Soils are one of our most important natural resources: they provide food, filter water, store carbon, and are home to countless organisms that are crucial to the functioning of this system. Nevertheless, little is known about their biological diversity and ecological condition. This is changing with the research project “Baseline Survey of Biodiversity – BioDive4Soil,” in which the gaiac research institute is participating as a partner. Together with the Federal Environment Agency, the Fraunhofer Society, and many other institutions, gaiac is investigating the communities of soil organisms in soils used for different purposes and in different regions of Germany. The aim is to define reference values for good ecological soil condition so that changes can be recorded in the future and protective measures can be implemented to preserve soil diversity. In addition to classic methods for recording soil communities, molecular biological methods are also used. The gaiac research institute contributes its many years of expertise in soil ecology and ecosystem assessment. The project, funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN), will run for six years and is part of the Natural Climate Protection Action Program.
Click here for the joint press release: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/wie-viel-leben-steckt-in-unseren-boeden
