The Dashboard of the EU Soil Observatory – making soil data speak to policy-makers and society

Life on Earth depends on healthy soils. Soil provides food, clean water and habitats for biodiversity while contributing to climate resilience. They are at the centre of many of the most pressing societal challenges of this century. Knowing the state of soil health, its current pressures and its trends is essential for the soil community (e.g. policy makers, researchers or practitioners) to know about where, when and how to better protect, improve or restore soils. The Dashboard of the EU Soil Observatory (JRC Unit D3) aims to do just this. Tapping into the wealth of soil data produced by the JRC and other international research institutions, it provides a clear picture of the state and trend of soil health in the EU. It will also report on the state of implementation of EU soil policy. A focus in the Dashboard is to present soil data spatially. In particular, the EUSO Dashboard uses the ‘convergence of evidence’ methodology to map the likely occurrence of soil degradation processes in the EU and the UK. Through visuals (graphs, maps, infographics, etc.) the EUSO Dashboard aims to be the reference point providing a clear up-to-date assessment of the state of soil health and the policy actions taken at EU level to improve it.