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Land and Soil
91
and the Historic Mine Sites project
(Stanley et al., 2009) have provided
much-needed baseline knowledge
on soils in Ireland.
Soil Biodiversity
The immense biodiversity of our
soils is the foundation of many
ecosystems. The variety of species
found beneath the earth’s surface in
our soils is vast, with an estimated
one quarter of all living species on
earth in our soils. These biota are
the driving force that regulate soil.
They have a crucial role in natural
cycles, including regulation of the
atmosphere, and water quantity
and quality. Soil biodiversity provides
significantly for human society in
a variety of ways including food
production, pollution control and
development of new pharmaceuticals
– the antibiotic penicillin originated
from the soil fungus
Penicillium
notatum
.
Estimates suggest that only 1% of
soil micro-organisms are known
today. The EPA-funded CréBeo
research project (Schmidt et al.,
2011) found species previously
unrecorded in Ireland, including 13
predatory nematodes, an earthworm
endemic to southern France, and
a mite species potentially new to
science. It is estimated that the
improper management of soil
biodiversity on a worldwide basis
is equivalent to the loss of 1 trillion
dollars per year (EC, 2010).
Soil Organic Matter
Ireland’s soils are relatively rich in
organic matter, especially our wetter
soils and blanket peats. Soil organic
matter has a key role in maintaining
soil functionalities and water and air
quality as well as a crucial function
in the carbon cycle. A large amount
of the global carbon concentration is
stored in our soils. Correct land use
management is essential to prevent
release of this into the atmosphere,
where it would contribute to climate
change.
The EU Common Agricultural
Policy encourages farming practices
that maintain fertility and organic
matter levels, thus improving soil
characteristics. The Good Agriculture
and Environmental Conditions
standards are important in improving
the relationship between agriculture
and soil. The introduction of the
Rural Environmental Protection
Scheme (REPS) delivered payments
to farmers for the provision of
these agri-environmental measures;
approximately 40% of farmed
areas were involved in REPS (OECD,
2010). A holistic approach and good
farming practices will maintain soil
quality and counteract degradation.
Drivers and Pressures
Land Use
Land is subject to many competing
demands. Current land use is
the result of a sequence of past
human interventions on the natural
landscape. Policies related to forestry,
renewable energy, agriculture,
peatlands and the built environment
have associated impacts on land
use change and land resource
management.
Population Growth
The principal causes of land use
changes in urban areas have been
the development of housing and
associated commercial services
built to cater for the increase in the
population and consequent growth of
suburbs, satellite towns and villages.
This increase in artificial surfaces impacts
on many aspects of the environment
including climate, biodiversity, air
quality and water quality.
The coastal zone is a popular
residential location, with
approximately 60% of the
population living within 10 km of
the coast. A high proportion of
vulnerable ecosystems and priority
infrastructures exist in these areas,
thus coastal zone management
remains a key concern.
Soil Degradation
The degradation of soils is a serious
issue across much of Europe, and
initiatives at EU level provide a timely
incentive to assess critically the
condition of soils in Ireland. The EU
Commission set up the Thematic
Group for Soil Strategy in 2004
to identify the potential threats to
soil function. Its analysis identified
six degradation processes that
impact on soils: soil sealing, erosion,
organic matter decline, compaction,
salination and landslides. While
a number of these processes are
naturally occurring, human activity is
an additional driver of degradation
through poor land management.
Soil Contamination
Soil can be contaminated by a wide
range of pollutants, through either
point source contamination or diffuse
contamination. Contamination from
point sources can arise as a result
of leakages and accidental spillages
from industrial and commercial
activities, e.g. petroleum storage
tanks, old mine sites, old gas work
sites, timber treatment or landfills.
Diffuse contamination can arise
from activities such as agriculture,
forestry, horticulture and domestic
septic tanks. The EPA is currently
developing guidelines for the
management of contaminated land
and groundwater at EPA licensed
facilities.