European Soil Data Centre
Supporting Member States to protect and improve soil quality

Soil data and information are important for a number of EU policy areas: agriculture, soil protection, water protection, nature protection, development policy, health and sustainable development. The EU Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection addresses these different policy areas in a coherent manner and proposes the way forward towards effective soil protection in Europe. The IES helps Member States to fulfill their reporting and assessment obligations regarding a proposal for a Soil Framework Directive.

The European Soil Data Centre Map Viewer

The European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) established by the IES in 2006 within the framework of the EU’s Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS). It is the single focal point for soil information, data and expertise in Europe, hosting soil data and information from EU Members States and neighbouring countries that is of relevance to EU policies and stakeholders. ESDAC is hosted on the EU Soil Portal website, and has developed into a major reference centre which now includes information and data on soils from all over the world. It covers the complete data production cycle, from raw data collection to the final integrated assessment of European and global soil resources. IES is providing high-level analysis and assessments on the status and trends of soils in Europe and in the world. A good example is the Soil — SOER 2010 thematic assessment (2010) under the European Environment Agency’s report on The European Environment – state and outlook 2010, where IES scientists contribution was essential.

More information can be found on the European Soil Portal.

Publications:

• Panagos P., Van Liedekerke M., Jones A., Montanarella L. (2012). European Soil Data Centre: Response to European policy support and public data requirements. Land Use Policy, 29 (2), pp. 329-338,  doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.07.003, ISSN: 02648377.
• Panagos P., Jones A., Bosco C., Senthil Kumar P.S. (2011).European digital archive on soil maps (EuDASM): Preserving important soil data for public free access. International Journal of Digital Earth, 4 (5), pp. 434-443.
• Bosco C, Rusco E, Montanarella L, Panagos P. (2009). Soil Erosion in the Alpine Area: Risk Assessment and Climate Change. Studi Trentini di Scienze Naturali 85; p. 117-123.
• Gardi C, Montanarella L. (2009). Soil Biodiversity Monitoring in Europe: Ongoing Activities and Challenges. European Journal of Soil Science, Volume 60 Issue 5, Pages 807 - 819, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2389.2009.01177.x
• Lacarce E, Le Bas C, Cousin J, Pesty B, Toutain B, Durrant T, Montanarella L. (2009). Data Management for Monitoring Forest Soils in Europe for the Biosoil Project. Soil Use and Management, Volume 25 Issue 1, Pages 57 - 65, doi: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2009.00194.x
• Verheijen F, Jones R, Rickson J, Smith C. (2009). Tolerable Versus Actual Soil Erosion Rates in Europe. Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 94, Issues 1-4, Pages 23-38, doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2009.02.003.

Contact Info:

Luca Montanarella Tel: +(39) 0332 785349; E:mail luca.montanarella(at)jrc.ec.europa.eu
Arwyn Jones Tel: +(39) 0332 789162 E-mail: arwyn.jones(at)jrc.ec.europa.eu