{"id":1862,"date":"2025-11-17T10:11:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T09:11:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/?page_id=1862"},"modified":"2026-03-04T13:52:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T12:52:21","slug":"soil-legalisation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/soil-legalisation\/","title":{"rendered":"Soil Legislation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Sustainable Soil Management \u2014 Global, European, and Alpine Alignment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Incorporating biodiversity, climate, forest, agriculture, and human-rights linkages)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1) European Framework \u2014 Soils at the Heart of Global Commitments: Global anchors and their soil relevance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Global Framework<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Relevance to Soil Policy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992)<\/strong> + <strong>Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF, 2022)<\/strong><\/td><td>Legal basis for conserving, restoring, and sustainably using ecosystems. GBF Targets 2, 7, 8 &amp; 10 call for ecosystem restoration, reduction of pollution and nutrient loss, climate-biodiversity synergy, and sustainable agriculture\u2014all directly soil-related.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paris Agreement (2015)<\/strong><\/td><td>Recognises land and soils as carbon sinks critical for mitigation and adaptation to climate change; soil carbon accounting underpins Nationally Determined Contributions.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD, 1994)<\/strong><\/td><td>Legally binding on sustainable land management (SLM) and <strong>Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)<\/strong> by 2030\u2014global soil-protection pillar complementing CBD and climate goals.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>UN 2030 Agenda \/ SDGs<\/strong><\/td><td>Soils connect SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), 12 (Responsible Consumption), 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 3 (Good Health).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Human-Rights Frameworks (ICESCR, Aarhus, Right to a Healthy Environment)<\/strong><\/td><td>environmental and food security rights; require access to information and participation of the public in soil\/land decisions.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>FAO &amp; UNFCCC Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture<\/strong><\/td><td>Promote sustainable soil management to ensure food security and resilience.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EU framework \u2014 legal and strategic hierarchy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Binding instruments (law):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Soil Monitoring Law (SML, 20254)<\/strong> <a>\u2013<\/a> establishes EU-wide soil-health definitions, monitoring, contaminated-site management, and farmer support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nature Restoration Law (NRL, 2024)<\/strong> \u2013 mandates restoration of 20 % of EU land\/sea by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>LULUCF Regulation (2023\/839)<\/strong> \u2013 sets EU net-removals target (310 Mt CO\u2082e by 2030); relies on soil-carbon stocks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CAP 2023\u201327 (Reg. 2021\/2115)<\/strong> \u2013 makes sustainable soil management and erosion control a condition for support; funds soil-carbon and landscape restoration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water, pollution, and industrial directives<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 <strong>Nitrates Directive<\/strong> (91\/676\/EEC) &#8211; limits nitrate pollution from agricultural sources to protect surface waters and groundwater, <strong>Groundwater Directive<\/strong> (2006\/118\/EC) \u2013 prevents and controls groundwater pollution, including nitrates and pesticides, <strong>Water Framework Directive (WFD)<\/strong> (2000\/60\/EC) \u2013 establishes integrated river basin management and sets ecological and chemical status objectives, <strong>Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)<\/strong> (2010\/75\/EU) \u2013 controls pollution from industrial installations, including nutrient and hazardous discharges to water, <strong>Environmental Liability Directive (ELD)<\/strong> (2004\/35\/EC) \u2013 establishes liability for environmental damage, including water pollution, based on the \u201cpolluter pays\u201d principle, <strong>Sewage Sludge Directive<\/strong> (86\/278\/EEC) \u2013 regulates the use of sewage sludge in agriculture to prevent soil and water contamination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Strategic frameworks:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>European Green Deal (2019)<\/strong> \u2013 overarching transition plan integrating biodiversity, climate neutrality, and food security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>EU Soil Strategy for 2030 (COM 2021 699)<\/strong> \u2013 roadmap toward <em>healthy soils by 2050<\/em> and <em>no net land take by 2050<\/em>; foundation of the SML.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030<\/strong> \u2013 implements GBF targets in Europe, linking soil health to restoration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>EU Forest Strategy for 2030<\/strong> \u2013 complements the Soil Strategy by promoting resilient forest ecosystems, soil-protective forestry, afforestation on degraded land, and carbon-rich forest soils as part of the Green Deal\u2019s climate and biodiversity pillars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Zero Pollution Action Plan (2021)<\/strong> \u2013 commits to halving nutrient losses and major pollutant emissions by 2030.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Farm to Fork Strategy (2020)<\/strong> \u2013 integrates sustainable soil and nutrient management in the food system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Operational backbone:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mission \u201cA Soil Deal for Europe\u201d aka \u00bbSoil Mission \u00ab<\/strong> + <strong>European Soil Observatory (EUSO)<\/strong> \u2013 implement the Soil Strategy and SML through living labs, harmonised monitoring, and data exchange.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>JRC \u201cState of Soils in Europe\u201d (2024)<\/strong> \u2013 evidence base for soil indicators, threats, and restoration needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2) Alpine Region \u2014 Global and EU linkages<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Framework<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Alpine relevance<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>CBD &amp; GBF (2022)<\/strong><\/td><td>Mountain ecosystems are prioritised under Targets 1 (spatial planning), 2 (restoration), 10 (sustainable agriculture), and 15 (integration into sectors).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>UNCCD (1994)<\/strong><\/td><td>Alpine soils, though humid, face <em>localized land degradation<\/em>: erosion, compaction, sealing\u2014Alpine Convention actions contribute to Land Degradation Neutrality.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paris Agreement &amp; SDGs<\/strong><\/td><td>Alpine soils store carbon, mitigate hazards, and sustain livelihoods\u2014central to SDGs 13, 15 &amp; 11.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>EU Forest Strategy for 2030<\/strong><\/td><td>Mountain forests are critical for soil protection, erosion control, and carbon sequestration\u2014 the implementation of forestry measures under this strategy is indispensable to support the resilience of Alpine (forest) soils.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Human-rights frameworks<\/strong><\/td><td>Guide inclusive land-use planning and fair benefit-sharing for mountain communities.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Alpine framework \u2014 hierarchy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Binding treaties:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Alpine Convention (1991)<\/strong> \u2013 regional treaty on sustainable mountain development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Alpine Convention &#8211; Protocol on Soil Conservation (1998, Bled)<\/strong> \u2013 binding obligations on sealing limitation, soil restoration, peatland\/wetland conservation, erosion\/compaction control, and harmonised monitoring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Regional cooperation and initiatives:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>EUSALP Action Group 6 (AG6)<\/strong> \u2013 coordinates soil and land-use policy across the Alpine region; 2018 Declaration calls for the implementation of the Soil Protocol and data harmonisation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>LTAP Long Term Action Plan for the implementation of provisions and declarations on soil protection in the specific context of the Alpine region \u2013 Soil Working Group Mandate 2021-22 \u2013 <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Long-term-action-plan_soil-protection.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Long-term-action-plan_soil-protection.pdf\">specific guidelines for soil protection<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Alpine Convention Soil Protection Working Group (2025\u201326 Mandate)<\/strong> \u2013 aligns Alpine actions with the EU Soil Monitoring Law, Forest Strategy, and GBF\/UNCCD targets. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/en\/home\/topics\/soil-conservation\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/en\/home\/topics\/soil-conservation\/\">More initiatives<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Statement of the Alpine Convention \u201cPreserving moors in the Alps\u201d<\/strong> &#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Statement_Preserving_moors_in_the_Alps.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Statement_Preserving_moors_in_the_Alps.pdf\"> defines and describes<\/a> moors, shows instruments and measures for their protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Soil Protection Technical Working Group on LUCAS Soil 2022 \u2013 Summary of Statements for the Alps<\/strong> \u2013 <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Soil_technical_WG_1_SummaryStatementsAlps-incl_Annexes.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Sugg<\/a><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Soil_technical_WG_1_SummaryStatementsAlps-incl_Annexes.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Soil_technical_WG_1_SummaryStatementsAlps-incl_Annexes.pdf\">estion<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Soil_technical_WG_1_SummaryStatementsAlps-incl_Annexes.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Soil_technical_WG_1_SummaryStatementsAlps-incl_Annexes.pdf\"> for the LUCAS campaign in the Alps<\/a> &#8211; Alpine Convention <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E<strong>conomical and prudent use of soil in the Alps \u2013 Alpine Convention \u2013 <\/strong>focuses on soil <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Report-Economical_and_prudent_use_of_soil_in_the_Alps-afterACXVI.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.alpconv.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/Organisation\/TWB\/Soil\/Report-Economical_and_prudent_use_of_soil_in_the_Alps-afterACXVI.pdf\">consumption in the Alps<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Implementation networks &amp; projects:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Alpine Soil Partnership (AlpSP)<\/strong> \u2013 transnational knowledge and coordination platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interreg Alpine Space projects:<\/strong><br>\u2022 <em>Links4Soils (2016\u201319)<\/em> \u2013 established the AlpSP, compiled Alpine soil-management practices.<br>\u2022 <em>SOIL:OurInvisibleAlly (2024\u201327)<\/em> \u2013 operationalises EU and GBF soil objectives in Alpine municipalities, agricultural and forested areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scientific support:<\/strong> <em>Ecosystem Services of Alpine Soils (2020)<\/em> \u2013 quantifies soil\u2013forest\u2013climate\u2013biodiversity interactions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Alpine peatlands and climate protection: <\/strong>Development of methods to derive climate protection potentials and creation of a network among actors for the implementation of climate protectionmeasures of Alpine peatlands. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hswt.de\/en\/research\/research-profile\/forschungsprojekte\/projekt\/1716-alpenmoore-und-klimaschutz\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.hswt.de\/en\/research\/research-profile\/forschungsprojekte\/projekt\/1716-alpenmoore-und-klimaschutz\">Read more<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sustainable Soil Management \u2014 Global, European, and Alpine Alignment (Incorporating biodiversity, climate, forest, agriculture, and human-rights linkages) 1) European Framework \u2014 Soils at the Heart of Global Commitments: Global anchors and their soil relevance Global Framework Relevance to Soil Policy Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992) + Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF, 2022) Legal basis for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1862","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1862"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2631,"href":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1862\/revisions\/2631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alpinesoils.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}