Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

W. E.H. Blum:

Soil Resources – The Basis of Human Society and the Environment

Summary

Operational advances, following the European Soil Thematic Strategy after 2002, such as new approaches in soil research, aiming at bridging between science on one side, and politics and decision making on the other side, are described, including the DPSIR approach to soils, which facilitates new forms of inter-disciplinary co-operation. Moreover, main research clusters necessary for such endeavours are described in detail. Finally, some remarks introduce the three following scientific papers, which deal with the relationship between society, soil and land use in the historical and current context. Key words: European Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, DPSIR-approach to soils, main research clusters for interdisciplinary research, brdiging between science and decision making.