EU Soils Thematic Strategy
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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.