Indicators and thresholds for desertification, soil quality, and remediation

Objective

Land degradation (including desertification) is a paramount international problem, and indicators have been developed to follow it. Many are based on
(1) plant communities, or
(2) soil loss, or
(3) salinity. They tend to monitor the status quo over large time periods and are more suitable for crisis assessment than for risk prevention. They are also poorly suited for the sensitive monitoring of the success of remediation efforts. Last year the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and other organisations have emphasised the continuing need for indicators. The mechanisms of land degradation are well known and have been the object of many EU studies. The prime goal of INDEX is to apply this knowledge to develop modern, rapid, sensitive, universal, multivariate indicators with which the dynamic state of land degradation as well as its remediation can be assessed. They will be based on:
(1) microbiology including molecular biology and genetic diversity,
(2) characteristics of the dynamic humus pool and hum-enzymes, and
(3) soil physics including theology. These indicators of desertification mechanisms will be developed on fields in various stages of degradation and remediation and verified on a pan European basis on sites selected with stakeholders. Results will be extrapolated to thresholds to indicate when remediation is economically unfeasible. INDEX is innovative, since it
(1) is based on mechanisms,
(2) is holistic, and
(3) introduces novel parameters. In view of Global Change such indicators are especially needed. Changes will often be slow and subtle. An early warning system is needed to indicate the need for countermeasures, while they are still economical. INDEX will rely on previously supported Commission projects and will disseminate its results to subsequent projects. It will attempt to utilise small and medium enterprises (Sees) as links to non-scientific institutions. The whole will be imbedded within the UNCCD and disseminated to stakeholders.

Fields of science

• natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
• natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
• natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology

Keywords

• desertification
• indicators
• indices
• land degradation
• mechanisms
• remediation
• tresholds

Programme(s)

• FP6-SUSTDEV - Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems: thematic priority 6 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006.

Topic(s)

• SUSTDEV-2002-3.IV.1.a - Research on mechanisms of desertification and soil quality.

Call for proposal

FP6-2002-GLOBAL-1
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (6)