Working across Scales and Purposes
BENCHMARKS proposes the co-development within 29 European case studies of a multi-scale and multi-user focused monitoring framework that is transparent, harmonised and cost-effective. Underpinned by the best scientific knowledge and technologies this framework provides a clear soil health index for benchmarking, using indicators that are pertinent to the objective of assessment, applicable to the land use and logistically feasible.
Building a European Network on Soil Research
BENCHMARKS aims to build a European network to advance soil research, monitor soil health and advocate for sustainable land use. To achieve these goals, BENCHMARKS collaborates with stakeholders in 24 European case studies to co-develop and evaluate a multi-scale and multi-user focused monitoring framework that is transparent, harmonised and cost-effective.
Co-creating a Soil Health Monitoring Framework
The BENCHMARKS framework aims to accommodate the diverse needs of different scales, ranging from local to European levels, by providing guidance throughout the soil health monitoring process.
This framework is co-developed and tested in collaboration with stakeholders in various case studies. Users have the flexibility to select soil functions, land uses, pedoclimatic conditions, analysis scale, and indicator measurements (sample, statistics, and spatial data). Furthermore, the framework plays a crucial role in meeting the monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements of users across all relevant scales.
The Integrated Soil Health Monitoring Framework serves three key functions to facilitate the quantification of soil health potential and status within a given context:
Indicator selection Based on objective, context and practices.
Soil health assessment Calculates the soil health index based on indicator measurements.
Management optimisation Provides recommendations on which practices can be applied to further optimise soil health for a given site.
Soil Health Monitoring Metrics
Practice
Defines which management practices can be implemented to respond to the defined objectives.
Result
Monitor and report changes in the short term resulting from the deployment of new practices / technologies
Outcome
Useful to monitor and report the extent to which the intervention / initiative has delivered on its goal.
Soil Health Indicator Measurements
Sample
Field and lab-based measurement.
Stats
Existing data on soils, management practices, socioeconomic factors & model derived measurements.
Space
Digital technologies, e.g. remote sensing, satellite technology, lidar, drones.
Vision for a Healthy Soil
Soil health means good chemical, biological and physical condition and provision of as many ecosystem services as possible. Maintaining and restoring soil health is a major and long-term endeavour, which requires transformative changes in practices by all sectors of society, across all types of land uses and scales in a joined-up manner.
In 2050 the soils must be healthy and resistant, but this requires a decisive change. For this, the protection, sustainable use and restoration of the soil should be the norm. In this sense, the contribution of BENCHMARKS is framed within climate neutrality, clean circular economy and human health protection; tackling biodiversity loss, desertification and land degradation.
