Soil and land management ontology reference document
Creators: name: Nougues, Laura
name: Brils, Jos
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023

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