This document discusses the use of data and assessment tools in soil erosion control. It describes how the Global Soil Erosion model (GloSEM) uses data on past erosion to create maps showing areas of accelerated soil loss. It also discusses the Global Soil Organic Carbon Map (GSOCmap) which was developed using top-down and bottom-up approaches to knowledge and data on soil organic carbon. The document promotes taking a multilevel approach that integrates different processes like water, wind, and tillage erosion into models to create comprehensive soil assessment maps.

1. Use of data and assessment tools
in soil erosion control
Pasquale Borrelli et al.

2. Where is accelerated soil erosion occurring?
‘…the majority of the world’s soil resources are in only fair,
poor or very poor condition’
Montanarella et al., 2016 – SOIL, 2
Accelerated soil erosion is a major threat to soil

3. Image source: USDA
Don’t forget the past. Learn from it.

4. Image source: Foley & National Geographic
Agriculture today

5. Borrelli et al. 2017, Nature Communications
RUSLE-based Global Soil Erosion Modelling platform (GloSEM)
Image: Borrelli et al. for the JRC World Atlas of Desertification

6. Top-down approach
Bottom-up approach
knowledge
& data
knowledge
& data
vs.
&

7. Don’t forget the past. Learn from it.
Methods used to develop the GLOBAL SOIL ORGANIC CARBON MAP (GSOCmap)
FAO and ITPS, 2018. GSOCmap technical report

8. Borrelli et al. 2017, Nature Communications
Image: Borrelli et al. for the JRC World Atlas of Desertification
Can we make use of a soil erosion map that does not allow geographical comparisons?

9. SECRETARIAT
Mark Nearing Panos Panagos Jean Poesen Jae Yang Richard Cruse Michael Märker Lionel Mabit
Rui Li Baoyuan Liu Christine Alewell Paulo Oliveira Rosa Poch Megan Balks Costanza Calzolari
Participants in the group discussion (Theme 1)
Nigussie
Haregeweyn
Ronald Vargas Pasquale Borrelli

10. Brainstorming
knowledge
& data
Brainstorming
knowledge
& data
Current participants in the
group discussion
Post GSER19 participants in the
group discussion??

11. Synthetic workflow of the multilevel approach
Water
erosion
Wind
erosion
Tillage
erosion
Other
processes
GSERmap

12. 12
A multilevel approach

13. 13
Symposium working documents