INtegrated Spatial PlannIng, land use and soil management Research AcTION
INtegrated Spatial PlannIng, land use and soil management Research AcTION: INSPIRATION. Towards a strategic research agenda on soil, land-use and land management in Europe.
Land is a limited resource. There are different – synergistic or competing – options how land can be used. Any use does impact our soil, sediment and water system to which the land is linked. A good understanding of these complex linkages is essential in order to steward land to a more sustainable future for Europe’s citizens and its global partners. Research contributes to facilitating sustainable land management and support evidence-based policy making.
Aim
INSPIRATION is a coordination and support action funded by the European Commission in order to develop a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for Europe on soil, land use and land management. The project started in March 2015 and will end on 28 Feb 2018. The project is coordinated by the German Environment Agency (UBA).
Demand-driven approach
INSPIRATION adopts a bottom-up approach. We are aiming for a research agenda that is accepted by all societal groups in the EU (European Union) member states. Therefore, groups are represented by national key stakeholders (NKS) coming from funders (public and private), knowledge producers, end users of research and NGO’s in the 17 (+4) participating INSPIRATION countries. Our work plan is based on the collation of land-use and soil-related research demands from the perspectives of these stakeholders.
Results
The INSPIRATION Strategic Research Agenda is available online. This agenda contains 39 research topics that have been clustered based on the bottom-up, iterative INSPIRATION process with more than 500 European experts. The National Contact Points will be available for 18 Months after the project life time for assistance in match-making of funders in Europe.
Role of RIVM
RIVM contributes to the Strategic Research Agenda on soil, land-use and land management in Europe. Sandra Boekhold (RIVM) participates as a strategic writer for the Strategic Research Agenda.