Celebrating World Soil Day with Insights into Soil Artificialization and Sustainable Management supported by our work

On 4 December 2024, the Administration de l'Environnement (AEV), the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), and the Administration des Services Techniques de l'Agriculture (ASTA) hosted a conference titled “Artificialisation des sols: l'importance de la prise en compte des caractéristiques des sols”. The event, organized in celebration of World Soil Day, focused on addressing the pressing challenges of irreversible soil loss - particularly due to increased sealing - and fostering awareness of its environmental impacts.

Showcasing the Role of Land Monitoring Products
Two key presentations at the conference highlighted the significant contributions of space4environment in monitoring and managing land and soil use:

• Monitoring Land Use for Spatial Development in Luxembourg
  Tom Fourmann, from the Ministère du Logement et de l’Aménagement du territoire, discussed the challenges of surface artificialization and sealing in Luxembourg’s spatial development plans (“Artificialisation et imperméabilisation des surfaces dans le contexte du PDAT” - Programme directeur d'aménagement du territoire). He emphasized the critical role of land use and land cover mapping in tracking soil usage trends over time. Since 2007, space4environment has been producing the Land Information System Luxembourg (LIS-L), which serves as a cornerstone for monitoring these changes. The ongoing creation of an integrated land use database refines and harmonizes historical data to establish a robust foundation for detailed analyses.
• Soil Utilization and Climate Impact Analysis
  In another presentation (“L’importance des sols dans le secteur LULUCF”), Tim Mirgain from the Administration de l’Environnement highlighted the importance of soil in the context of LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry). Relying on the LULUCF database developed by space4environment, he presented an evaluation of land use transitions and their implications for carbon stock and flow accounting in Luxembourg. By employing a 50-meter grid, the database calculates carbon stocks and changes based on land and soil utilization over time, offering a detailed proxy for assessing climate impacts.

Integrated Solutions for Climate and Land Use Challenges
By connecting the insights from LIS-L and the LULUCF database, space4environment delivers increasingly precise assessments of land use dynamics, soil utilization across sectors, and their effects on carbon emissions and climate. This integrated approach supports evidence-based policymaking and sustainable land management practices.

These presentations highlight the pivotal role of space4environment's work in fostering a better understanding of land use dynamics and their impact on sustainability and climate resilience.

The conference not only celebrated the importance of soils but also highlighted the critical role of advanced monitoring tools in tackling today’s environmental challenges, aligning with global efforts to protect and sustainably manage our natural resources.