Transcript Threats to soil as identified in COM(2002) 179

Introduction to
the JRC and the ESBN
Gergely Tóth
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ESBN
European Soil Bureau Network
of Centres of Excellence in Soil Science
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NJOS
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ALTERRA
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SSLRC
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BGR
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INRA
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CSES
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CSIC
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Joint Research Center
JRC
European Commission,
Joint Research Centre
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The Institute for
Environment and Sustainability
Focusing on EU Environmental Policies
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Mission Statement
The Mission of the
Institute for Environment and Sustainability
is...
• to provide Scientific & Technical support to
EU policies for the Protection of the
Environment, and
• to contribute to the EU strategy on
Sustainable Development
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UNITS OF IES
Climate Change Unit: provides scientific support for development and monitoring of European policies in the area of regional and global
air pollution and climate change: the Kyoto protocol and beyond.
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Global Vegetation Monitoring Unit: provides accurate information on changes in the world's vegetation cover as needed for EU policy in
the areas of environment, development and external affairs.
Emissions and Health Unit: supports the emission reduction and air quality policy of the European Commission, focusing its activities in
the areas of emissions from mobile and stationary sources, air quality, exposure to pollutants and health related studies, and
radioactivity monitoring.
Inland and Marine Waters Unit: provides scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and
monitoring of European water policy and, in particular, the relevant directives.
Soil and Waste Unit: carries out research in support of EU policies regulating the environmental impacts of waste management strategies
and of the Common Agricultural Policy as well as for the protection of soil resources.
Land Management Unit: provides scientific and technical support for the conception, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU
policies dedicated to the spatial characterisation of the European territory as well as to natural hazards.
Renewable Energies Unit: supports European policies on the introduction of renewable energies into the energy supply by giving advice
on relevant technological issues.
In addition, a special Task Force Environment and Health studies the feasibility of an Integrated Environment and Health Information
System in support to the European Environment and Health Action Plan.
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The Scientific Units are supported by the Directorate Unit and the Management Support Unit.
The need for soil information
To provide background data support for the implementation
of the thematic strategy for soil protection
The need for digital soil maps
- Multiple purpuse use (functionality)
- Easy to handle information (conversion options)
- Easy update options
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The need for
digital soil mapping
• The need for better quality data sources
• The need for end-user oriented soil data
(providing interpreted data)
• Cost-effectiveness
• Limited time frame
After Endre Dobos & Joël Daroussin (2004)
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http://eusoils.jrc.it/
http://esb-net.jrc.it/
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Have a fruitful workshop!
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