Holistic management practices, modelling and monitoring for European forest soils

Lead Institute WO Institute of Forest Ecosystems

Measuring point with trenching for analysis of soil respiration without root respiration of the trees, Ore Mountains, Saxony

Improve and harmonize methods for estimating soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and fluxes in relation to forest management practices, land use history, and their influence on greenhouse gas balance in Europe.

Holisoils aim is to improve, integrate, and harmonise the ways in which European forest soils are managed, for climate change mitigation and to sustain ecosystem services essential for biodiversity, human health and wellbeing.

Background and Objective

The project will identify and test soil management practices aiming to mitigate climate change and sustain provision of various ecosystem services essential for human livelihoods and wellbeing. HoliSoils incorporates novel methodologies and expert knowledge on analytical techniques, data sharing, model development, and soil properties and biodiversity. It will develop tools for soil monitoring and for greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment in the land use, land-use change & forestry (LULUCF) sector. It will also enhance efficiency of GHG mitigation actions, and improve numerical forecasting of soil-based mitigation, adaptation, and ecosystem services.

Approach

In collaboration with 20 different partners, Thünen Institute will develop a monitoring framework for a European forest soils GHG inventory. The specific objectives are to:

To review current soil sampling, analysis & monitoring methodologies used in GHG inventories and soil monitoring networks in Europe,
To develop a resource-efficient soil sampling design, monitoring and measurement protocols for a standardised GHG inventory,
Support project partners, with data acquisition (for modelling)
To develop a harmonised soil information database,
To upscale and map soil data,
To develop a web-based platform for maps.

Thünen-Contact

Dr. Nicole Wellbrock

Telephone

+49 3334 3820 304

nicole.wellbrock@thuenen.de

WO Institute of Forest Ecosystems

Involved Thünen-Partners

Involved external Thünen-Partners

Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
(Helsinki, Mikkeli, Jokioinen, Vanda, Finnland)

Funding Body

European Union (EU)
(international, öffentlich)

Duration

5.2021 - 5.2025

More Information

Project funding number: 101000289
Funding program: EU – Horizon 2020 – Societal Challenge "Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy"
Project status: ongoing

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