Developing Soil Health Indicators and Monitoring Protocols for Mediterranean Soils and Environments

Abstract

Soil health plays a pivotal role in the One Health strategy and is fundamental to achieving sustainable land management objectives. However, in the Mediterranean region, the limited availability and utilization of soil data and information (SDI) present significant barriers to attaining policy targets linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030. The consequences of inadequate soil information in decision-making processes are often underestimated and carry far-reaching negative implications. Recognizing these challenges, the project "SOIL health monitoring and information systems FOR sustainable soil management in the MEDiterranean region (SOILS4MED)" has recently secured funding under the PRIMA TOPIC:1.2.1 (2022) initiative. This project aims to develop integrated soil data and information systems specifically tailored to the Mediterranean region, acting as a gateway for effective and sustainable soil management. By leveraging existing local and regional models such as the JRC-LUCAS and the Soil4Africa H2020 project and aligning with the guidelines established by the FAO's Global Soil Partnership, the SOILS4MED project seeks to demonstrate the necessity and benefits of implementing regular soil monitoring systems based on up-to-date field data. The project has the following objectives: Engage with stakeholders in line with the Living Lab approach and raise awareness on the benefits deriving from increased investment in SDI. Develop policy-relevant integrated indicator sets and monitoring protocols adapted to the environmental specificities and diverse soil types present in the Mediterranean region. Validate the protocols in study areas representing major agroecological regions and soil types, generating the first-ever extensive, openly accessible dataset on soil health for the Mediterranean region. Demonstrate the capacity of the SDI produced by the protocols, integrated with legacy soil data, to support state-of-the-art tools for sustainable soil and water management, land degradation neutrality, and regional soil condition mapping, including carbon stock mapping. Design and implement standardized country-based soil information systems (SIS) for the effective management and use of SDI. The SOILS4MED project endeavors to bridge the gap between stakeholders and scientists in the Mediterranean, emphasizing the necessity and advantages of establishing comprehensive soil monitoring systems. By highlighting the multiple benefits generated by reliable soil data and information, this project aims to address the prevailing challenges and propel sustainable soil management in the region. SOILS4MED works in synergy with international initiatives on SDI availability and use in the Mediterranean region, particularly supporting SDI harmonization efforts conducted by FAO's Global Soil Partnership and ongoing international soil health mapping initiatives by JRC, FAO, and ISRIC.