1Ispra, 2009

Simon Jeffery and Ciro Gardi

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONJOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

Institute for Environment and SustainabilityTP 280

I-21020 Ispra (VA), Italy

Research Activities in Soil Biodiversity at the Joint Research Centre

2Ispra, 2009

Our Role

• Provide scientific support to policy regarding soil biodiversity– “To fill the information gaps and enhance

awareness of the importance of soil biodiversity for land-use practices, food security, climate change mitigation, provision of critical ecosystem services and environmental protection”

3Ispra, 2009

Our Role Cont.

– To develop common criteria for the measurement of soil biodiversity

– To develop, on the basis of existing data, a first version of a new Pan-European soil biodiversity database as a component of the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC)

4Ispra, 2009

Soil Biodiversity in Europe

• Atlas / book of soil biodiversity in Europe– Including contributions from experts from a

range of European countries– Possibly also include maps detailing soil

biodiversity in Europe and its threats

• Database of soil biodiversity in Europe– Combining data from primary literature

• Any contributions welcome!

• Inventory of ongoing soil biodiversity activities

5Ispra, 2009

Awareness Raising Activities

• Production of soil biodiversity leaflet and booklet– Circulated to the press and attendees at

AAAS, DG Env. – More will be circulated at JRC open day

• Several activities are so far planned for the JRC open day

6Ispra, 2009

• Areas of soil biodiversity under threat– Requires identification and weighting of

threats

• Current levels of soil biodiversity in Europe– Data sparse and often highly heterogeneous

at European scale

• Involvement in the Eco-Regions WG– (in collaboration with EFSA)

Mapping

7Ispra, 2009

Other Proposed Future Activities• Soil biodiversity in extreme environments

– Workshop at retreating glacier– Soil exposed for different lengths of time function

allows investigation of succession– Work on relatively simple communities in newly

exposed soils allows easier identification of interactions

• JRC Open Day– Aimed at raising awareness of soil biodiversity among

the general public– Ideas and contributions welcome

8Ispra, 2009

Biochar

• Biochar investigation group lead by Frank Verheijen started at JRC.

• Extensive study of all aspects including interactions and feedbacks between Biochar and soil biodiversity

• Aiming to provide reference point for policy at Copenhagen November 2009

9Ispra, 2009

Ciro Gardi and Simon Jeffery

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONJOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

Institute for Environment and SustainabilityTP 280

I-21020 Ispra (VA), Italy

Possible contributions of Soil Biodiversity Working Group

to JRC activities

10Ispra, 2009

• Book on Soil Biodiversity in Europe

• Definition of research needs

• Definition/ranking of soil biodiversity threats

• Survey of soil biodiversity monitoring activities

• Data-base on soil biodiversity in Europe

11Ispra, 2009

Book on Soil Biodiversity in Europe

Activities

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M

Chapter proposal and assignement

Delivery of chapter abstract and estimate of chapter length

Delivery of draft version of the chapter, together with images

Delivery of final version of the chapters

Editorial management (Proofreading and graphic layout)

Validation of chapters by authors

Printing

2009 2010

12Ispra, 2009

Book on Soil Biodiversity in Europe• The role of soil biodiversity within the International Convention on Biological Diversity

(Mulongoy, Coates).• Relationships between biological diversity and functions in soil (Ritz, Jeffery)• Main threats on soil biodiversity and evidence of its decline in Europe + Maps of

interaction with soil degradation process (Gardi, …).• Soil microbial communities investigation: tools and methodology (Jeffery, Lemanceau,

Ranjard)• Soil fauna investigation: tools and methodology (Sousa, Rombke, Cluzeau, Jacomini,

Menta)• Approaches to soil biodiversity inventory and monitoring (Bispo, Arrouays, )• Definition of background values for soil biodiversity (Rutgers)1. The EU funded research related to soil biodiversity (JRC)2. The ongoing initiatives (JRC [Gardi and Jeffery]and other possible contributors)3. Raising awareness on soil biodiversity (Broll)4. The economy of soil biodiversity (Krogh)5. Soil biodiversity and sustainable agriculture (Licona Manzur, Bunning)6. Invasive species and soil biodiversity (van Der Putten, Hol)7. Energy crops and soil biodiversity (Schmidt, )8. Research needs and future steps (JRC and other contibutors)

13Ispra, 2009

Definition of research needs

• Soil Biodiversity (SB) and Ecosystem Services and Functions ??

• Economic evaluation of soil services ??• Agriculture, soil management and SB ??• Soil degradation processes and SB ??• Definition/ranking of soil biodiversity threats ??• Survey of soil biodiversity monitoring activities ??• Data-base on soil biodiversity in Europe ??

14Ispra, 2009

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Soil Biodiversity WorkshopIspra, Italy. 2-3 March 2009