Brussels, 23/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 23 September, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) published an indicator-based map of potential threats to soil biodiversity, in order to guide decision-makers in protecting this crucial resource. “This atlas is a major European contribution to the UN's International Year of Biodiversity 2010. It will raise awareness about the need for the Soil Framework Directive the Commission first proposed in 2006, and help prevent further soil degradation and repair the damage already done,” said Research Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. The 128-page atlas highlights areas within Europe where soil biodiversity is most at risk of decline relative to the current situation - notably parts of the UK, the Benelux countries and Northern France, although there are areas of high risk also in several other member states. The atlas also brings to the public view the whole range of life in the soil and the crucial role it plays in maintaining other ecosystems. It includes new research results on current threats to soil biodiversity. The work, aimed principally at researchers, political decision-makers and teachers, was launched at the “Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity - Where do we stand?” conference in Brussels on 23-24 September 2010. (A.N./transl.rt)