Fourth Working Session of the International Network of Soil Information Institutions (INSII) 6-8 November 2018 | FAO HQ – German Room, Rome, Italy

1. Natalia Rodríguez Eugenio
GSP Secretariat
Implementation of
the GSOP18
recommendations

3. It is a worldwide problem, no more pristine areas
Why a Symposium on Soil Pollution?

4. Why a Symposium on Soil Pollution?

5. Provide scientific evidence
• to support actions and decisions
• to prevent and reduce soil pollution
• for increased food safety, food security and
nutrition, ecosystem services, and
• promote the restoration of polluted sites.
Why a Symposium on Soil Pollution?

6. The Global Symposium on Soil Pollution

7. • The main sources of soil contaminants
are human activities.
• Enough scientific evidence of the risk
posed by soil pollution to food security,
the environment and human health.
• Tackling soil pollution requires joint
efforts to prevent, minimize and
remediate it.
GSOP18: Main conclusions

8. • The prevention of soil pollution should be
a top priority worldwide and when present,
minimization/remediation actions should
be implemented;
• The status of global soil pollution is still
unknown. Investment on national soil
information systems and capacity
development is a precondition.
GSOP18: Main conclusions

9. GSOP18: RecommendationsPolicy-makingsupport
• Rec. 1: tools and
guidelines that
would support
the prevention
and remediation
of soil pollution
(CoCoFe)
• Rec. 3:
implementing
existing
guidelines
(VGSSM,
Conventions,
AMR action
plan,…)
Awareness-raising
• Rec. 2: include
soil pollution
assessment and
minimization
measures in the
Soil Doctors
Programme
• Rec. 6: capacity
development
building and
training activities
covering the full
cycle of soil
pollution
Informationavailability
• Rec. 4: WG 1-
guidelines for
assessing, mapping,
monitoring and
reporting on soil
pollution
• Rec. 5: WG 2 -
database of good
practices for
addressing soil
pollution
• Rec. 7: implement
the activities of
GLOSOLAN
• Rec. 8: global
assessment of the
status of soil
pollution

10. 1. What has already been done?
2. What is under implementation?
3. What needs to be done?
4. How would it contribute to
GLOSIS and SoilSTAT?
GSOP18:
Recommendations

11. GSOP18:
Recommendations
Recommendation 1
Develop and implement tools and
guidelines that would support the
prevention and remediation of soil
pollution, such as the International
Code of Conduct for the Use and
Management of Fertilizers.

12. GSOP18:
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
To include soil pollution assessment
and minimization measures in the Soil
Doctors Programme in order to
support land users to maintain healthy
soils under local conditions for long-
term benefits.

13. GSOP18:
Recommendations
Recommendation 4
To establish an expert and multi-
stakeholder working group to develop
guidelines for assessing, mapping,
monitoring and reporting on soil
pollution.
Total of participants
85

14. GSOP18:
Recommendations
Recommendation 5
To establish a working group to
develop a technical manual for the
management and remediation of
polluted soils, including a database on
the BAT for remediating soil pollution
Total of
participants 60

15. Recommendation 3
To advocate for the implementation
of existing guidelines to ensure safe
food in the face of emerging soil
pollutants.
GSOP18:
Recommendations

16. GSOP18:
Recommendations
Recommendation 6
To implement capacity development
building and training activities
covering the full cycle of soil
pollution: from its assessment to its
remediation
Includes the strengthening of
facilities for data analysis and
management.

17. GSOP18:
Recommendations
Recommendation 7
To implement the activities of the
global soil laboratory network
(GLOSOLAN), including harmonized
methods to identify and measure soil
contaminants.
Work together with Pillar 4
and Pillar 5

18. GSOP18:
Recommendations
Recommendation 8
To prepare a global assessment of the
status of soil pollution including its
regional trends following a country-
driven process in combination with
state-of-the-art scientific tools.
Strengthen national soil
information systems to
include data on contaminants

19. GSOP18:
Recommendations
HOW to do this global assessment?
1) Bibliographic review
2) Questionnaire to countries through RSP
focal points
Recommendation 8

20. GSOP18:
Recommendations
On WHAT to do the global assessment?
1. Legislation
2. Main polluting activities (SoilSTAT)
3. Extent of soil pollution (GLOSIS)
4. Assessment and monitoring (GLOSIS)
5. Risks to human health and the environment
6. Polluted soil management
7. National capacities available to deal with soil
pollution
Recommendation 8

21. GSOP18:
Recommendations
This information must provide the
actual situation and trends of soil
pollution to promote action among
decision-makers
Linking the results to the
achievement of the SDGs could
facilitate action to be taken
Recommendation 8

22. GSOP18:
Recommendations
The information collected will be
assessed as to its:
- Relevance
- Accuracy
- Suitability for incorporation into the
SoilSTAT and the GLOSIS.
Recommendation 8

23. GSOP18:
Recommendations
Possibility of producing a global
map on soil pollution?
Specific
contaminants
(heavy metals)
Polluting activities/
contaminated sites

24. Thank you for
your attention