The document discusses updates and progress on Pillar 4 of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) which aims to enhance soil data availability. It notes that the International Network of Soil Information Institutions (INSII) oversees this work. Key points include: GSOCmap and other global soil datasets are being improved; capacity development trainings for GSSmap on soil salinity mapping have moved online due to COVID-19; technical development is underway for GSOCseq and SoilSTAT; and a new Pillar 4 Implementation Plan is being developed to beyond 2020.

1. Yusuf Yigini
GSP Secretariat

2. PILLAR 4
Enhance the quality and availability
of soil data and information
INSII (International Network of
Soil Information Institutions) is
the main implementation body
of Pillar 4.It’s supported by
Pillar 4 Working Group and the
ITPS.

3. INSII - International Network of Soil Information Institutions

4. INSII - International Network of Soil Information Institutions
• 5th INSII Meeting - October 2019
• Key GloSIS documents endorsed
• Conceptual design of the Global Soil Information System
infrastructure;
• Tier 1 and Tier 2 data in the context of the federated Global Soil
Information System (GLOSIS)
• Overall progress in Pillar 4 Implementation was
discussed
• 7th Pillar 4 Working Group Meeting – October 2019
• New Pillar 4 Global Implementation Plan
• 6th INSII Meeting was scheduled – October 2020

5. • GSP is developing a global soil information system (GloSIS)
and Global Data Products in a decentralised manner.
• GloSIS is being built with and owned by FAO Members
• GloSIS will be a “system of systems” and bringing national
soil information systems into a federated network, in which
different systems are able to communicate using common
standards.
Pillar 4 - Implementation

6. DESIGN
Capacity
Development
Soil
Information
Systems
Global
Datasets
• GloSIS Spatial Data Infrastructure
• GloSIS Data Hub
• GloSIS Data Exchange
• GSOCmap
• GSSmap
• GSOCseq
• GBSDmap
• GSERmap
• Trainings
• Product
Guidelines
• Technical
Manuals
• Regional, National Soil Information Systems
Development

7. GloSIS Global Datasets
GSOCmap – V1.0 (2017) … V1.5 (2019) …V.1.6 (Q3 2020)
GSSmap – V1.0 (December 2020)
GSOCseq - V1.0 (December 2020)
GBSDmap - V1.0 (INBS Members - December 2020)
GSERmap - V1.0 (2021)

8. GSOCmap – It’s Evolving
GSOCmap v1.0
•2017
•71 National
Maps
•1 Million
Ground Data
GSOCmap v1.2
•2018
•75 National
Maps
•1 Million
Ground Data
GSOCmap v1.5
•2019
•85 National
Submissions
•1.1 Million
Ground Data
GSOCmap v1.6
•Q3 2020
•Improved
gap filling
•New national
maps
• GSOCmap is being updated to V1.6
• 2020 GSP Stocktaking Exercise revealed that GSOCmap is one of the flagship
products of the GSP & ITPS.
• Approval rate (usefulness, popularity) of GSOCmap is 76% (48% very useful,
28% useful)
• The new version is under preparation and will be released in 2020
In progress

9. GSSmap
•Action and product oriented
GSOCmap, Soil Organic Carbon
Modelling and Mapping
•Reached more than 110
Countries and 250+ experts
Africa, NENA, Asia, Central
and South America,
Caribbean, Eurasia
•Full-fledged & Comprehensive
training sessions, guidelines,
technical manuals, input data
and continuous support
• The new version (V1.6) will be
released in Q3 2020
GSOCmap •Action and product oriented
Soil Salinity, Soil Salinity
Mapping and Modelling
•Reaching more than 120
Countries and 300+ experts
Africa, NENA, Asia, Latin
America and the
Caribbean, Eurasia,
Pacific, Europe
•Full-fledged & Comprehensive
training sessions,
guidelines, technical
manuals, input data and
continuous support
• Data Collection Started (May
2020)

10. GSSmap – Capacity Development & Covid-19
• GSSmap technical development is supported by a comprehensive capacity
development programme.
• The regional training sessions have been gone online due to Covid-19 Global
Pandemic (NENA and Eurasia in-situ, virtual in Asia, Africa, Pacific and Latin
America (ongoing).
ASP – GSSmap TrainingEurasia – GS and ap Training

11. GSSmap Country submissions
Topsoil Salinity Map Subsoil Salinity Map
Kingdom of Thailand (first country submitting the map)

12. •GSOCseq (Global Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration
Potential Map) was requested by FAO members during
the sixth GSP Plenary Assembly in 2018.
•A global map on carbon sequestration potential is one
of the recommendations listed in the outcome
document of the GSOC’17.
•GSOCseq Technical Specifications and Country
Guidelines (completed).
•Technical Manual and Technical Development are in
progress.
GSOCseq

13. SoilSTAT – Technical Development
• Technical development started (P4WG)
• I. Global Soil Indicators: methodological
assessment and indicator fact sheets
• Guidebook for SoilSTAT
• Generic guidance: details about the SoilSTAT data
infrastructure, links to FAOSTAT and other databases
including UN STATS and GEOSS
• Data exchange procedure: the function and
infrastructure of GLOSIS (connected with
CountrySIS), and the supporting roles of the GSP
secretariat and other potential stakeholder
organisations.

14. Pillar 4 Implementation
• Pillar 4 Global Implementation Plan is expiring in
2020.
• GSP Soil Data Facility’s mandate is expiring in 2020.
• New Implementation Plan is being developed by
the Pillar 4 Working Group.

15. New Pillar 4 Implementation Plan
Activity Responsibility Delivery Time
First draft IP
(9th P4WG Meeting)
P4WG July 2020
Review P4WG and INSII Aug - Sep 2020
Final draft IP P4WG Sep 2020
Adoption by INSII
(6th INSII Meeting)
INSII Octr 2020
Endorsement
(9th GSP PA)
INSII Chairperson June 2021

16. New Pillar 4 Implementation Plan
•The 8th GSP Plenary Assembly may wish
to:
• Extend the current Pillar 4 Implementation
period to June 2021 (9th GSP PA).
• Extend the mandate of the GSP Soil Data Facility
to June 2021 (9th GSP PA).