This document discusses progress and plans for developing components of the Global Soil Information System (GLOSIS). It outlines work to create SoilSTAT for monitoring global soil resources, develop soil profile databases in two tiers, create a global polygon soil map, update the Harmonized World Soil Database, produce fine-resolution global soil grids, and continue the GSP Capacity Development Programme to build soil data management capacities. Key issues discussed include resource needs, technical specifications, coordination with other initiatives, and priority-setting among various products and activities.

2. PILLAR 4
Towards a Global Soil Information System

3. Implementation Plan

4. SoilSTAT - definition
Statistics Component of GLOSIS
• SoilSTAT is the statistics component of the Global
Soil Partnership’s Global Soil Information System
(GLOSIS) and the tool for monitoring global soil
resources.
• The GSP and its partners will design SoilSTAT and
the system will be used for monitoring, forecasting
and reporting periodically on the status of global
soil resources. The name of the system mirrors the
FAOSTAT family of global-status databases used for
monitoring.

5. SoilSTAT - progress
Statistics Component of GLOSIS
• GSP Secretariat is finalising the SoilSTAT Concept Note
which is to be shared with the Pillar 4 Working Group
(29/05/18)
• The concept note pays particular attention to current
monitoring activities undertaken by the UN (e.g. SDGs)
and the OECD. The P4WG is to ensure that input is
obtained from relevant GSP partners and specific input
is to be sought from the IUSS Working Group on Soil
Monitoring.
• At a minimum, the SoilSTAT proposal will provide soil-
related indices for the FAO statistical system (FAOSTAT).

6. SoilSTAT – key issues
Statistics Component of GLOSIS
• Designing and executing a global soil monitoring system is a
complex task institutionally, technically and logistically.
• Decisions on design (e.g. spatial and temporal resolution,
target variables, reliance on direct or proxy measures of soil
condition, stratification, and statistical design) have large
budgetary implications.
• An expert team is required to prepare the final concept
note and their expertise needs to include scientific aspects
of soil monitoring, logistics, institutional capacity and
decision making in natural resource management.
• A careful analysis of the potential costs and benefits of
SoilSTAT is essential

7. Soil Profile Databases
• Tier 1 – comprehensive soil profile and analytical
database
This is a large soil profile and analytical database for
the world without the stringent requirement for a
minimum parameter set or representativeness which
often severely limits the number of available profiles.

8. Soil Profile Databases
• Tier 2 – world reference soil profile and analytical database
This is a “world reference-soil database” containing well-
described and analysed soil profiles. Technically, it can be a
subset of Tier 1, but it can also be compiled of other soil
profiles. However, the Tier 2 specifications will contain
requirements on the content, quality and documentation of
soil profile data.

9. Soil Profile Databases - progress
A proposed three-year schedule for developing the Tier 1 and
Tier 2 databases was included in the presentation to INSII 3 by
the SDF. The schedule was endorsed by INSII and the primary
focus in 2018 is on the preparation of Specifications for the
Tier 1 and Tier 2 databases. Two levels of functionality have
been proposed:
Basic functionality: data viewing, querying and downloading
Fully-functional (Web 2.0): includes data uploading, user
customization, automatic quality control and import,
automated mosaicking and production of merged gridded
products, visualisation of statistics.

10. Soil Profile Databases - progress
• Technical Specifications being prepared by the SDF. Draft
specifications will be available prior to the GSP PA in June
2018. These will be reviewed by the P4WG and a summary
will be relayed to the Plenary.
Resource implications
SDF in its capacity as the GSP SDF has allocated resources to develop the
technical specifications

11. Global Polygon Coverage
• This product suits users requiring an overview of global soil
geography. The polygon map consists of discrete map units
with accompanying soil classification as well as soil
properties at the map unit level.
Resource implications
SDF in its capacity as the GSP SDF has allocated resources to develop the
technical specifications

12. Harmonized World Soil Database
• The Implementation Plan for Pillar Four recommends the
preparation of a new version of the Harmonized World Soil
Database Version 2 (HWSD2).

13. HWSD v2.0 – key issues
• There are mixed views among INSII members on the relative
priority that should be given to the HWSD2 versus
preparation of the fine-resolution soil grids.
• The P4WG needs to have a clear understanding of demand
for the new product and the existing users of the earlier
versions.
• The Implementation Plan estimates that a budget of
$327.5K is required. These funds are yet to be acquired or
allocated.

14. HWSD v2.0 – progress
• FAO and SDF (both members of the original HWSD2 team)
and the SW Pacific noted that the revision of the HWSD2 is
an expensive undertaking and it was viewed that other tasks
should have priority (e.g. databases, fine-resolution grids).
• However, the proposed work still has merit and should be
considered if resources become available.

15. HWSD v2.0 – action
• The decision is to be relayed to the GSP Plenary (June 2018)
and INSII (October 2018).

16. Fine-resolution Grids – V0 & V1
• The fine-resolution grid Version 0 represents raster data
sets based on the up-scaling of validated, measured soil
profiles in conjunction with a large number of covariate
layers that have some relation to soil geography.
• The version 0 grid will be a collection of existing grids as a
demonstration of gridded products with no attempt to
invest into additional harmonization.

17. Fine-resolution Grids – progress
• Initiate discussions with the GlobalSoilMap community
to coordinate further development of technical
specifications for the global fine-resolution grid.
• Determine whether a broader meeting between the
P4WG and GlobalSoilMap community can be organised.
• Prepare a project plan after these initial discussions
have been held.
• Prepare agenda paper for the P4WG that provides a
plan that outlines how the specifications and the
GLOSIS fit together.

18. GSP Capacity Development
Programme
• The GSP Capacity Development Programme is an
integral part of the Global soil Partnership and
playing an important role in the process of building
the Global Soil information System and its
components.
• in 2017, the programme mainly focused on on-the-
job trainings for the preparation of the GSOCmap
and resources were mobilized to
implement trainings on digital soil organic carbon
mapping.

19. GSP Capacity Development
Programme
• The programme reached to more than 110
countries and 250 Soil Experts
• In 2017, the programme focused more on digital
soil organic carbon mapping to support countries
with their GSOCmap contributions.
• GSP will continue improving and building capacities
on soil data management.

20. Other Activities
• CountrySIS
• MRV Working Group