Soil conservation

Healthy soils are key to mitigating and adapting to climate change, to preserving biodiversity and to achieving food security. However, vast quantities of healthy soils are lost every day. This loss is largely caused by human soil consumption. This is especially crucial in the Alps, where the availability of soil is particularly limited.

The Contracting Parties of the Alpine Convention have committed to “reducing quantitative and qualitative soil damage, in particular by applying agricultural and forestry methods which do not harm the soil, through minimum interference with soil and land, control of erosion and the restriction of soil sealing” (Framework Convention Art. 2, 2d). Furthermore, the XV Alpine Conference welcomed the declaration “Sustainable Land Use and Soil Protection – Joining Forces for Nature, People and the Economy”, which was developed by the EUSALP Action group 6, which is led by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and the Province of Carinthia.

Protocols and Declarations

• Soil Conservation Protocol

Thematic Working Bodies

• Soil Protection Working Group

EUSALP Action Group 6 on the “Preservation and valorisation of natural resources, including water and cultural resources”, which is led by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and the Province of Carinthia deals with the topic of soil conservation in one of its subgroups.

Selected Documents and Publications

• Soil functions and spatial planning in the Alps - Workshop documentation (2022)

• Report “Economical and prudent use of soil in the Alps”

• Stock-taking summary of permanent soil monitoring areas in the perimeter of the Alpine Convention (Annex 1, Annex 2)

• Cooperation with the JRC regarding the Soil Conservation Protocol Articles 20 and 21: Harmonized Databases and Soil Monitoring

• Stock-taking of institutions, projects and networks relevant for soil protection in the Alps

• In-depth report of the Compliance Committee (2019) - available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian

• Resolutions by the 13th Youth Parliament of the Alpine Convention (2018)

• Soil Declaration “Sustainable Land Use and Soil Protection – Joining Forces for Nature, People and the Economy” (elaborated by EUSALP Action Group 6; 2018)

• Quo vadis soil protection in the Alps? Assessment of the Alpine Convention Soil Conservation Protocol and preparation/implementation of an international conference (2018)

• Alpine Soil Symposium: Soil Conservation Protocol of the Alpine Convention - between demand and reality (conference report), 23-24 June 2016

Projects

• Workshop on soil functions and spatial planning in the Alps (29-30 March 2022)

• Links4Soils (Alpine Space Programme) - project for connecting Alpine soil knowledge for sustainable ecosystem governance (2016-2020)

• The Alpine Soils Platform