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Soil Conservation in Europe: Wish or Reality?
Author(s) -
Panagos Panos,
Imeson Anton,
Meusburger Katrin,
Borrelli Pasquale,
Poesen Jean,
Alewell Christine
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/ldr.2538
Subject(s) - soil governance , arable land , soil conservation , soil retrogression and degradation , ecosystem services , land development , land degradation , agriculture , erosion , soil fertility , environmental science , surface runoff , erosion control , land use , agroforestry , geography , soil water , ecosystem , soil health , ecology , soil organic matter , soil science , archaeology , paleontology , biology
Nearly all of Europe is affected by soil erosion. A major policy response is required to reverse the impacts of erosion in degraded areas, particularly in light of the current climate change and water crisis. Soil loss occurs not because of any lack of knowledge on how to protect soils, but a lack in policy governance. The average rate of soil loss by sheet and rill erosion in Europe is 2·46 Mg ha −1 yr −1 . To mitigate the impacts of soil erosion, the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy has introduced conservation measures which reduce soil loss by water erosion by 20% in arable lands. Further economic and political action should rebrand the value of soil as part of ecosystem services, increase the income of rural land owners, involve young farmers and organize regional services for licensing land use changes. In a changing World of 9 billion people with the challenge of climate change, water scarcity and depletion of soil fertility, the agriculture economy should evolve taking into account environmental and ecological aspects. © 2016 The Authors Journal of Land Degradation & Development Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.