COMMON FORUM as a network provides for a focus on coping with soils degraded by contamination. Consequently, for a long time, work and exchanges among CF members have been solely dedicated to ways to restore contaminated soils by remediation and, if remediation is not possible, by management.
Hence more and more there is growing recognition that even degraded soils hold value for society. These values can be brought to practice if one is able to show their benefits by connecting them with our societal challenges, for example, the use of brownfields as solar parks or the use of contaminated soil for the growth of biomass. By using these soils it is not only showcasing their value but creating benefits and contributing to a circular use of land and soil.
Since soil quality is broader than the chemical composition, the need to broaden and strengthen the CF network comes up: The connection to policymakers working on healthy soils, sustainable land use, and land management as well as the connection with societal challenges Europe faces as expressed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Connecting soil and social ambitions are still in an early state. Therefore it is beneficial to get inspired by sharing our ideas, experiences, and best practices, but also in finding ways to address knowledge gaps and formulate policy and research needs. Therefore the cooperation as policymakers, but also with scientists, industries, and other stakeholders for example in drawing up position papers is envisaged.
As the timeframe is tight and the ambitions are high - the SDGs have to be implemented in 2030 - concerted actions are needed. What steps can be made now? How is it possible to get in contact with other disciplines? What is the joint narrative on sustainable soil and land use and management?
Accordingly to the task of the Common Forum network, the working group also wants to sustain and influence the European soil policy in this broader perspective.
Focus points are:
- Awareness building on the value of degraded land for public goals
- Identifying concepts for the realization of soil-related SDGs
- Soil ecosystem services for public goals
- Realizing SDG 15.3 Land degradation neutrality
- Land Stewardship as an instrument for public value creation and public-private cooperation
- Sustaining and influencing European policy
