SOILSERVICE
Conflicting demands of land use, soil biodiversity and the sustainable delivery of ecosystem goods (EU 2008-2011)
Soils and soil biodiversity form the basis of terrestrial production
systems and produce ecosystem services, control of greenhouse gases,
retention of nutrients, pests and invasive species.
SOILSERVICE is a
collaborative, medium scale focussed research project, which is funded
by EU's Seventh Framework Programme. The aim of the project is to
construct quantitative scenarios of long-term land use change across
Europe and determine how soil nutrients can be retained - even after
extensive use. The project started in September 2008 and will continue
for 3 1/2 years.
SOILSERVICE makes predictions that link economy
together with production (food vs. biofuel), land use, soil biodiversity
and sustainability.
This information can be used by a broad range
of decision and policy makers within the European community for future
development of EU biofuel and soil policies.