Ecologic Institute

Until 2004 the European Commission compiles a thematic strategy to achieve
comprehensive soil protection. This workshop, taking place on 29 April 2004 in
the representation of the Bavarian State in Brussels, is to analyse the planned
strategy and to strengthen the awareness of the significance of soil protection.

Further information on the workshop (e.g. programme, location) can be found at the event's website.

Background
So far, there is no comprehensive procedure for soil protection at EU level. It was the first time that in the year 2000, a prior significance to soil protection was given by the 6th Environmental Action Programme of the EU. It was decided that until 2004 the EU compiles a thematic strategy to achieve comprehensive soil protection. In recent years, intensive efforts on European level have been devoted to create a comprehensive strategy for soil protection. To achieve a sustainable level of soil protection, an integrated approach to land use planning and environmental management is crucial. With an average of 147 inhabitants per km², the European Union is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Every ten years, the area of sealed land in Europe grows by two percent. Increasing soil sealing is regarded as one of the main threats to soil in Europe and is, therefore, high on the political agenda, not only on European level, but also on national, regional and local levels.

Soil protection in Bavaria
In Bavaria, various initiatives and projects to support sustainable land use have been carried out. These activities, as well as best practices from selected Member States, will be presented and discussed at the workshop. The workshop should also be seen as a contribution towards the Environmental Conference of the Regions of Europe (ENCORE).

Workshop participants
The workshop will bring together an interdisciplinary selection of experts, including representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Federal States of Germany. Furthermore, experts from the European Space Agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Centre, (DLR) other research institutes, industry and non-government organisations are invited.

Ecologic is responsible for the concept and the documentation of the Workshop.

Further links

• Information about the activities regarding soil protection and sustainable land development in Bavaria


• European Commission: Information about soil protection on the European level


• Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Towards a Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection. COM(2002) 179 final

The Bavarian Environmental Ministry regularly holds workshops on current environmental issues at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union in Brussels. Ecologic also organised these workshops in 2001 and 2002:

• Climate Dialogue in Bavaria in the Light of the Kyoto Process, 14 November 2002


• EU-Enlargement and Environment: The Role of the Regions, 3 May 2001 [Workshop Proceedings, pdf, 216 KB, English]

Keywords: Soil protection, European Strategy for Soil Protection, Land Use, Land Management, Soil Information Systems, Soil Contamination, Land Reuse, the Environmental Action Programme, Bavaria
Sponsor: Bavarian State Ministry for Environment, Health and Consumer Protection, Representation of the Bavarian State in Brussels
Team: Tanja Dräger, Ruta Landgrebe, Stefanie Wurm, Ilka Merbold
Duration: 01.11.03 until 30.05.04
Project number: 1828-01

Last update: 09.03.04