This presentation was presented during the second workshop of the International Network of Soil Information Institutions (INSII) that took place at FAO headquarters 24-25 november 2016. The presentation was made by Rainer Baritz from the GSP Secretariat on behalf of the Pillar 4 working group

1. Progress Report:
Pillar 4 – Information and Data
[Pillar 5 – Harmonization]
1 year INSII formation process
Products/implementation plan

2. Content
1. INSII: regional – global: official implementation network
for Pillars 4 and 5
2. Implementation (IP) Plans and P4WG
3. Roles/Interaction with other programmes

3. Transferring global
recommendations into
regional context
INSII: Regional – global
INSII
Plan of Actions Pillar 4 and 5
global IP
National data
and products
P4WG
regional IP
P4WG
1/RSP 1/country

4. Network of International Soil
Information Institutions (INSII)
Data Centre
(GSSDIC)
Pillar 4 WG
1. Pillar 4 (harmonized) data products: soil profiles, maps, grids
2. Monitoring/indicators: FAO SoilSTAT
 Agree about product
specifications and system design
 Share official national/
institutional data
Global Soil Information System (GSIS)
GSSIS Implementation network (see P4IPglobal)
Mandated by focal points/GSP partners
Established via P4IP and Arrangement
Members: regional
partnerships, ITPS, GSP
secretariat, Pillar 5
based on
open call
GSP data policy

5. Pillar 4 WG Composition
Africa: Mr. Christian Omuto
Asia: Mr. Rodelio B. Carating
Europe: Mr. Allan Lilly/ Eurasia: Ramazan Kuziev
Central America, Caribbean and Mexico: Ms Mayesse Da Silva/
South America: Federico Olmedo
Near East and North Africa: Rachid Moussadek
North America: Bert VandenBygaart
South West Pacific: Mike Grundy
Secretary: Ronald Vargas
Chair : Tbc
Other members : Neil McKenie (ITPS), Rainer Baritz (Chair Pillar 5)

6. Pillar 4 WG Working Tasks
Copyright and data use policy and Code of Ethics
Develop a Pillar 4 brochure for resource partners
Selection of GSSDIC
Concept note including feasibility and design principles for soil monitoring
and SoilSTAT
Tier 2 soil profile database specifications
HWSD V2: Specifications based on HWSD v1.2
Low-resolution grid v0: clarification by P4WG whether design specifications
are needed, and if yes, facilitate the development of such
Capacity development programme
Global polygon coverage: Specifications for integrating eSOTER, SOTER,
and legacy soil maps in a consistent map
Fine-resolution grid v1: 1.Technical specifications
20162017

7. Level of Tasks fulfillment
 Consolidation of INSII and P4WG
 GSSDIC
 MoU ( Arrangement)/Data Policy/Code of Conduct
 SoilSTAT design and SDI (GSP secretariat)
 Pillar 5 Information model for data exchange
 Pillar 4 Product specifications: focus SOC guideline
2016missing
 Product specifcations: GSIS products (soil profiles,
HWSDv2, Verison 0 grids)
 Capacity development plan: rather than planning, we
are already implementing (Eurasia, Nena, Asia)

8. Pillar 4 Product specifications
National soil data
soil profiles
soil polygons
Ancillary data
Methods soil grids
Soil typological units, spatial resolution, legend, portrayal
Soil properties and measuring units
Stratification
Classification/Coding
Indicators
Methodologies
Metadata
Spatial specs (resolution, density, projection)
Generic
definitions and
descriptions for
application
(climate, land use…)
Comparability
Border match
International context
Methodical synergies

9. Following these specifications, INSII members and
GSP partners can develop their own data products
(example: SOC).
Principle: develop national data sets, which – when
shared (e.g. web services) - are interoperable and
harmonized. Thus a global view can be developed.

10. Linkages with national and international
activities – in need for improved soil data
4per1000
UNCCD
LDN target setting
programme
SDG
National data infrastructures
eGovernment, national data initiatives (e.g. campaigns
open data, big data, data for research)
National legislation/
environmental programmes
climate change adaptation,
vulnerability, resource use efficiency,
bioeconomy, ag research, etc.
UNFCCC
UNCBD
National statistics
Soil data
Indicators
GSP/ITPS Status of the
World Soil Resources
GHG reporting on terrestrial
carbon pools.
National contact points for reporting
and research
National LDN contact point
National INSII institution
etc.
GEOSS
GODAN

11.  Identify national role
Tasks INSII members:
data base development, exchange/cooperation
with national bodies, policy support, research
 National product development
Additional (international) harmonization steps (“specifications”)
International and national context: data infrastructures, policies
Ensure capacity development/Funding
 Close liaison with national contact point
GSP: global and regional implementations plans,
national tasks

12.  GSP secretariat
Tasks other bodies:
 Continue facilitation of network, capacity, GSIS and
SoilSTAT implementation
 Continue establishing GSP in official UN processes,
contact international resource partners, organize
capacity building, strengthen INSII and P4WG
 GSSDIC
Become established, find role acc. to ToR and
implementation process
 P4WG
Follow-up with workplan