Healthy Municipal Soils EU Horizon: a participatory methodology based on the biodistrict approach for municipalities

  1. Alberto Matarán Ruiz
  2. Josefa Sánchez Contreras
  3. Roser Manzanera
  4. Adolfo Torres
  5. Juan Francisco Bejarano
  6. José María López Medina
  7. Rafael Fuentes Guerra Soldevilla
  8. Santiago Ruiz
  9. Andreas Iglesias
Book:
Second International Future Challenges in Sustainable UrbanPlanning & Territorial Management: Proceedings of the SUPTM 2024 conference
  1. Salvador García‐Ayllón Veintimilla (dir. congr.)
  2. José Luis Miralles García (dir. congr.)

Publisher: Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena

ISBN: 978-84-17853-82-2

Year of publication: 2024

Pages: 166-169

Type: Book chapter

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Soil degradation reflects a lack of appreciation for the value of healthy soils for people and planet. Within this context the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Soil Mission) aims to lead the transition to healthy soils via sustainable soil management. This requires knowledge and awareness of the importance and value of soil health and its challenges and drivers across Europe. Municipalities and regions are at the forefront of soil management, regulation, innovation, and community-building and are thus pivotal for promoting soil health. However, engaging and activating municipalities and regions across Europe to protect and restore soil health is vital for a successful Soil Mission deployment. HuMUS is the only project implementing the EU Soil Mission that is targeting public administration at local and regional levels. In particular, the research that we present within the Humus project shows a participatory biodistrict approach that will be applied in 33 pilot cases to support the co-implementation of solutions to protect and restore soil health at municipal and territorial (intermunicipal) scale. According to a deep literature review we have selected 15 best practices to describe successful applications of the proposed participatory methodology. This biodistrict approach will ensure an increased cooperation between public and private actors, such as municipal stakeholders, policymakers in charge of local and regional strategies, as well as private stakeholders and citizens. Territorial Management Agreements will be reached with key stakeholders by means of participatory diagnosis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats around soil health that will set the basis for the co-creation of solutions for the protection and restoration of soil health will be discussed and agreed by all actors