Linee guida volontarie per l’uso sostenibile del suolo per i professionisti dell'area tecnica. Indirizzi per la tutela del suolo dai processi di impermeabilizzazione e dalla perdita di materia organica

The voluntary guidelines aim to collect and analyses tools, strategies and methods for soil protection and its sustainable management with specific regard on two threats: the increase of Soil sealing and Land take process, and the decline and loss of soil organic matter. The main purpose of the document is to spread awareness on Soil value among professionals respectively to agronomists, architects, geologists, geometers, and engineers sharing knowledge and experiences on best practices and innovative solutions for soil protection. The Voluntary guidelines are articulated in 8 main strategic actions concerning: Spread the awareness of the soil value through a participation, communication and training activities; • Reduce the Land take process in territorial planning adopting an Ecosystem Services-based approach for setting qualitative and quantitative limits and ecological mitigation and compensation measures; • Increase the ecosystem services provision through the design of green and blue infrastructures; • Prioritise the regeneration of brownfields and underutilised areas restoring the contaminated soils; • Monitor and optimise the soil organic matter; • Increase and restore the soil organic matter for enhancing the ecosystem services provision through the adoption of conservative soil management practices; • Enhance soil resilience to climate change; • Promote agro-biodiversity conservation strategies to increase the soil organic matter and the provision of ecosystem services. The 8 actions are presented through a summary sheet articulated in objectives, stakeholders involved in the action, techniques and methods of action implementation, leading best practices, references and manuals useful for the practical operationalisation of the action. The document includes a glossary section, aiming to set common definitions and terminologies among professionals, a focus on available regional soil database, and a framework on existing regulations on soil protection useful for professional activities.