R. Morgan

It was in the early years of the formation of the ESSC that our first President, Professor D. Jan de Ploey, created a soil map of western Europe based on a satellite image and data colleagues in different countries in the field. The map provided the first overview of the problem at a European scale.

Now that the ESSC has a wide membership from almost all countries in Europe, the opportunity exists to replace this map with up-to-date information, using the specific knowledge of our members. The aim of the task force is to create a new soil erosion map of Europe. We consider this project, not as an interesting academic exercise, but as providing information of practical value for planners and decision-makers.

The first phase will be to develop an appropriate methodology to guarantee a comparable assessment over the whole continent. Scientists could then use the methodology to evaluate the situation in their own countries and create maps and explanatory texts. At the end of the project, the ESSC would develop a European-wide map with accompanying notes. Compared with previous projects (e.g. GLASOD, Oldeman et al., 1991). The aim would be to base the map on detailed measurements of erosion at different scales, e.g. plots, small catchments, large catchments. Estimates of erosion using models would not be used as a basis of the maps unless the models have been validated against field measurements. Again, compared with GLASOD, the aim would be to provide more spatially-detailed information in each country but restricted in focus to soil erosion.

The steps to bring about such a project are:

1. Please let us know if you are interested in collaborating in the task force to produce a new soil erosion map of Europe.

2. Send us information on what maps exist for your country at present and the methodology on which they are based.

3. A first workshop will then be organised to assess the present state of knowledge.

4. Several meetings of the task force will be necessary to develop and test a methodology.

5. The agreed methodology will then be applied at appropriate scales to produce information on each country or region.

6. The ESSC will present the results at a European scale to national and European decision-makers to provide a base for better    

    conservation in the future.

Reference