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Land degradation by wind erosion – an integrated assessment approach

to European soils

Clemens Mensink

VitoCentre for Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Processes

Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium

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What is the problem ?

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Photo: D. Goossens

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Wind erosion

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Wind erosion

and

Tillage practises

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Photo: M. Riksen

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Wind erosion

and

Tillage practises

cause

Soil loss

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Wind erosion

and

Tillage practises

cause

Soil loss Land degradation

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Wind erosion

and

Tillage practises

cause

Soil loss Land degradation Declining fertility

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Photo: M. Riksen

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Photo: M. Riksen

One million hectares in Europe…

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Photo: M. Riksen

One million hectares in Europe…

suffer from wind erosionCOM(2002)179

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“Soil loss and declining fertility are indicated as a main threat to sustainable development as it erodes the viability of agricultural land.”

COM(2001)264

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What is our response ?

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EC:

“Towards a strategy for soil protection”

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LAWINE:

We want to develop an integrated assessment approach to understand, monitor and predict

the impact of wind erosion and tillage practises on land degradation

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Integrated assessment:

A reflective and iterative participatory process that links knowledge (science) and actions (policy) regarding complex issues

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Integrated assessment:

A reflective and iterative participatory process that links knowledge (science) and actions (policy) regarding complex issues

Interdisciplinary process of combining, interpreting and communicating knowledge from diverse scientific disciplines in such a way that the whole cause-effect chain of a problem can be evaluated from a synoptic perspective

(Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change, T. Munn, 2002)

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Integrated assessment:

combine existing scientific and multi- disciplinary excellence

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Integrated assessment:

combine existing scientific and multi- disciplinary excellence

better response to complex aspects of land degradation (monitoring systems, data networks)

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Integrated assessment:

combine existing scientific and multi- disciplinary excellence

better response to complex aspects of land degradation (monitoring systems, data networks)

follow DPSIR assessment line

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Integrated assessment:

combine existing scientific and multi- disciplinary excellence

better response to complex aspects of land degradation (monitoring systems, data networks)

follow DPSIR assessment line

support long-term EU soil policy

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Objectives:

understand monitor predict

the impact of soil particle emissions on land degradation and vulnerability of managed,

semi-natural and natural ecosystems in Europe, in the context of

• land use• climate change

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Expected results:

Products (risk maps, scenario maps, assessments)

Services (on-line prediction, model system for scenario calculations)

New knowledge on wind-soil interactions and its response to global change and changes in human activities

Policy support

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What are the key actions ?

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1. Observe

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1. Observe

2. Diagnose

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1. Observe

2. Diagnose

3. Model

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1. Observe

2. Diagnose

3. Model

4. Verify

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1. Observe

2. Diagnose

3. Model

4. Verify

5. Predict

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1. Observe

2. Diagnose

3. Model

4. Verify

5. Predict

6. Asses

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1. Observe

2. Diagnose

3. Model

4. Verify

5. Predict

6. Asses

7. Contribute

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Critical mass:

Multidisciplinary (scientific) consortium:

Soil scientists Meteorologists Agricultural specialist Geomorphologists Environmental and social scientists Climate experts Policy makers

Advisory board of (policy) stakeholders

35Photo: M. Riksen

Concluding remarks…

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“Soil loss and declining fertility are indicated as a main threat to sustainable development as it erodes the viability of agricultural land.”

COM(2001)264

37Photo: M. Riksen

“Soil loss and declining fertility are indicated as a main threat to sustainable development as it erodes the viability of agricultural land.”

COM(2001)264

LAWINE wants to develop an integrated assessment approach to understand, monitor and predictthe impact of wind erosion and tillage practises on land degradation

38Photo: M. Riksen

Thank you for your atttention !