Finding and sharing solutions to

protect our soils

Europe's soil research hub

Who is RECARE-Hub for?

Farmers & Forestry

RECARE-Hub contains the latest information on preventing soil threats, and cost-benefit analysis on proven remediation techniques.

Industry

Discover innovative sustainable land management measures that can combat threats to key soil functions.

Policy makers

Find out more about land care strategies relevant to your region and our integrated assessment of existing soil related policy.

Researchers

Access a wealth of European research data on soil threats and the efficacy of land care strategies.

Teachers & environmentalists

Whether you're a teacher or a concerned environmentalist, find out why Europe's soils are under threat and what researchers are doing to help combat the problems.

Resources designed for you

 

The soil that underpins Europe's agricultural systems faces numerous threats.

If you are interested in learning about specific soil threats, you can explore the individual threats below. If you want detailed guidance for assessing soil degradation or learning about management measures to prevent and remediate against soil degradation, you might want to head straight over to RECARE's resources.

 

RESOURCES

User Resources

Below are all of the RECARE Hub's soil threat resources organised according to your interests:
 

Farmers & foresters

Farmer new 2

 

Challenge:
Resource type:
Reduce soil erosion in potato fields Fact sheet
Reduce post-fire soil erosion in forests using mulch Fact sheet
Restore agricultural terraces Fact sheet
Reduce salinization Fact sheet
Reduce soil compaction Video
Reduce soil erosion in vineyards using straw mulch - Fact sheet Fact sheet/Video
Reduce soil erosion in vineyards using straw mulch - Video
Reclaim eroded land using organic fertilizer with or without grass seed and native birch trees Fact sheet
Prevent gully erosion Fact sheet
Increase or maintain soil organic matter through undersowing of maize in grass Fact sheet
Model assessments of the cost-effectiveness of prevention/remediation/restoration measures for all Case Study areas Report

 Industry

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Soil sealing challenges: Resource type:
Soil sealing video in Italy Video
Soil sealing video in Poland Video
Policy brief on soil sealing Policy brief
Soil contamination challenges: Resource type:
Soil contamination in Spain - Fact sheet 1
Soil contamination in Spain - Fact Sheet 2
Soil contamination in Spain - Video
Fact sheet/video
Soil contamination in Romania Video
Policy on soil contamination Policy brief

   

Policy-makers 

 

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Soil sealing challenges Resource type:
Soil sealing video in Italy Video
Soil sealing video in Poland Video
Policy on soil sealing Policy brief
Soil contamination challenges: Resource type:
Soil contamination in Spain - Fact sheet 1
Soil contamination in Spain - Fact Sheet 2
Soil contamination in Spain - Video
Fact sheet/video
Soil contamination in Romania Video
Policy brief in soil contamination Policy brief
Soil compaction challenges: Resource type:
Policy on soil compaction Policy brief
Report on the current state of degradation and conservation Report D3.2
Up-to-date review of EU policies and integrated impact assessment methodology integrated impact assessment methodology Report D9.1
Report on the integrated impact assessment of national and EU policies Report D9.2
Final policy recommendations Report D9.3


Researchers
   

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Reports, project briefs, web pages: Resource type:
RECARE biophysical case study data Web page
RECARE research methods employed Web page
RECARE Multi-stakeholder participatory approach Project brief
Integrated Assessment model Web page
Soil threat in Europe: Status, methods, drivers and effects on ecosystem services Report D2.1 
Harmonized Field Monitoring strategy for assessing the effectiveness of the selected, innovative soil prevention, remediation, and restoration measures.effectiveness of the selected, innovative soil prevention, remediation, and restoration measures. Report D6.1
Assessment of the effectiveness of implemented measures regarding combating soil degradation, and to restore soil functions and ecosystem services Report D6.2
Impact Assessment on Ecosystem Services Report D7.1
The integrated PESERA, DESMICE, and METRONAMICA model Report D8.1

    

Teachers & environmentalists

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Teaching resources: Resource type:
For schools Web page
Other resources Web pages
All soil threats Resource type:
Soil threat fact sheets Fact sheet
Soil erosion Resource type:
Soil erosion in Spain Video
Soil contamination Resource type:
Soil contamination in Romania Video
Soil contamination in Spain Video
Soil sealing Resource type:
Soil sealing in Italy Video
Soil sealing in Poland Video

Case Study Sites

 Click on the map below to find out more about RECARE's case study sites
Case Studies

Project Partners

ABOUT US

RECARE was a multidisciplinary research project of 27 different organisations that assessed the threats to Europe's soils and identified innovative solutions to prevent further soil degradation.  The project ran from 2013 - 2018.

Academic Contact
Professor Coen Ritsema 
Wageningen University
E: coen.ritsema[AT]wur.nl

Media Contact
Dr Matt Reed
E: mreed[AT]glos.ac.uk

Funding

Funded by the European Commission FP7 Programme, ENV.2013.6.2-4 ‘Sustainable land care in Europe’.

EU grant agreement: 603498.

Project officer: Maria Yeroyanni.

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