This presentation was presented during the Asian Soil Partnership workshop that took place in Bangkok 14-16 December 2017. The presentation was made by Dr. Rodelio Carating http://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/en/

1. Dr. Rodelio Carating

2. Importance of Pillar 4 in the region
• Pillar 4 is viewed to sustainably glue and further
strengthen current moves to harmonize soil
database and information in the region.
• Accurate, timely and reliable soil information for
research, decision making, and policy formulation
contribute to food security and provides
appropriate response to global environmental issues
• Cooperation and technical exchange improves
relations and capacity to respond of the respective
soil information institution to the issues at hand.

3. Priorities of the Asian region in relation
to Pillar 4
• Sharing and transferring soil knowledge and new
technology within and beyond the region
• Providing soil information to all those with an
interest in sustainable land resources
• Building consistent and updated soil information
systems
• Training new generation of experts in soil science
and land management

4. Main activities 2017 - 2020
OUTCOME ACTIVITIES OUTPUTS
Soil information systems of
majority of ASP members
established and updated
(involves Pillar 4 products:
polygon maps, soil profiles,
grids for SoilSTAT)
4.1.1 All ASP countries establish national soil information
systems and representative databases
National Soil Information System (legacy data and
continuing inventories; may require additional
manuals/support through technical cooperation)
4.1.2 Contribute to filling national and global knowledge
gaps about the distribution of soil carbon and its
impact on climate change
National Soil Organic Carbon Map based on GSP
Guideline
4.1.3 Harmonize the various national soil polygon maps of
Asia based on GSP agreed classification system
Soil Atlas of Asia
Soil data sharing policy
agreed and Asian soil portal
established
4.2.1 Adopt the Open Data Policy and Ethics espoused by
GSP
ASP Open Data Policy
4.2.2 ASP members transform their data into web services
and provide it as discovery and download services
National soil information institution’s homepage with
subpage on Soil Information System and Map Portal
4.2.3 Establish the Asian Soil Partnership Portal Asian Soil Partnership Homepage
Soil status monitoring
system conceptualized and
initially tested by
economically advanced
members
4.3.1 Select soil benchmark data for soil description and
land degradation monitoring purposes based on
proposals by site selection in each ASP member
country and evaluated using pedo-transfer functions
or other models to develop spatial layers for soil
indicators
Number of sites established for monitoring
National indicator data sets for SoilSTAT
4.3.2 Prototype national soil monitoring established with
shared processed data
SoilSTAT at Asian Soil Partnership Homepage
Geo-spatial data
management capacity of
member soil information
institutions enhanced
4.4.1 Training on soil survey, classification and mapping for
national soil institute without national soil map
National Soil Map of Bhutan
4.4.2 Training on soil organic carbon mapping 1 regional training
4.4.3 Training on soil grid production 2 regional trainings

5. • Soil Organic Carbon Map - We need the
commitment to come up with Soil Carbon Map by
Dec 2017 based on GSP agreement/plan of
implementation
• Soil Atlas of Asia
• Capacity building
• Agree on regional soil data consolidator
Topics of discussion at the meeting for Pillar 4

6. Challenges/Problems related to the implementation of
the plan in the region:
• Adequate and sustained funding support
• Differences in soil classification – the need for a
harmonized database for Asia
• A fixed term for Pillar 4 focal person as nominated
by ASP National Focal Point
• Need for soil data consolidator

7. Options
• At the ASP-Pillar 4 level, we need to take advantage
of information technology to improve
communication (e.g. use of social media like
Facebook or email ring) rather than rely on annual
meeting to keep Pillar 4 discussion forum active.
• Another option is to establish soonest our ASP-Pillar
4 homepage where we can link our institutions, map
portals, and soil database, and roster of soil
information system experts.
• Conduct sub-meetings (dinner meetings?) during
regional or international conferences (e.g. ESAFS) to
address issues like harmonized soil classification

8. Thank you and good day!