A report drawn up jointly by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the European Environment Agency (EEA) raised the alarm on the soil degradation phenomenon in Europe, which has worsened in recent years due in part to climate change.
The two institutions report “a worrying situation and trends” and stress the need for “immediate” action to reverse this trend.
Overall soil erosion is estimated at 1 billion tonnes per year across the EU, the document points out, adding that water erosion is the most widespread type of erosion, currently affecting nearly a quarter (24%) of EU soils and around a third (32%) of agricultural soils, while projections show a possible increase of 13-25% by 2050.
The study’s authors also note the impact of other erosion types, including mechanical soil agitation, particularly from agriculture, which can have a significant impact on the soil of cultivated fields, as well as wind erosion.
“Combating soil degradation is crucial to achieving the EU’s environmental, agricultural and climate objectives, as healthy soils are essential to the overall resilience of our society and economy,” the report stresses, recalling that the EU Soil Strategy 2030 sets out measures to achieve healthy soils by 2050, with concrete actions by 2030.
“With collective action, strengthened monitoring and legislative support, the EU can restore this vital resource,” the authors estimate, noting that the European Soil Observatory (EUSO) has already laid the foundations for better soil monitoring, using advanced tools to improve the quality of data on soil erosion, soil organic carbon levels and nutrient imbalances.
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