Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewedConventional

Tracking, targeting, and conserving soil biodiversity

Carlos A. Guerra, Richard D. Bardgett, Lucrezia Caon, Thomas W. Crowther, Manuel Delgado‐Baquerizo, Luca Montanarella, Laetitia M. Navarro, Alberto Orgiazzi, Brajesh K. Singh, Leho Tedersoo, Ronald Vargas-Rojas, María J.I. Briones, François Buscot, Erin K. Cameron, Simone Cesarz, Antonis Chatzinotas, Don A. Cowan, Ika Djukic, Johan van den Hoogen, Anika Lehmann, Fernando T. Maestre, César Marín, Thomas Reitz, Matthias C. Rillig, Linnea C. Smith, Franciska T. de Vries, Alexandra Weigelt, Diana H. Wall, Nico Eisenhauer

Science · 2021

Read source ↗ All evidence

Summary

This Science paper, authored by a large international consortium of soil ecologists and policy experts, proposes a systematic approach to tracking, targeting, and conserving soil biodiversity. The authors argue that effective conservation requires standardised monitoring systems and biodiversity indicators that can inform policy decisions across agricultural and terrestrial ecosystems. The work appears to synthesise current knowledge on soil biodiversity assessment and translate it into actionable governance frameworks.

Regional applicability

The proposed monitoring systems and conservation indicators are likely applicable to UK soil policy and agri-environment schemes, particularly given the UK's focus on soil health in environmental land management and post-Brexit agricultural policy. The framework could inform biodiversity net gain requirements and soil health standards in farming support mechanisms.

Key measures

Soil biodiversity metrics; monitoring and indicator frameworks; policy-relevant conservation targets

Outcomes reported

The study presents a framework for tracking and monitoring soil biodiversity at multiple scales, and proposes indicator systems to inform conservation policy and land management decisions.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Soil biology & microbiology
Study type
Policy
Study design
Policy report
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Other
DOI
10.1126/science.abd7926
Catalogue ID
SNmojyxxd5-2sgiqk

Topic tags

Pulse AI · ask about this record

Dig deeper with Pulse AI.

Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.