Resource description:
This report provides policy-makers with a set of standardised methods and metrics to monitor agricultural soil health, including soil biodiversity. These accessible protocols are designed to work across different types of land use and can help generate detailed biodiversity baselines that can be used to determine abundances, diversities and communities that align with healthy soils.
More details
The Soil Health Assessment and Re-Evaluation (SHARE) Protocols Handbook developed by the SOB4ES Horizon Europe project provides a comprehensive set of standardised, scientifically validated methods for monitoring soil health through physical, chemical and biological measurements, including innovative protocols to assess soil biodiversity from macrofauna to microbial communities. It aims to harmonise soil monitoring across different land uses and European pedoclimatic regions, ensuring consistent, comparable data that supports evidence-based decisions and long-term ecosystem resilience.
The handbook offers a practical framework to implement the EU Soil Monitoring Law by delivering interoperable sampling and assessment protocols that help Member States generate reliable soil health data, integrate biodiversity metrics into national monitoring schemes, and guide targeted soil protection and management strategies under the new legislative framework.
Author/Contact:
ROSS, Giles M, Van der Putten, Kopke Anne, Briones Maria, Lejoly Justine
Uses of this resource:
Policy Cycle Stage: assessment and evaluation
