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

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Publication

Extending Land Footprints Towards Characterizing Sustainability of Land Use

This report discusses extensions of area-based land foot-prints with meaningful impact-oriented indicators for the assessment of the effects of different con-sumption patterns on the ecosystems and sustainability of land use. First, existing indicators for representing the environmental impacts of land use are introduced in the context of their linkages and complementarity to area-based land footprints. The report discusses the following key indicators, which were identified as particularly relevant during an export workshop: System indicators, which qualify the area-based footprints across globally very different potential land productivities, deforestation footprint, energy use in agriculture, and irrigation water use in agriculture classified by degree of water scarcity. It introduces the methods developed for the quantification of system indicators for cropland and grassland footprints and for the deforestation footprint, and present results for Germany and the EU.Read more

Publication

Proposals for New Governance Concepts and Policy Options

Stelljes, N, Albrecht, S, Martinez, G., McGlade, K. BONUS SOILS2SEA Deliverable 6.2. Proposals for new governance concepts and policy options. Ecologic Institute, Berlin, May 2017, www.Soils2Sea.eu Read more

Event

Workshop

Indicators

Soil

Using Land Use (Change) for the Valuation of Soil Protection

TimeLoc

27 March 2017

Berlin

Germany

Despite extensive discussions, no agreement has been found regarding a common soil indicator for measuring Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in Germany. Major obstacles include low data availability and the effort needed to measure physical soil conditions regularly. During an expert workshop on 27 March 2017 in Berlin, a new and simpler approach, developed by Ecologic Institute in cooperation with the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA), was discussed to determine its suitability for LDN. The core idea of the approach is to measure land use and land use change, directly referring to soil quality in the sense of LDN. The workshop minutes are available for download.

Project

Agriculture

Soil

Water

Cooperative Water Protection and their Impact on Groundwater Quality

March 2017 to May 2020

About a quarter of German groundwater exceeds the nitrate limit of the European Union for drinking water. A substantial reduction of inputs can only be achieved through measures in agriculture. The study examines existing drinking water cooperations between farmers and drinking water suppliers in water conservation areas in North Rhine-Westphalia. In doing so, positive approaches should be harnessed for a purposeful policy.Read more

Publication

Konzepte zur Minderung von Arzneimitteleinträgen aus der landwirtschaftlichen Tierhaltung in die Umwelt

Veterinary pharmaceuticals and their transformation products have gained increasing attention as environmental contaminants. A research team led by Ecologic Institute analyzed measures that contribute to reduce the input of veterinary pharmaceuticals into the environment. The publication compiles existing approaches and measures for reducing the entry of veterinary pharmaceuticals into the environment, and derives additional measures of relevance for the environment.Over 40 measures to reduce veterinary pharmaceutical input from agriculture into the environment were identified, their effectiveness assessed and given top priority. The publication is available for download.Read more

Publication

International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2016

The first volume of the International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy includes an important discussion on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals that are the basis for the post-2015 development agenda up to the year 2030; the Yearbook focuses in particular on Goal 15, which includes achieving a "land degradation-neutral world." It also provides a comprehensive and highly informative overview of the latest developments at the international level, important cross-disciplinary issues and different approaches in national legislation. Ecologic Institute's Timo Kaphengst contributed to the chapter on "The UN Convention on Biological Diversity and Soils: Status and Future Options". Elizabeth Dooley had been involved as advisory editor.

Publication

Report

Soil

Updated Inventory and Assessment of Soil Protection Policy Instruments in EU Member States

Based on a comprehensive analysis of EU laws and nationally initiated policies in 28 Member States, a new study led by Ecologic Institute assesses how existing EU legislation protects soils, identifying gaps and incoherencies in policy coverage. Nationally initiated policies do not consistently address these gaps in EU legislation, leading to a situation where requirements for soil protection can vary significantly across Member States. The study provides an up-to-date understanding of soil protection policies in Europe, delivering a baseline on which to discuss further EU soil policy action. The study is available for download.Read more

Publication

Conference Paper

Soil

Soil Stakeholders Conference, 5 December 2016

Conference Report

Pederson, R., A. Frelih-Larsen, Z. Lukacova A., Crook, N., S. Naumann, C. Bowyer, C. Keenleyside, S. Nanni (2016). 'Soil Stakeholders Conference, 5 December 2016 – Conference Report.' Annex 2 to the report Updated Inventory and Assessment of Soil Protection Policy Instruments in EU Member States. Final Report to DG Environment. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.

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