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The Soil Map and Geomorphological Map of the Netherlands at scale 1:50,000 are the soil and landform map databases of the Netherlands. They are part of the National Key Registry of the Subsurface (BRO), the central registry of public data on the subsurface of the Netherlands. Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) maintains these maps for the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. This report presents improved and updated information on soils and landforms for parts of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, Gelderse Vallei and Veluwe regions collected during the update and review of the Soil Map and Geomorphological Map in 2020 and 2021. Examples are given on how the maps can be used in conjunction for the planning and management of the soil-water system in the Gelderse Vallei. The examples were taken from the planning and environmental strategy of the Regional Water Authority Vallei en Veluwe (Blauwe Omgevingsvisie 2050). De Bodemkaart en Geomorfologische Kaart van Nederland, schaal 1:50.000, zijn kaartbestanden van bodem en landvormen in Nederland. Deze bestanden zijn onderdeel van de Basisregistratie Ondergrond (BRO), een centrale registratie met publieke gegevens over de Nederlandse ondergrond. Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) onderhoudt deze bestanden voor het ministerie van LNV. Dit rapport presenteert verbeterde en recente informatie over bodem en landvormen in delen van de Utrechtse Heuvelrug, Gelderse Vallei en Veluwe, die is ingewonnen bij de actualisatie en revisie van de Bodemkaart en Geomorfologische Kaart in 2020 en 2021. Het geeft daarnaast voorbeelden van hoe de kaarten gezamenlijk kunnen worden toegepast voor enkele vraagstukken over inrichting en beheer van het bodem-watersysteem in de Gelderse Vallei. De voorbeelden zijn ontleend aan de Blauwe Omgevingsvisie 2050 van het Waterschap Vallei en Veluwe.

Relevant soil quality indicators for agricultural applications have been available for some time, but not yet for specific applications within the urban environment. In this report, relevant indicators are selected for assessing soil quality within the Amsterdam metropolitan region for the application ‘urban agriculture’ and ‘urban green’ . Within each of these applications, a further sub- selection of relevant indicators is made. On the basis of a case study in the ‘Fruittuinen van West’ -area in Amsterdam, an example for the use of soil quality indicators is being developed for the application ‘urban agriculture'. Relevante bodemkwaliteitsindicatoren voor landbouwkundige toepassingen zijn al langer geselecteerd, maar voor specifieke toepassingen binnen de stedelijke omgeving nog niet. In dit rapport worden relevante indicatoren geselecteerd voor het beoordelen van de bodemkwaliteit binnen de Metropool Regio Amsterdam voor de toepassing ‘stadslandbouw’ en ‘stedelijk groen’. Binnen elk van deze toepassingen wordt nog een subselectie gemaakt van relevante indicatoren. Aan de hand van een casestudy in de ‘Fruittuinen van West’ in Amsterdam wordt voor de toepassing ‘stadslandbouw’ een voorbeeld voor het gebruik van bodemkwaliteitsindicatoren uitgewerkt.

Land degradation is recognised as a threat to the European and global ecosystems and their condition, with direct relevance to climate change adaptation, human well-being, food-securityand social welfare. However, objectives to halt and revert land degradation are dispersed over a range of strategic documents and policy guidelines at the EU. So are the topics of land and soil, which can be found across policy instruments of various sectors.Therefore, there is a need for a single up-to-date strategic policy framework that preserves and enhances land resources in the European Union. This report aims at providing an overview of the current knowledge regarding land degradation from different perspectives: by describing the current policy context, in particular key policy programs at the European and international level with ambitions to remediate land degradation, by specifying current approaches towards land degradation mapping, with specific emphasis on mapping impacts on ecosystem services, by analysing the evolution of land degradation assessments over time, their knowledge gain and weaknesses, by showing the importance of soil degradation mapping as central factor for land degradation mapping, by depicting the potentials of remote sensing approaches for land degradation mapping, by explaining the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality, as developed by UNCCD, and by proposing the way forward through establishing an Integrated Land Systems Data Platform to support the mapping of land degradation impacts on ecosystem services.

Ongoing pressures on European land are manifold with extreme climate events and non-sustainable use of land resources being amongst the most important drivers altering the functioning of the ecosystems. The protection and conservation of European natural capital is one of the key objectives of the 7th Environmental Action Plan (EAP). The EAP stipulates that European land must be managed in a sustainable way by 2020 and the UN Sustainable development goals define a Land Degradation Neutral world as one of the targets. This implies that land degradation (LD) assessment of European ecosystems must be performed repeatedly allowing for the assessment of the current state of LD as well as changes compared to a baseline adopted by the UNCCD for the objective of land degradation neutrality. However, scientifically robust methods are still lacking for large-scale assessment of LD and repeated consistent mapping of the state of terrestrial ecosystems. Historical land degradation assessments based on various methods exist, but methods are generally non-replicable or difficult to apply at continental scale (Allan et al. 2007). The current lack of research methods applicable at large spatial scales is notably caused by the non-robust definition of LD, the scarcity of field data on LD, as well as the complex inter-play of the processes driving LD (Vogt et al., 2011). Moreover, the link between LD and changes in land use (how land use changes relates to change in vegetation productivity and ecosystem functioning) is not straightforward. In this study we used the segmented trend method developed by Horion et al. (2016) for large-scale systematic assessment of hotspots of change in ecosystem functioning in relation to LD. This method alleviates shortcomings of widely used linear trend model that does not account for abrupt change, nor adequately captures the actual changes in ecosystem functioning (de Jong et al. 2013; Horion et al. 2016). Here we present a new methodology for assessing gradual and abrupt changes in ecosystem functioning in Europe. Based on segmented trend analysis of water-use efficiency (WUE) time series, an Ecosystem Change Type (ECT) map was produced over Europe at 1km resolution for the period 1999 to 2013. An analysis of auxiliary data on land use/cover change, drought trends, and soil threats was performed over hotspot areas to better understand the observed changes in ecosystem functioning and their driving mechanisms. The ECT map was validated using the case study sites from the EU-funded RECARE project. Overall, the ECT map accurately highlighted areas characterized by a major change in pathways of ecosystem functioning as well as indicated the type and timing of changes. Allan, R. et al. (2007). Climate and land degradation. Verlag Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. de Jong, R et al. (2013). Remote Sensing, 5, 1117-1133 Horion, S. et al. (2016). Global Change Biology, 22, 2801-2817 Vogt, J. V et al. (2011). Land Degradation & Development, 22: 150-165.

Comunicación presentada en la sesión "Strengthening ES Community of Practices" de la European Ecosystem Services Conference, Antwerp, Belgium, 19-23 September, 2016., Despite numerous research efforts over the last decades, integrating the concept of ecosystem services into land management decision-making continues to pose considerable challenges. Researchers have developed many different frameworks to operationalize the concept, but these are often specific to a certain issue and each has their own definitions and understandings of particular terms. Based on a comprehensive review of the current scientific debate, the EU FP7 project RECARE proposes an adapted framework for soil-related ecosystem services that is suited for practical application in the prevention and remediation of soil degradation across Europe. We have adapted existing frameworks by integrating components from soil science while attempting to introduce a consistent terminology that is understandable to a variety of stakeholders. RECARE aims to assess how soil threats and prevention and remediation measures affect ecosystem services. Changes in the natural capital’s properties influence soil processes, which support the provision of ecosystem services. The benefits produced by these ecosystem services are explicitly or implicitly valued by individuals and society. This can influence decision- and policy making at different scales, potentially leading to a societal response, such as improved land management. The proposed ecosystem services framework will be applied by the RECARE project in a transdisciplinary process. It will assist in singling out the most beneficial land management measures and in identifying trade-offs and win–win situations resulting from and impacted by European policies. The framework thus reflects the specific contributions soils make to ecosystem services and helps reveal changes in ecosystem services caused by land management and policies impacting on soil. At the same time, the framework is simple and robust enough for practical application in assessing soil threats and their management with stakeholders at various levels., RECARE project

In order to fulfil RECARE’s aim to quantify in a harmonized, spatially explicit way impacts of degradation and conservation on soil functions and ecosystem services, it is important to understand the concept and review the current scientific debate. This will lay the foundation for the development and selection of appropriate methods to measure, evaluate, communicate and negotiate the services we obtain from soils with stakeholders in order to improve land management.\ud \ud Despite various research activities in the last decades across the world, many challenges remain to integrate the concept of ecosystem services (ES) in decision-making, and a coherent approach to assess and value ES is still lacking (de Groot et al., 2010). There are many different, often context-specific, ES frameworks with their own definitions and understanding of terms. This chapter therefore aims to identify the state of the art and knowledge gaps in order to develop an operational framework of the ES concept for the RECARE project. It will provide an overview on existing soil functions and ES frameworks and on approaches to monitor and value ES, with a special focus on soil aspects. Furthermore, it will address the question how the ES concept is operationalized in research projects and land management in Europe so far. Based on this review, the chapter concludes with a suggestion of an adapted ES framework for RECARE and on how to operationalize it for practical application in preventing and remediating degradation of soils in Europe.

Despite various research activities in the last decades across the world, many challenges remain to integrate the concept of ecosystem services (ESS) in decision-making, and a coherent approach to assess and value ESS is still lacking. There are a lot of different – often context-specific – ESS frameworks with their own definitions and understanding of terms. Based on a thorough review, the EU FP7 project RECARE (www.recare-project.eu) suggests an adapted framework for ecosystem services related to soils that can be used for practical application in preventing and remediating degradation of soils in Europe. This lays the foundation for the development and selection of appropriate methods to measure, evaluate, communicate and negotiate the services we obtain from soils with stakeholders in order to improve land management. Similar to many ESS frameworks, the RECARE framework distinguishes between an ecosystem and human well-being part. As the RECARE project is focused on soil threats, this is the starting point on the ecosystem part of the framework. Soil threats affect natural capital, such as soil, water, vegetation, air and animals, and are in turn influenced by those. Within the natural capital, the RECARE framework focuses especially on soil and its properties, classified in inherent and manageable properties. The natural capital then enables and underpins soil processes, while at the same time being affected by those. Soil processes, finally, are the ecosystem’s capacity to provide services, thus they support the provision of soil functions and ESS. ESS may be utilized to produce benefits for individuals and human society. Those benefits are explicitly or implicitly valued by individuals and human society. The values placed on those benefits influence policy and decision-making and thus lead to a societal response. Individual (e.g. farmers’) and societal decision making and policy determine land management and other (human) driving forces, which in turn affect soil threats and natural capital. In order to improve ESS with Sustainable Land Management (SLM) – i.e. measures aimed to prevent or remediate soil threats, the services identified in the framework need to be “manageable” (modifiable) for the stakeholders. To this end, effects of soil threats and prevention / remediation measures are captured by key soil properties as well as through bio-physical (e.g. reduced soil loss), socio-economic (e.g. reduced workload) and socio-cultural (e.g. aesthetics) impact indicators. In order to use such indicators in RECARE, it should be possible to associate the changes in soil processes to impacts of prevention / remediation measures (SLM). This requires the indicators to be sensitive enough to small changes, but still sufficiently robust to provide evidence of the change and attribute it to SLM.

15 páginas, 3 figuras., In order to effectively formulate mitigation strategies and implement conservation measurements to counteract soil erosion, it is essential to objectively identify and quantify areas at risk. With the adoption of the European Union (EU) Thematic Strategy for soil protection, a first step is made towards adequate measures to combat soil erosion and other soil degradation processes. However, to provide an effective tool at European level, risk assessment methodologies should be harmonized (i.e. similar although adapted to local circumstances), providing criteria and standardized definitions of risk areas within the EU. This chapter provides an overview, evaluation and assessment of risk assessment methods of water erosion currently existing and applied within the EU, in the framework of the EU-funded RAMSOIL project (www.ramsoi1.eu). Only methods with an official status andlor those that are widely scientifically acknowledged were considered and included in this review. Information on RAMs for soil erosion was identified through both questionnaires and scientific literature review. Questionnaires were sent to scientists and policy makers in EU Member States and Nonvay. The methods were compared, based on five indicators such as scale, transparency, complexity, cost efficiency and ambiguousness, after which a final statement is made about their soundness, flexibility and acceptability, reflecting the potentials for harmonization., This study was carried out under the EU-funded RAMSOIL (Risk Assessment Methodologies for Soil Threats) Project (Contract 44240). More information is available at www.ramsoi1.eu.

In MAGIC a first EU wide map is created to assess options for sustainably use of marginal lands to grow industrial crops. The approach builds on the JRC work to identify Areas of Natural Constraints (ANCs) (Van Oorschoven et al., 2014 and Terres et al., 2014) and other land evaluation systems for agronomic suitability. The results describe the location and amount of marginal land area across Europe and what the main characteristics are in terms of biophysical and socio-economic limitations. This classification serves as a basis for developing sustainable best-practice options for industrial cropping in Europe on marginal lands.

Only a few studies have quantified and measured ecosystem services (ES) specifically related to soil. To address this gap, we have developed and applied a methodology to assess changes in ecosystem services, based on measured or estimated soil property changes that were stimulated by soil management measures (e.g., mulching, terracing, no-till). We applied the ES assessment methodology in 16 case study sites across Europe representing a high diversity of soil threats and land use systems. Various prevention and remediation measures were trialled, and the changes in manageable soil and other natural capital properties were measured and quantified. An Excel tool facilitated data collection, calculation of changes in ecosystem services, and visualization of measured short-term changes and estimated long-term changes at plot level and for the wider area. With this methodology, we were able to successfully collect and compare data on the impact of land management on 15 different ecosystem services from 26 different measures. Overall, the results are positive in terms of the impacts of the trialled measures on ecosystem services, with 18 out of 26 measures having no decrease in any service at the plot level. Although methodological challenges remain, the ES assessment was shown to be a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of the trialled measures, and also served as an input to a stakeholder valuation of ecosystem services at local and sub-national levels.

Despite numerous research efforts over the last decades, integrating the concept of ecosystem servicesinto land management decision-making continues to pose considerable challenges. Researchers havedeveloped many different frameworks to operationalize the concept, but these are often specific to acertain issue and each has their own definitions and understandings of particular terms. Based on acomprehensive review of the current scientific debate, the EU FP7 project RECARE proposes an adaptedframework for soil-related ecosystem services that is suited for practical application in the preventionand remediation of soil degradation across Europe. We have adapted existing frameworks by integratingcomponents from soil science while attempting to introduce a consistent terminology that is understand-able to a variety of stakeholders. RECARE aims to assess how soil threats and prevention and remediationmeasures affect ecosystem services. Changes in the natural capital’s properties influence soil processes,which support the provision of ecosystem services. The benefits produced by these ecosystem servicesare explicitly or implicitly valued by individuals and society. This can influence decision- and policymak-ing at different scales, potentially leading to a societal response, such as improved land management.The proposed ecosystem services framework will be applied by the RECARE project in a transdisciplinaryprocess. It will assist in singling out the most beneficial land management measures and in identifyingtrade-offs and win–win situations resulting from and impacted by European policies. The framework thusreflects the specific contributions soils make to ecosystem services and helps reveal changes in ecosystemservices caused by soil management and policies impacting on soil. At the same time, the framework issimple and robust enough for practical application in assessing soil threats and their management withstakeholders at various levels.

In MAGIC a first EU wide map is created to assess options for sustainably use of marginal lands to grow industrial crops. The approach builds on the JRC work to identify Areas of Natural Constraints (ANCs) (Van Oorschoven et al., 2014 and Terres et al., 2014) and other land evaluation systems for agronomic suitability. The results describe the location and amount of marginal land area across Europe and what the main characteristics are in terms of biophysical and socio-economic limitations. This classification serves as a basis for developing sustainable best-practice options for industrial cropping in Europe on marginal lands.