Pillar 4 aims to develop a federated global soil information system called GloSIS to monitor and forecast global soil conditions. The International Network of Soil Information Institutions forms the technical backbone and works to build national soil information systems and global soil maps. Progress includes the design of GloSIS and SoilSTAT, and production of initial global soil maps. Challenges include the need for consistent authorship and publication policies and securing adequate funding.

1. GSP Pillar 4
Towards a Global Soil Information System
Yusuf Yigini - GSP Secretariat

2. Pillar 4 Information and Data
Pillar 4 aims to develop an enduring
and authoritative, federated global system
(GloSIS) to monitor and forecast the
condition of the Earth’s soil resources.
PILLAR 1
PILLAR 2
PILLAR 3
PILLAR 5

3. INSII
DECISION MAKING
GSP Plenary Assembly as the main decision
making body of the GSP where progress on Pillar 4
implementation is reported and where the tasks are given.
FACILITATION
GSP secretariat
coordination, facilitation, fund-raising for the implementation
of Pillar 4
ITPS Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils as the
body responsible for providing scientific advice to the Pillar 4
implementation
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMANTATION
INSII The International Network of Soil Information
Institutions forms the technical backbone of Pillar 4.
P4WG (Pillar 4 Working Group) It’s the technical
supervisory body of Pillar 4 implementation. conducts tasks
delegated by INSII
SDF (GSP Soil Data Facility) is to provide technical and
infrastructural support to the Global Soil Information System
(GloSIS). Appointed by the GSP PA for 3 years mandate
(2017-2020).

4. What Pillar 4 Aims?
• The main focus of the Global Implementation
Plan (Pillar 4 GIP) is to build a federated Global
Soil Information System (GloSIS) relies on
National Soil Information Systems.
• Produce global soil spatial products to;
• populate GloSIS and SoilSTAT
• address soil threats at national, regional and global
scale
• build SoilSTAT as the statistics component of
GloSIS and a tool for monitoring global soil
resources.

5. How GSP Implements P4GIP?
• The Pillar 4 GIP also aims to build SoilSTAT as
the statistics component of GloSIS and a tool for
monitoring global soil resources.
• INSII is the main implementation network.

6. INSII - International Network of Soil Information Institutions

7. INSII - International Network of Soil Information Institutions

8. INSII - International Network of Soil Information Institutions

9. INSII - International Network of Soil Information Institutions

10. INSII - International Network of Soil Information Institutions

11. INSII
International Network of Soil Information Institutions
• 4th Working Session of INSII was held in
November 2019 to discuss
• Status and the progress of Pillar 4
Implementation
• GloSIS Design
• GSP Global Map Products
• SoilSTAT Concept
• Work Plan for 2019

12. Status & Progress (GloSIS Design)
• Since the 6th PA, a series of key documents
have been prepared for the design of the
GloSIS and SoilSTAT
• GloSIS Design - Conceptual design of the GloSIS
infrastructure, participation levels
• CountrySIS Framework: main implementation tool
for GloSIS (technical specifications, manuals, software
bundles, capacity development)
• Tier 1 & Tier 2 Soil Profile Databases Technical
Specifications
• SoilSTAT Concept detailed concept note for SoilSTAT
Design and Implementation
• GloSIS Branded Global Soil Data Exchange Model

13. Status & Progress (GloSIS Design)
GloSIS Participation Levels
Tailored Implementation
for data holders with an existing soil information system;
Template Implementation
for data holders that wish to setup their own soil
information system;
Support Implementation
for data holders lacking the resources or knowledge to
set up and maintain a soil information system.
STATUS: implementation phase is starting in 2019

14. Status and Progress (GloSIS Design)
While the design of infrastructural components of the GloSIS is in progress, FAO
is supporting countries through Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP)
projects to build their national soil information systems.
• TCP/SUD/3601 - Sudan Soil Information System and Digital Soil Mapping
(SuSIS);
• TCP/CMB/3602 - National Soil Information and Land Suitability Evaluation
System for Cambodia (CaSIS);
• TCP/AFG/3601 - Afghanistan Soil Information System (AfSIS);
• TCP/RLA/3613 - Development of Soil Information Capabilities for the
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the countries of South
America;
• TCP/MCD/3402 - Capacity development on digital soil mapping and
development of the Macedonian Soil Information System (MASIS);
• TCP/STP/3604 – Soil information system of Sao Tome.
• TCP/RLA/3613 – SISLAC - Soil Information System of Latin America and the
Caribbean

15. Status and Progress (Data)
• GSOCmap Global Soil Organic Carbon Map
• >>> V1.0 (2017) >>> V1.2.0 (2018) >>> V1.5 (June 2019)
• GSERmap Global Soil Erosion Map
• 3-level approach for a harmonised product
• Implementation: Sensitivity to erosion (2019) -> Erosion risk (2020) -> Monitoring
(2020-2021)
• GSSmap Global Soil Salinity Map
• methodology and technical specs being developed Using EC as the main indicator of
salinity, number of predictors as covariates including relevant indicators
• Implementation: 2019
• GSOCseq Global Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Potential Map
• Multi-phase country-driven process supervised and guided by the ITPS and international
expert groups
• Using RothC process-based modelling
• Implementation: 2019-2020
• SoilSTAT Detailed Concept Note Ready
• Raster based reporting unit, priority indicators, connected with FAOSTAT
• Implementation: 2019 - 2024
GloSIS Data Products – 2019 2020

16. • Former Chair, Mr. McKenzie retired in autumn
2018 and quit his INSII Chairperson role.
• All duties were taken over protempore by the
GSP Secretariat until the 7th GSP PA
• In the meantime, the secretariat issued an call
for the position and received three candidacies
that did not meet the requirements.
INSII - Chairperson
ACTION: The GSP PA is invited to appoint an INSII Chairperson during
the 7th PA Session

17. The Pillar 4 Working Group, also chaired by the
INSII Chairperson, is the technical
supervisory body of Pillar 4 implementation.
P4WG is composed of representatives from
• GSP Secretariat
• Soil Data Facility
• ITPS
• Regional Partnerships
• Pillar 5
INSII – Pillar 4 Working Group

18. • During the 4th INSII Meeting, a proposal was made by
the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)
Global Soil Map Working Group (GSM WG) to
join the Pillar 4 Working Group to support the
development of Fine Resolution Grids of Soil Properties.
• The INSII expressed their support to the proposal and
seeking endorsement by the 7th GSP PA.
Pillar 4 Working Group
ACTION: The GSP PA may endorse the proposed change in the
Composition of the Pillar 4 Working Group.
Annex 1: Change in the Composition of the Pillar 4 Working Group

19. • During the 4th INSII Working Session, Questions were
raised about the GSP/ITPS publication process and
about how joint products are cited and the authors
acknowledged.
• To address the issue, the Secretariat has proposed an
amendment to the GSP Data Policy.
Challenge
• GSOCmap – INSII (more than 90 countries and 300 experts involved) + ITPS+
SDF+ GSP
• diverse publication processes
• Diverse publication policies
Pillar 4 - Academic Publications

20. 2.1 Joint publishing
It is good practice that during the publication process (usually led by the
‘deriving institution’, or chairs of GSP working groups or writing
teams), the data providers (usually INSII members) are invited to
participate actively in the preparations of publications (evaluation,
drafting). It is then also good practice to ask such supporting data
provider to co-author a joint publication. It is good practice to select a
journal, which allows the co-authoring of a network/working group.
Pillar 4 - Academic Publications
ACTION: The GSP PA may endorse the proposed amendment to the
GSP Data Policy.
GSPPA VII/2019/4 – ANNEX 3 Amendment 2

21. Challenge
Financial resources needed for
smooth and timely implementation.

22. Thank You…
Slide Design: Matteo Sala