Soil and land management ontology reference document

The Soil Mission Support (SMS) project supports the European Commission and the Mission Board of the Horizon Europe
Mission in the area of Soil Health and Food in delivering its objectives and related targets. It is assumed that the
Soil Mission and its related objectives and specific targets can only be achieved through healthy soils and for that,
stakeholder engagement is needed. Healthy soils are defined as soils that are in good chemical, biological and physical
condition and thus are able to continuously provide as many ecosystem services as possible (EC, 2021a). Stakeholders
are defined as those who are affected in their interest or concern by changes in soil and land management (Brils et al.,
2022).
With multi-stakeholder processes, language and use of language is very important. The capability to understand each
other is critical. Communication difficulties originate to a large extent from the ‘jargon’ used in the different communities.
A common language facilitates ‘learning together’ which helps to build trust, develop a common view on the issues
at stake, resolve conflicts and arrive at joint solutions that are technically sound and that can be implemented in
practice. Ontology defines a common vocabulary for those who, for example, need to converse about a common issue
or share information in a specific domain.
In first instance the shared domain of discourse was defined and then at different levels of hierarchy:
· Primary objects of relevance for the domain of discourse were selected;
· The inter-relational links between these objects was conceptualized (conceptual model); and
· These objects were defined in a representational vocabulary (a common language).
The domain of discourse covers soil and land management aimed to achieve the first six (of the eight) Soil Mission
objectives, which are: 1. reduce desertification, 2. conserve soil organic carbon stocks, 3. stop soil sealing and increase
re-use of urban soils, 4. reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration, 5. prevent erosion, and 6. improve soil structure
to enhance soil biodiversity.
The first level of hierarchy covers soil and land and its use. At this level the following objects have been selected, interrelated
in a conceptual model (i.e. visual of soil and land-use) and defined in a common language: soil, land, landuse
and land-use types (including: urban, industrial, agriculture, forest, nature and protected land).
The second level of hierarchy covers soil management. At his level the following objects have been selected, interrelated
in a conceptual soil management model and defined in a common language: soil management (including: soil
management strategy, measures, program of measures), soil ecosystems (including: ecosystem services, pressures,
healthy soil ecosystems), users (stakeholders) and information.
Lastly, the third level of hierarchy covers the achievement of the first six Soil Mission objectives. At this level the
most relevant objects related to each of these objectives are selected and interrelated to their position in the DPSIR
(Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response) framework which is at this 3rd level superimposed on the soil management
model as used for level 2.
The remaining two Soil Mission objectives, i.e. 7. reduce the EU global footprint on soils and 8. improve soil literacy in
society, do not directly relate to the actual management of soil and land. However, also for these mission objectives
some important objects have been selected and defined in a common language.
Experts in the SMS project – jointly covering the fields of expertise related to all the 8 Soil Mission objectives – developed
this ontology. This ontology should now be used in soil policy and management practice, such as Living Labs. In
such settings, the ontology can be improved through interaction with stakeholders from different backgrounds, further
increasing its value.
The key-recommendations are:
· use this ontology in soil policy and management practice (e.g. Living Labs)
· soil policy makers and managers should promote its use in such practice
· use the feedback from stakeholders to further improve the ontology
In support of the dissemination of this document a policy brief is prepared and attached as annex in this document.
Both documents are made publicly available via de SMS website: https://www.soilmissionsupport.eu/outputs