During the first two project years, the consortium achieved significant progress. In the field of land mapping, the project established and partially completed an in situ spectral signature database for soils and vegetation across the case studies. Drone, airborne, and satellite hyperspectral data were acquired and processed, including imagery from Sentinel-2, PRISMA, and EnMap. These efforts enabled the production of the first vegetation and contamination maps and the delivery of the beta version of the WebGIS platform.
Concerning ecological risk and ecosystem services, the consortium harmonised data collection protocols, produced the “Report of Available Methods and Data”, and conducted five major sampling campaigns. Ecotoxicological and ecological datasets were generated for five case studies, while a comprehensive framework for ecosystem service valuation was established based on the CICES v5.2 classification. A prototype microfluidic platform, or lab-on-chip, for nematode ecotoxicity assays was successfully developed and tested, representing a major technological step towards accessible, real-time soil toxicity assessment.
In the demonstration of Nature-Based Solutions, greenhouse trials were conducted to identify optimal plant and microbial assemblages, particularly focusing on poplar and companion species. Field-scale trials were launched in all seven European case studies, initiating long-term monitoring of soil, plant, and microbial indicators. These activities culminated in the delivery of the report on optimised plant–microbe systems for phytoremediation.
Progress was also made in defining the performance metrics and key performance indicators required to evaluate NBS effectiveness. Enviro-econometric models were developed to link biomass growth and decontamination rates with Soil Degradation Indicators, while a methodological framework for ecosystem service valuation and product environmental footprinting was finalised in alignment with EU SEEA and PEF standards.
On the business and financial side, the project designed a three-tier Decision Support System for NBS investment and risk management, drafted the structure of the EDAPHOS Green Bonds in compliance with the EU Green Bond Standards, and conceptualised the EDAPHOS Treasuries as a mechanism for monetising ecosystem services and incentivising sustainable land restoration.
