Mapping the Soil of Africa New initiatives and preserving historical data resources Arwyn Jones

1. Mapping the Soil of Africa New initiatives and preserving historical data resources Arwyn Jones European Commission Joint Research Centre Land Management & Natural Hazards Unit Ispra, Italy arwyn.jones@jrc.it

2. JRC RTD SG ELARG ENTR ENV ... ... ... ... … ... …. The JRC within the EU Institutions Committee of the Regions Court of Auditors The European Parliament The Council of Ministers Economic and Social Committee Court of Justice The European Commission 2004-2009 (the ‘College’: 25 Commissioners) Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik President Jose-Manuel Barroso SANCO ... IRMM ITU IES IHCP IE IPSC IPTS

3. Mission of the JRC “A research based, policy support Institution” … to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies … …the JRC functions as a centre of science and technology reference for the EU, independent of private and national interests…

4. JRC & SWALIM African Observatory – coordination framework for activities to support EU action in Africa Olivier Leo – Agriculture & Food Security Nic Hoepffner – Marine Andreas Brink - Terrestrial Ecosystems Arwyn Jones - Soil

5. Importance of soil “What greater stupidity can be imagined than that of calling jewels, silver, and gold 'precious,' and earth and soil 'base'?” Gallileo The soil of Africa is a diverse and valuable resource that should be safeguarded. EU STS

6. Digital Soil Mapping Soil Atlas of Africa Digital Soil Archive

7. Digital Soil Mapping • GlobalSoilMap.net • Digital Soil Mapping • Bill Gates Foundation • New approach for SOTER ? Soil and Terrain Database (SOTER) Programme

8. Soil Atlas of Africa 1 EC Joint Research Centre 2 ISRIC World Data Centre Soil, Wageningen, NL 3 FAO, Land & Water Rome – ROA Accra 4 Secretary General African Soil Science Society Luca Montanarella1, Otto Spaargaren1,2 Freddy Nachtergale2, Lamourdia Thiombiano3 Robert Zougmore4

9. What is the aim of atlas? To raise awareness and to educate the general public, policy makers and soil scientists on the global perspective of soil in Africa

10. Audienceand Goal • High quality reference work on the soil of Africa • Not aimed at soil scientists! • Informative, easy to read, graphically stimulating • Lead to better understanding and appreciation of the role of soil in our lives

11. NorthernCircumpolar Soil Atlas European Commission

12. Participation African Soil Science Community Build on the knowledge and expertise of African specialists; To ensure that the product will be useful and relevant; To contribute to capacity building at individual and network levels. Soil Atlas of Africa was one of the recommendations of the 4th ASSS International Conference.

13. Questionnaire http://eusoils.jrc.it/

14. DIGITAL SOIL MAPS ARCHIVE OF AFRICA

18. http://eusoils.jrc.it/

19. Mapping Soil Maps!…

20. Maps: Overview

21. Thank you for your attention! http://ies.jrc.cec.eu.int/ arwyn.jones@jrc.it