Continental-scale assessment of provisioning soil functions in Europe
Gergely Tóth,Ciro Gardi,Katalin Bódis,Eva Ivits,Ece Aksoy,Arwyn Jones,Simon Jeffrey,Thorum Petursdottir,Luca Montanarella +8 more
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In this paper, the authors defined major provisioning soil functions combining the approaches proposed by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection of the European Union.Abstract:
A framework is developed to link major soil functions to ecosystem services assessment. Provisioning soil functions—with primary linkages to ecosystem services—are evaluated on a continental scale in Europe. We defined major provisioning soil functions combining the approaches proposed by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection of the European Union. Soil productivity was evaluated by three main land use types (cropland, grassland, forest) using a validated expert model called SoilProd. Models include soil, climate and topographic criteria. Raw material provision capacity of soils was assessed on the basis of (i) organic carbon content and (ii) availability of soil materials for construction. A coherent system of soil function-based ecosystem services was compiled, taking into account major soil functions. We also produced new data on soil-based provisioning ecosystem services, including productivity and raw material availability. The attempts to cover the main human activities requiring materials of soil origin and to map the locations where those materials are available on a continental scale provide new insight to this field of research. Soil-based ecosystem services can be assessed by the evaluation of soil functions which play a role in the production of these services. Quantitative analysis and comparison of the spatial distribution of the investigated soil functions were performed. While crop productivity showed a general trend to increase in a northward and westward direction, local soil quality in most regions—except in the Mediterranean—can compensate for climatic handicaps to a great extent. Comparison of areas with potential for providing ecosystem services by individual soil functions highlights the complexity of decision-making for resource utilization but also the possibilities for optimization and more conscious management.read more
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Soil quality – A critical review
Else K. Bünemann,Giulia Bongiorno,Giulia Bongiorno,Zhanguo Bai,Rachel Creamer,Gerlinde B. De Deyn,Ron G.M. de Goede,Luuk Fleskens,Violette Geissen,Thomas W. Kuyper,Paul Mäder,Mirjam M. Pulleman,Mirjam M. Pulleman,Wijnand Sukkel,Jan Willem van Groenigen,Lijbert Brussaard +15 more
TL;DR: It is found that explicit evaluation of soil quality with respect to specific soil threats, soil functions and ecosystem services has rarely been implemented, and few approaches providing clear interpretation schemes of measured indicator values limits their adoption by land managers as well as policy.
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Soil erosion in the Anthropocene: Research needs
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Mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (maes): highlights and uncertainties of a science-policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services
TL;DR: In this article, a dzialanie 5 sformulowane w Unijnej Strategii Bioroznorodności do 2020 r. zobowiązuje kraje czlonkowskie do rozpoznania i oceny ekosystemow oraz dostarczanych przez nie świadczen (MAES).
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Recent progress and future prospect of digital soil mapping: A review
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a review for the major progresses of digital soil mapping in the last decade and summarize the main trends and future prospect as revealed by studies up to now, concluding that although the digital mapping is now moving towards mature to meet various demands of soil information, challenges still exist and need to be addressed in the future.
Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services
TL;DR: In this paper, the credits are assigned for separate components of the course, e.g. lectures, laboratory exercises, etc., and the weekly teaching hours and the total credits are given.
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