil biodiversity in Europe –Combining data from primary literature Any contributions welcome! Inventory of ongoing soil biodiversity activities

5 Ispra, 2009 Awareness Raising Activities Production of soil biodiversity leaflet and booklet –Circulated to the press and attendees at AAAS, DG Env. –More will be circulated at JRC open day Several activities are so far planned for the JRC open day

6 Ispra, 2009 Areas of soil biodiversity under threat –Requires identification and weighting of threats Current levels of soil biodiversity in Europe –Data sparse and often highly heterogeneous at European scale Involvement in the Eco-Regions WG –(in collaboration with EFSA) Mapping

7 Ispra, 2009 Other Proposed Future Activities Soil biodiversity in extreme environments –Workshop at retreating glacier –Soil exposed for different lengths of time function allows investigation of succession –Work on relatively simple communities in newly exposed soils allows easier identification of interactions JRC Open Day –Aimed at raising awareness of soil biodiversity among the general public –Ideas and contributions welcome

8 Ispra, 2009 Biochar Biochar investigation group lead by Frank Verheijen started at JRC. Extensive study of all aspects including interactions and feedbacks between Biochar and soil biodiversity Aiming to provide reference point for policy at Copenhagen November 2009

9 Ispra, 2009 Ciro Gardi and Simon Jeffery EUROPEAN COMMISSION JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Institute for Environment and Sustainability TP 280 I Ispra (VA), Italy Possible contributions of Soil Biodiversity Working Group to JRC activities

10 Ispra, 2009 Book on Soil Biodiversity in Europe Definition of research needs Definition/ranking of soil biodiversity threats Survey of soil biodiversity monitoring activities Data-base on soil biodiversity in Europe

11 Ispra, 2009 Book on Soil Biodiversity in Europe

12 Ispra, 2009 Book on Soil Biodiversity in Europe The role of soil biodiversity within the International Convention on Biological Diversity (Mulongoy, Coates). Relationships between biological diversity and functions in soil (Ritz, Jeffery) Main threats on soil biodiversity and evidence of its decline in Europe + Maps of interaction with soil degradation process (Gardi, …). Soil microbial communities investigation: tools and methodology (Jeffery, Lemanceau, Ranjard) Soil fauna investigation: tools and methodology (Sousa, Rombke, Cluzeau, Jacomini, Menta) Approaches to soil biodiversity inventory and monitoring (Bispo, Arrouays, ) Definition of background values for soil biodiversity (Rutgers) 1.The EU funded research related to soil biodiversity (JRC) 2.The ongoing initiatives (JRC [Gardi and Jeffery]and other possible contributors) 3.Raising awareness on soil biodiversity (Broll) 4.The economy of soil biodiversity (Krogh) 5.Soil biodiversity and sustainable agriculture (Licona Manzur, Bunning) 6.Invasive species and soil biodiversity (van Der Putten, Hol) 7.Energy crops and soil biodiversity (Schmidt, ) 8.Research needs and future steps (JRC and other contibutors)

13 Ispra, 2009 Definition of research needs Soil Biodiversity (SB) and Ecosystem Services and Functions ?? Economic evaluation of soil services ?? Agriculture, soil management and SB ?? Soil degradation processes and SB ?? Definition/ranking of soil biodiversity threats ?? Survey of soil biodiversity monitoring activities ?? Data-base on soil biodiversity in Europe ??

14 Ispra, 2009 Marcin Pawinski Steve Hopkin Thank you for your attention Karl Ritz Lewis J Deacon Soil Biodiversity Workshop Ispra, Italy. 2-3 March 2009