The European Commission published, on Thursday 5 November, the roadmap for the new EU strategy to combat soil degradation and preserve land resources.
Scheduled for the second quarter of 2021, this update of the current strategy is part of the EU’s broader biodiversity strategy for 2030.
In particular, it will aim to: - better protect soil fertility and reduce erosion; - increase soil organic matter and restore carbon-rich ecosystems; - protect and enhance the biodiversity of soils ; - reduce land use and urban sprawl ; - identify contaminated sites.
The strategy will also aim to define what constitutes a ‘good ecological status’ for soils and to achieve neutrality with regard to soil degradation by 2030.
According to the roadmap, it should in particular promote the adoption of sustainable soil management practices, define actions to restore degraded soils and improve soil quality monitoring.
It could also lead to an adaptation of the relevant EU policy framework.
The public consultation period on the roadmap will close on 3 December.
To see the roadmap and participate in the consultation: https://bit.ly/3n5t7B7 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)