Yusuf Yigini Seventh session of the GSP Plenary Assembly | 5 - 7 June 2019 | FAO HQ, Rome, Italy

1. GSP Pillar 5
Harmonization of methods, measurements and
indicators
Yusuf Yigini - GSP Secretariat

2. Pillar 5 Harmonization of Soil
Information
Pillar 5 aims to provide mechanisms
for the collation, analysis and exchange of
consistent and comparable global soil data
and information.
PILLAR 1
PILLAR 2
PILLAR 3
PILLAR 5
PILLAR 4

3. WORKING TASKS
Global Pillar 5 Implementation Plan since 2017
FACILITATION
GSP secretariat (support to meetings, links with other
pillars, link global-region, fund raising, reporting)
Rainer Baritz (European Environment Agency, EEA)
CHAIR (Pillar 5)
IMPLEMENTATION
INSII International Network of Soil Information Institutions
GLOSOLAN Global Soil Laboratory Network Institutions,
supported by ISO (International Standardization Organization)
Pillar 5 4WG (global and regional groups), supported by
IUSS (International Union of Soil Sciences)
SDF (GSP Soil Data Facility) is to provide technical and
infrastructural support.
Photo/Graphs: WRB Summer School
(JRC 2005)
CHAIR (GLOSOLAN)
Nopmanee Suvannang (Thailand)

4. Benefits
• Harmonization is the prerequisite for
comparability (e.g. time trend) and reliability of
information
• Harmonization helps to bring meaning to
information collected from different sources
• Harmonization is the prerequisite to report soil
information to the public and to policy makers:
• Examples: SDG, climate change reporting,
statistics (such as SoilSTAT), UNEA Soil
Pollution Assessment, UNCCD/Land
Degradation Neutrality

5. Approach
• The different areas of harmonization follow the
life cycle of data: observing, sampling, analyzing,
evaluating and sharing
• Inclusion: involve experts from the many
working domains (collectors, analysers, classifiers,
interpreters, modelers)

6. Pillar 5
Areas of Harmonization

7. Challenges
• The different areas of harmonization are
implemented at global, regional and national levels
– this requires coordination
• Experiences in harmonization ranges from
advanced to marginal
• Where Pillar 5 can built on advancement, results
and experiences need to be upscaled
• Work related to harmonization is hidden behind
data and conclusions: knowledge gaining and
sharing is often not supported
• Lack of support for experts to engage in the Pillar 5
work, and lack of financing

8. Progress
• GLOSOLAN (see presentation by Chair/Secretariat)
• Harmonized soil domain model for the exchange of
digital soil data
• Pillar 5 WG: Sub-Working group on Indicators
• Concept note to update the Guidelines for Soil
Description
• Concept note for a donor conference developed
(jointly with SDF and members of Pillar 4)

9. Global Soil Information (Domain) Model
• Soil data exchanged through the internet (web
services) must be interoperable
• Prerequisite is a data model for the soil domain,
which structures the data files for web services
• GLOSIS depends on such data model
• Relates to the implementation plan Task 4.1
Back-
ground
Cost
Role INSII partners
31,000 Euro (SDF and key partners: in-kind)
Status • Terms of Reference defined, selection committee
(members: CSIRO, Landcare Research, FAO, SDG, Moscow State
University, Chair Pillar 5)
• Contractor selected and currently being hired
(analysis of existing solutions, to select/refine/update a single model for
GLOSIS)
Test the model, apply routinely

10. Join the writing process, revise drafts
• Indicators transport knowledge about soils to policy
makers, the public and planners (e.g. SDG, implementation
of sustainable soil management, UNCCD, UNFCCC, SoilSTAT)
• Harmonized methods are needed to derive indicators
from soil properties (e.g. rill erosion as indicator, soil texture, soil
organic matter and soil depth as important properties)
Back-
ground
Cost
Role INSII partners
Status
Catalogue of Soil Health Indicators
• Pillar 5 WG has selected a leader for the writing
process (Hakki Erdogan, regional Pillar 5 Chair for the ESP)
• Table of Content drafted (for discussion during next Pillar 5 WG
and INSII meetings)
Authors: in-kind

11. Share requirements and experiences,
revise drafts
• Harmonized description of a soil (profile) is the
fundamental element of soil assessments
• Many requests from INSII members and other
stakeholders to update the 2008 guideline
Back-
ground
Cost
Role INSII partners
Status
Concept note to update the Guidelines for
Soil Description
• Pillar 5 WG has decided to develop a concept note
with a roadmap
Authors: in-kind
Web tool including an app for mobile use: 20,000 USD