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 (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2002-GLOBAL-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
NEUHERBERG
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.