European Commission calls for action over soil quality

The European Commission has published a report which documents how serious the issue of declining soil quality is across the continent.

In the study, the problem of "soil sealing" was explored in great detail and a number of preventative measures were outlined.

Soil sealing is the term given to land that has been built upon with non-permeable materials such as concrete, thus essentially removing the natural potential of the area.

The body has advised member states to implement legislation to reduce the effects of the problem.

These measures include boosting the soil quality in other regions to compensate for necessary sealing, more considered building planning processes and implementing green roofs.

Malta was deemed to be the worst offender, while the UK was also in the bottom ten countries, although the Commission noted that some steps had already been taken to improve the situation in Britain.

This week, the organisation has taken Ireland, France and the Czech Republic to court for breaching legislation ranging from the Waste Directive to air quality rulings.

Posted by Joseph Hutton