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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • EU Soils Thematic Strategy

    Topics:
    • Land and Landscapes, 
    • Soil

    The EU Soils Thematic Strategy was adopted by the European Commission in September 2006, along with a draft Soils Framework Directive and Impact Assessment.

    Purpose of the strategy

    This soil thematic strategy seeks to:

    • establish common principles for the protection and sustainable use of soils
    • prevent threats to soils, and mitigate the effects of those threats
    • preserve soil functions within the context of sustainable use
    • restore degraded and contaminated soils to approved levels of functionality

    As drafted there are four key elements to the Directive:

    • identification of areas at risk of soil erosion, organic matter decline, compaction, salinisation and landslides and for Member States to establish programmes of measures
    • measures to address soil contamination including actions on Member States to establish an inventory of contaminated sites, production of soil status reports and establishing a national strategy for remediation of contaminated sites identified
    • measures on soil sealing requiring Member States to take appropriate steps to minimise soil sealing and its effects
    • awareness raising, reporting and exchange of information

    The strategy can be accessed from the European Commission website.

    Related content

    • Soil policy development and emerging work areas
    • Sustainable Agricultural Land Management Strategy
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