Objectives
Developing methods for a spatially explicit, temporally resolved assessment of rainfall erosivity, overcoming the limitations of current observational datasets and aiming to improve the estimates provided by existing statistical methods.
Analyzing in detail the dynamic landscape characteristics that influence soil susceptibility to erosion, such as vegetation cover and soil properties, taking into account seasonal, phenological, and anthropogenic variations.
Initial challenge
Soil erosion is an environmental issue of global relevance that threatens soil fertility, biodiversity, and the sustainability of agricultural activities — a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors and co-evolving with climate change (for example, climate change can affect the type of vegetation in a given area, or how that land is used by humans, increasing or reducing erosion risk). The quantification tools currently in use are not adequate for the complexity of the phenomenon, as they fail to account for:
i) a spatially explicit, physically consistent, and at the same time temporally “accurate” assessment of the triggering factor (rainfall erosivity);
ii) adequate consideration of the temporal dynamics and fine spatial granularity of the landscape characteristics that influence soil susceptibility to erosion, such as vegetation cover and soil properties, which vary over weeks, seasons, and/or years depending on vegetation phenology and human practices (agricultural inputs, tillage operations, contour farming), as well as due to new land features (transport infrastructure, settlements, etc.).
Solution
The innovative approaches developed within the SEEDS project will improve erosion estimates by building on the well-established Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) approach, integrating it with predictive models that combine in-situ data with real-time data provided by Copernicus services (satellite imagery, precipitation estimates, etc.).
The study will initially focus on two areas:
the Idice river basin in Emilia-Romagna, rich in cultivated areas with diverse crops and affected by significant erosion processes in its upstream section;
the Amalfi Coast, an area with high erosion potential, where the landscape is nonetheless distinguished by terracing, which partly mitigates the phenomenon.
The resulting model can then be easily transferred to other areas, supporting accurate mapping of soil loss and risk indicators at the regional level, accessible to stakeholders for more informed and responsible land management.
Benefits
SEEDS offers tangible benefits to a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, land planners, policymakers, and the scientific community, allowing them to access up-to-date data on soil erosion and adopt more effective preventive measures. Farmers can use this information to optimize farming practices and reduce environmental impact, land planners can identify the safest locations for building infrastructure and plan land use that minimizes erosion, and policymakers can develop regulations based on solid data for soil conservation. It also contributes to global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting sustainable land resource management and climate change adaptation.
IFAB’s role
IFAB took part in the project as a funding body, selecting it as part of its investment lines in research, innovation, and technology transfer. IFAB’s contribution consisted of recognizing the project’s scientific and practical value and providing financial support, making it possible to carry out the research activities conducted by the technical partners. This involvement confirms IFAB’s mission as an accelerator of high-impact initiatives for the local area and productive system.
Partners
For more information, contact: projects@ifabfoundation.org
