Urban Soil Management Strategy

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Central Europe is characterised by a relatively high population density. In some of the countries a quarter of the total national population lives in the capital agglomeration, in the other countries urban networks of larger towns exist. These urban areas have a high economic potential, but they are facing a concentration of environmental, social and economic problems often triggered by increasing suburbanisation. Suburbanisation causes significant land consumption and soil sealing. As a natural resource, soil fulfils important ecological functions as well as provides essential services like water filtering and storage, biomass and food production, source of raw material, living space for humans, plants and animals. Therefore the management of this resource has a strong influence on the preservation of nature, but also on the socio-economic development. In particular the flood plains in the area are under high pressure of urbanisation. Land use changes and loss of soil functions impairing environmental quality in urban areas are among environmental risks which are yet not adequately addressed. In most cities across Central Europe there is a considerable amount of data available on soil quality and its different functions. However, to date there is no common urban planning strategy addressing the need for the protection of soil habitat as a critical element controlling urban ecosystem functions. Massive scale consumption of valuable soils by urban fabric leads to the dramatic loss of biodiversity, retention and buffering functions and overall quality of life of urban population. There is an urgent need to develop an urban soil management system accompanied by decision support tools for scenario analysis and assessment of impacts of different planning options on soils. Today there is still very little public awareness of soil issues as a key element of urban ecosystem. Missing awareness due to a low degree of knowledge about the functional role of soils has been identified as main reason for the lacking consideration of soil related aspects in urban planning so far. Therefore raising public as well as political awareness and creating acceptance is a key issue throughout the whole duration of the project. This will be reached by visualisation of the consequences and future problems created by not considering soil related aspects in urban planning process. Overall the project is focusing on the optimisation of land use in urban areas by preserving the natural assets of the resource soil without hindering economic development.

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