Institute full name:

ISRIC – World Soil Information

Institute acronym:

ISRIC

Institute profile:

ISRIC – World Soil Information is a foundation for documentation, training and research on soils of the world. It is associated with Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) and is the World Data Centre for Soils of the International Council of Sciences (ICSU). ISRIC has extensive experience in developing global soil databases (e.g. World Soils and Terrain Database  SOTER) and in the field of soil degradation and soil conservation assessments, e.g. GLASOD, ASSOD and SOVEUR. ISRIC is a Management Group member of World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT, see partner 5, CDE). ISRIC will coordinate WB1 in the DESIRE project.

Website

www.isric.org

Address

ISRIC -  World Soil Information
Duivendaal 9
P.O. Box 353
6700 AJ Wageningen, The Netherlands

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Involved personnel

Name	Contact details	Key qualifications	Photo
Drs G. W. J. van Lynden	Tel.: +31 (0)317 471735 Email: Godert.vanlynden@wur.nl	Physical geographer with 20 years’ experience in the field of soil conservation and involve­ment in various deg­radation assessments world­wide. He is a management group member of the WOCAT programme (see also WB3).
Ir. S. Mantel	Tel.: +31 (0)317 471737   Email: Stephan.Mantel@wur.nl	Agricultural engineer, spe­cialized in national and regional assessments of deg­radation impact and land management planning.
Drs. V. W. P. van Engelen	Tel.: +31 (0)317 471736   Email:   Vincent.vanEngelen@wur.nl	Physical geographer with more than 25 years’ experi­ence in soil survey, land evaluation and land use planning, at national and inter­national level. Respon­sible for the ongoing global Soil and Terrain Database (SOTER), regional surveys and professional training worldwide
Dr. Z. G.  Bai	Tel.: +31 (0)317 471739 Email: Zhanguo.bai@wur.nl	Agricultural engineer, wide experience in land degra­dation assessment, radio-nu­clide and isotopic tracing techniques in erosion assess­ment as well as GIS and re­mote sensing. Currently in­volved in a quantitative global assessment of land degradation (GLADA), and in WOCAT.
J. R. M. Huting	Tel.: +31 (0)317 471 723 Email: Jan.Huting@wur.nl	Responsibility for quality control of soils databases as well specialising in GIS and terrain classification with DEM analysis

FAO (Executing agency), UNEP (Implementing agency),

Global Environment Fund (GEF) (main donor). 2006-2010

Land degradation costs an estimated US$40 billion annually worldwide, without taking into account hidden costs of increased fertilizer use, loss of biodiversity and loss of unique landscapes.

The consequences of land degradation are reduced land productivity, socio-economic problems, including uncertainty in food security, migration, limited development and damage to ecosystems. Degraded land is costly to reclaim and, if severely degraded, may no longer provide a range of ecosystem functions and services with a loss of the goods and many other potential environmental, social, economic and non-material benefits that are critical for society and development.

The Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands project (LADA) started in 2006 with the general purpose of creating the basis for informed policy advice on land degradation at global, national and local level. This goal is to be realized through the assessment of land degradation at different spatial and temporal scales and the creation of a baseline at global level for future monitoring. The project will complete its activity by 2010.

A Specific Support Action under Framework Programme 6.

Contract number 018347 (GOCE). 2006-2008

During recent decades great progress has been made by the scientific community in understanding the nature and complex causes of land degradation and desertification in Europe. Despite efforts to assemble and present the results for practical application, there is still a wealth of research results that have not been fully exploited nor made accessible to those who can benefit from them.

The objectives of LUCINDA were:

• To provide a concise and comprehensive information pack containing guidelines for sustainable land management in desertification-affected areas derived from the scientific results of past and ongoing EU research projects;
• To make this information available to regional and local authorities who, through national participation in the UNCCD, have a specific mandate to combat desertification.

In the information pack key issues are addressed including: desertification processes and characteristics of affected Mediterranean landscapes; indicators, monitoring, public awareness, NAPs and effects of policies. For each issue (total of 19), there is a Booklet describing current scientific knowledge and guidelines for its application; a summary Leaflet for use by less specialised readers, i.e. some farmers, students, teachers, etc.; a PowerPoint presentation containing slides and text for use in training and dissemination; plus photographs, ad other types of complementary information.

The scientific contents were written by 22 expert authors based on results of some 28 past and on-going research projects.

WOCAT's vision is that land and livelihoods are improved through sharing and enhancing knowledge about sustainable land management.

WOCAT's mission is to support innovation and decision-making processes in sustainable land management, particularly in connection with soil and water conservation (SWC). This is done by:

• connecting stakeholders,
• analysing and synthesising experiences and setting directions,
• enhancing capacity knowledge,
• developing and applying standardized tools for documenting, monitoring, evaluating, sharing and using knowledge