Evaluating impact on amount of usable soil

This page is a knowledge crystal of subtype method. The page identifier is Op_en3293
Moderator:Heta (see all)
Upload data {{#opasnet_base_link:Op_en3293}}

Scope

Does the option lead to loss of available soil (e.g. through building or construction works) or increase the amount of usable soil (e.g. through land decontamination)?

Definition

Loss of available soil occurs through changes in land use and might at worst cause the complete loss of all natural soil functions. As global population continues to grow, sustainable land use planning is of vital importance to reduce the loss of available soil as far as possible. Europe is (together with parts of Asia) the most densely populated continent in the world, and human land use often goes hand in hand with sealing of former available soil or even its contamination.

Soil decontamination can be accomplished through a wide range of different methods, such as through using special soil decontamination plants or powders, which get injected into the contaminated soil on-site. One example is the steel powder purification method where volatile organic compounds are dispersed in safe substances at the site. Other variants are soil washing, soil cleaning, sediment treatment and f.e. soil and groundwater remediation. In summary it can be said that soil decontamination is oftentimes possible, at least to a certain degree, but is always very expensive and quite complicated.

Result

Indicators:

There are no Eurostat Structural Indicators directly related to this key question.

The following Eurostat Sustainable Development Indicators are relevant to address the key question:

• Percentage of built-up areas

Additional Links:

European Environment Agency Indicators

EEA Soil Indicators

• Progress in management of contaminated sites

covers inter alia

• Soil-polluting activities from localised sources (Data covering several EU countries for 2002/03)
• Amount of usable soil (e.g. increase through land decontamination)
• Annual expenditures for contaminated sites remediation in selected countries (EUR per capita and year), partly estimations (Data covering 1999 and 2000)
• Progress in the management of contaminated sites for selected European countries: degree of completeness of management steps compared to estimated total effort (100 %) (Data covering several EU countries for 2002)

See also

• IA TOOLS

References

This text is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace any reference documents.