Functional land management for a sustainable land base in the EU

Abstract

Discussions on soil policies are framed by the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection (COM (2006)231 final), launched by the European Commission (EC) in 2006. Eight main threats to soil were recognised within the EU. A proposal for a Soil Framework Directive (SFD) (COM (2006)232 final) was finally withdrawn in May 2014. The concept of Functional Land Management (FLM) has been developed as a utilitarian framework that specifically tries to optimise the delivery of five soil functions delivered through agricultural landscapes: 1) primary productivity, 2) water purification and regulation, 3) carbon storage and regulation, 4) provision of a habitat for biodiversity and 5) cycling of nutrients. Supply of soil functions is governed by the complex interaction of the inherent capacity of soil, the environment and the management. Within the FLM framework, demand is framed by agri-environmental policies which are considered a proxy for the societal demands on land. A case study of Ireland is presented to show the applicability of this framework. In relation to matching the supply of soil functions with demand, three distinguishing pathways have been identified: 1) Implement a change in a dynamic soil property at local scale, such as nutrient concentrations. 2) Alter a static soil property to enhance one or more functions. In Ireland, this could be the implementation of subsurface land drainage systems to change the soil moisture dynamics of the soil. 3) Land use change, such as from grassland to arable. Functional Land Management does not equate to a legislative tool for the zoning of land for individual functions but rather that individual soil functions may be incentivised through existing instruments available under the EU CAP.