Soil | Ecologic Institute: Science and Policy for a Sustainable World

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Event

Workshop

International Development

Implementing SDG Target 15.3 in the EU and in the Member States: Exchange of Approaches to Implement "Land Degradation Neutrality" (LDN)

TimeLoc

6 December 2016

Brussels

Belgium

Since the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015 countries worldwide have started processes towards the implementation of the goals and targets. Some of the targets are often already part of national strategies and instruments. Others are new and still need to be further specified to national circumstances – target 15.3 and the concept of "Land Degradation Neutrality" is one of these.Read more

Event

Conference

Soil

Soil Stakeholders' Conference

TimeLoc

5 December 2016

Brussels

Belgium

On 5 December 2016, World Soil Day, an EU Soil stakeholders' Conference took place in Brussels. The conference aimed at raising awareness about the importance of soils and the ecosystem services that they deliver, and to contribute to the implementation of the EU Soil Thematic Strategy. The proceedings are available for download.Read more

Event

Soils2Sea: Future Governance Approaches for Reducing Excess Nutrients at Local Farm Scale

TimeLoc

15 November 2016 to 16 November 2016

Jordberga

Sweden

The second BONUS Soils2Sea workshop in the Swedish case study region brought together project partners from BONUS Soils2Sea, as well as an engaged group of Polish and Swedish farmers, representatives from the community Mykanow, a representative from a fishing association, the Länsstyrelsen Skåne (The County Administrative Board Skåne), and Havs- och vattenmyndigheten (Swedish Marine and Water Authority). Highlights of the workshop were a film screening of a Soils2Sea documentary recently shot in Poland, presentations on the Tullstorp river restoration project, and a world cafe stakeholder discussion on different governance scenarios to regulate nutrients. The workshop was followed by a field trip to the Tullstorp river, where the different restoration measures and the recently created wetlands could be experienced hands-on.Read more

Publication

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Soil

Region-specific Guidance on Resource Efficiency – Brochures Series

The issue of closing mineral cycles was analyzed in eight European regions and the results are presented in the report "Resource Efficiency in Practice – Closing Mineral Cycles". The authors of BIO IS, Ecologic Institute, AMEC, Danish Technical University, University of Milano and LEI, identified measures that support the closing of mineral cycles within the study regions. For each region, practical and strategic options to reduce the nutrient surplus further were derived. The region-specific brochures are available for download.Read more

Publication

Soils2Sea: Reducing Nutrient Loadings into the Baltic Sea

The documentary film "Soils2Sea: Reducing nutrient loadings into the Baltic Sea" illustrates the societal story of implementing the EU's nitrate directive at regional realities in the EU member states, and in particularly in the Kocinka catchment area in south central Poland. The movie was developed and produced by Dr. Grit Martinez (Ecologic Institute) and Anne Berrini (berrini films) with support from Dr. Przemysław Wachniew (AGH University of Science and Technology Krakow) and is available via Ecologic Institute's YouTube channel.Read more

Event

Soils2Sea: Reducing Nutrient Loadings Into the Baltic Sea – Film Premiere

TimeLoc

12 October 2016

Mykanow

Poland

On 14 October 2016, the documentary film "Soils2Sea: Reducing nutrient loadings into the Baltic Sea" premiered in Poland. Developed and produced by Dr. Grit Martinez (Ecologic Institute) and Anne Berrini (berrini films) with support from Dr. Przemyslaw Wachniew (AGH University of Science and Technology Krakow), the movie illustrates the societal story of implementing the EU's nitrate directive at regional realities in the EU member states, particularly in the Kocinka catchment area in south central Poland. The 35-minute film will be available soon on Ecologic Institute's website.Read more

Publication

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Soil

Good Practices to Reduce Nutrient Loss in the Weser-Ems Region (Germany)

Closing the Mineral Cycles at Farm Level

Dooley, Elizabeth (Hg.) 2016: Closing the Mineral Cycles at Farm Level. Good Practices to Reduce Nutrient Loss in the Weser-Ems Region (Germany).Read more

News

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Soil

Sustainability

DYNAMIX Policy Briefs on Absolute Decoupling in the EU

As part of the DYNAMIX project, another three policy reports that synthesised the assessments of three policy mixes (a land use policy mix; a metals and materials use policy mix; and an overarching policy mix) were written in order to support the pathway to absolute decoupling in the EU. These policy mixes were designed to specifically address the use of virgin metals, the use of arable land and freshwater, the input of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus and emissions of greenhouse gases. All policy briefs are available for download.

Publication

Internet Portal on "Plant Protection in your Garden"

umweltbundesamt.de/pflanzenschutz-im-garten-startseite

Did you know that ladybirds, green lacewings, ichneumon wasps and other beneficial insects can be purchased in small packets to fight pests in your garden? Information on this and lots of other eco-friendly measures to apply in private gardens can now be found on the UBA internet portal "Pflanzenschutz im Garten". Alternative and preventative measures are the main focus, although environmentally-relevant side effects caused by chemical pesticides are also considered. Ecologic Institute led the conceptualisation and portal content management sections of the project, as well as the production of a comprehensive brochure. Read more

Event

Implementation of "Land Degradation Neutrality" in Germany

TimeLoc

6 July 2016

Berlin

Germany

Speaker

Stephanie Wunder

In implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Germany has to deal with a range of new challenges. Achieving goals in land and soil protection, for example, cannot build on a long tradition of policymaking or on a solid basis of information and data for monitoring. An expert workshop together with the Federal Agency of Environment (UBA) and Federal Ministry of Environment (BMUB) on 6 July 2016 in Berlin sought to clarify how Germany can achieve "land degradation neutrality" domestically. Stephanie Wunder from Ecologic Institute presented results from a report, which served as the basis for intensive discussions among the participants.Read more