This presentation was presented during the Workshop on Soil Cabon Mapping of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) that took place at FAO headquarters 23 November 2016. The presentation was made by Rainer Baritz, GSP Secretariat

1. GSOC map
 Introduction to SOC mapping
 GSOC mapping guideline
 Product specifications
 Existing SOC maps
 Methodologies

2. Background
 Precise and reliable global view on soil organic carbon (SOC) is
needed under different UN conventions and related processes
(SDG, 4per1000)
 Soil carbon is key indicator related to water and nutrient
dynamics of soils, its decomposer activity, and the physical soil
structure/stability.
 A collection of national SOC estimates, utilizing as many soil
data as possible, could provide a new reliable layer of reference
SOC stocks around the globe .
 GSOC map was initiated by UNCCD-SDI and GSP-ITPS

3. Background
Scharlemann et al 2014
“Climate change models are currently using soil carbon
estimates that vary by an order of magnitude. We’re creating
scenarios of climate change, and basing decisions on these
scenarios, even though the input data are actually really
uncertain.”
“Decisions on soil carbon
management require an improved
understanding of the global
variation in carbon stocks, as well
as their importance relative to
carbon stored in vegetation.”
Rosser et al 2012

4. Background
Ladd et al 2012
“The lack of correlation between the measured values of soil
carbon and the values from the FAO harmonized world soil
map indicate that substantial improvements in the
production of soil carbon maps are needed and possible..”

5. National coordination
 Reporting under SDG 15.3.1, subindicator soil carbon, linking soils
with national agro-environmental statistics
 Support to UNCCD LDN target setting programme, soil carbon is
progress indicator
 Reporting under UNFCCC GHG programme (LULUCF soil C pool and
pool changes): GSOC map allows for Tier 2 reference C stocks
 Soil carbon as indicator for soil health and land resilience in
national mitigation and adaptation programmes
International coordination
 UNFCCC – UNCCD – WMO - GSP conference: GSOC17, March 2017
 GSP Pillar 4 productsITPS /Status of the world soil resources

6. GSP GSOC mapping guideline:
 Country-driven approach
 Generate national SOC maps as 1 km soil grids (version 0 acc. to
P4IP): use existing soil profile data and soil (polygon) maps,
combined with digital soil mapping
 Build on UNFCCC/IPCC GHG definitions and reporting methods:
see GSP-Guideline, 0-30 cm (it is possible to subdivide depth
classes, e.g. following GlobalSoilMap specifications: 0-5 cm, 5-
15 cm, 15-30 cm, lower depth classes > 30 cm are optional for
GSOC map, but will be included in Pillar 4 soil grids)
 Build on existing national capacities and extend these
 Develop first indicator for the Global Soil Information System
(GSIS) - GSP demonstration project (Version 0 soil grids)
Methodical considerations

7. Soil Polygon map
Soil profiles
SoilSTAT
Soil grids
Pillar 4 Indicator: soil C stock 0-30 cm (soil organic
carbon, mineral soils, peat, O-layer)
Representative set of samples from soil
profiles with soil C analysis, BD and stones
estimated or measured
Soil maps as basic data for upscaling
DSM Class-/Geomatching
Rasterization
+ land cover,
climate, etc.
1k version 0 soil grids

8. National SOC map exists
YesNo
GSP specifications are fulfilled
Yes No
recalculate
Product accomplished:
deliver to GSP secretariat
Produce new map
with own capacity
Compile national SOC
measurements
Yes No
Share national SOC data with
GSP secretariat to organise
the uscaling to 1 km grid
Yes
1
2
3
Country-driven approach

9. Detailed Specifications
Specification 1: Share auxiliary information about the national
data sources, e.g. type of sampling, density of sampling points,
sampling design, time of sampling, selection criteria.
Metadata
Specification 2: Share metadata about SOC analysis method/s,
type of analysis; type of apparatus; temperatures used; in case of
wet oxidation: method and variations; sample treatment, sample
preparation; for calcareous soils: report whether and how
inorganic carbon was analyzed.

10. Specification 3: Share metadata about SOC stocks calculation
SOC = d * BD * (Ctot – Cmin) * CFst)Mineral soils
SOCforest floor = weightOR * (Ctot – Cmin)
Forest floor
(O-layer)
Peat extent (area) of peat (and peat types), the
depth of peat, %C and bulk density
Derive data from soil horizons for d = 0-30 cm
Detailed Specifications Metadata

11. Specification 4: Share details about the upscaling approach
1. Upscaling method (description, citation)
2. Input data/covariates, grid, soil maps, etc.
Specification 5: Temporal dimension: share the sampling date.
If the national data situation allows, pre-1990 or post-1990 sub
data sets might be defined. Quality/capacity: The more data
points are used, the better the reliability and accuracy of the SOC
map
Detailed Specifications Metadata

12. Data sharing procedure
 National SOC maps will be collected by the GSP
Secretariat.
 The GSP data policy will ensure that the national
terms of condition are fully respected.
 Data can be shared using common GIS formats and
metadata should be compiled in an excel file
(template will be provided through the cookbook).

13.  Cookbook previous and future workshops
 Capacity planning/development
Implementation

14. To prepare the cookbook, an extensive literature
review has been conducted.
Cookbook and e-learning
A cookbook for SOC mapping is currently prepared by
voluntary input from an open team of authors.
If you have interest to contribute based on national
experiences in SOC mapping, contact: rainer.baritz@fao.org
Together with the cookbook, an e-learning tool will be
made available.

15. 41 c
Publications about national
SOC map activities were
found for 41 countries.
8. Literature
8.1 General Literature on SOC inventories and spatial modelling (19)
8.2 Specialized methodical literature
8.2.1 Bulk density (22)
8.2.2 Digital Elevation Models (6)
8.2.3 Inorganic carbon (1)
8.2.4 Digital Soil Mapping (21)
8.2.5 Vertical SOC, Depth profiles (8)
8.2.6 Rock content (1)
8.2.7 Soil carbon analysis (3)
8.2.8 Soil carbon monitoring (5)
8.2.9 Remote sensing, spectroscopy (5)
8.2.10 Uncertainties (4)
8.3 National SOC inventories
8.3.1 North America (2C, 4)
8.3.2 Near East and Sub-saharan Africa (9C, 12)
8.3.3 Asia (6C, 9)
8.3.4 Central/South America (2C, 2)
8.3.5 Pacific (2C, 5)
8.3.6 Eurasia (1C, 3)
8.3.7 Europe (19C, 45 / 1Europe, 4)
8.4 Regional SOC inventories (18C 20)
Cookbook
literature overview
[C = countries]

16. Capacity planning
Planning of national capacity (personnel, time)
Planning of additional needs (equipment, training)

17. Capacity planning
 reflect about the guideline and how to implement
Each workshop participant, to reflect and share…
 choose national approach
 contact relevant national institutions
 INSII member to contact national focal point, also
RSP colleagues (P4) not attending this workshop
 develop a work plan (who, what, when);
coordinate with national focal point
Basis for RSP/GSP secretariats to plan actions.

18. Digitize any SOC data from sampling if not done so (e.g.
from soil profile description and analysis)
Collect SOC concentration data, Buld density (BD), stones
(coarse fragments), spatial coordinates
Preparatory technical steps
Prepare soil profile data:
Prepare covariates: soil, geology, climate, land cover, land
form (simple and complex relief
indicators)
Calculate SOC stocks for 0-30 cm (= forest floor is
possible)

19. Technical SOC mapping
see presentation by G. F. Olmedo