Annex I — SOIL DESCRIPTORS, CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY SOIL CONDITION, AND SOIL SEALING AND SOIL REMOVAL INDICATORS

For the purposes of this Annex, the following definitions apply: (1) natural land means an area of land on which the natural processes are dominant and human intervention is minimal or non-existent, and on which the primary ecological functions and species composition have not been substantially modified; (2) net sealing means the result of soil sealing minus de-sealing; (3) settlement area means a settlement area within the meaning of the 2006 Guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories; (4) organic soils means organic soils within the meaning of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories; (5) mineral soils means mineral soils within the meaning of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories; (6) managed soils means soils where soil management practices are carried out. Aspect of soil degradationSoil descriptorCriteria for healthy soil condition – non-binding sustainable target valuesLand areas exempted from meeting the related criterion Part A: soil descriptors with criteria for healthy soil condition established at Union level SalinisationElectrical conductivity (deci-Siemens per meter)< 4 dS m–1 when using saturated soil paste extract (eEC) measurement method, or equivalent criterion if using another measurement methodNaturally saline land areas, areas with regular flooding from marine submersion and areas subject to sea spray Loss of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)SOC concentration (g per kg)For organic soils: respect targets set for such soils at national level in accordance with Article 4(2) and (4), and Article 11(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 No exemption For mineral soils: SOC/Clay ratio > 1/13 (that is the ratio of SOC content to the content of the clay fraction (fraction with a diameter of less than 0,002 mm)) Member States are expected to apply corrective factors to the ratio where specific soil types or climatic conditions justify it, taking into account the link to structural stability Non-managed soils in natural land areas Subsoil compactionBulk density in subsoil (g per cm3)Soil textureRangeNon-managed soils in natural land areas and areas with naturally compacted soils Sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam< 1,80 Sandy clay loam, loam, clay loam, silt, silt loam< 1,75 Silt loam, silty clay loam< 1,65 Sandy clay, silty clay, clay loam with 35-45 % clay< 1,58 Clay< 1,47 Member States may apply different texture classes or values corresponding to the levels considered problematic for plant rooting system development Optional: saturated hydraulic conductivity – Ksat (cm per day) air capacity (%) ≥ 10 cm/day Member States may adapt this value according to their local soil conditions ≥ 5 % Member States may adapt this value according to their local soil conditions Part B: soil descriptors with criteria for healthy soil condition established at Member State level Excess nutrient content in soilExtractable phosphorus (mg per kg)< maximum value Member States shall lay down their own maximum value, at a level that would not entail damage to human health and the environment Non-managed soils in natural land areas Soil erosionSoil erosion rate (tonnes per hectare per year) < maximum value Member States shall lay down their own maximum value, at a level that would not entail damage to human health and the environment Badlands and natural land areas, except if they represent a significant disaster risk Soil contaminationconcentration of heavy metals in soil: As, Sb, Cd, Co, Cr (total), Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni, Tl, V, Zn (mg per kg) concentration of a selection of organic contaminants established by Member States and taking into account existing concentration limits in Union law, e.g. for water quality and air emissions Reasonable assurance, obtained from soil point sampling, identification and investigation of potentially contaminated sites and any other relevant information, that an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment from soil contamination does not exist Natural and anthropogenic background levels shall be taken into account in the risk assessment If natural background is the only reason leading to unacceptable risks, then the relevant soil shall be deemed to meet the healthy soil criteria provided that it is managed in such a way that an unacceptable risk to human health does not exist Habitats with a naturally high concentration of heavy metals that are included in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC shall remain protected No exemption Reduction of soil water retention and infiltrationWater retention: soil water holding capacity of the soil sample (% of water per total soil (volume or mass)) Water infiltration: saturated hydraulic conductivity – Ksat (cm per day) air capacity (%) The estimated value for the total water holding capacity, the saturated hydraulic conductivity and the air capacity of a soil unit is above the minimal threshold and may also be assessed by river basin or sub-basin, taking into account water processes occurring at that scale The minimal threshold shall be set (in tonnes) by the Member State at the relevant scale, at such a value that the impacts of flooding following intense rain events or of periods of low soil moisture due to drought events are mitigated No exemption Loss of SOCSOC stocks (tC ha-1) Optional: SOC content (g per kg) Contribute to national targets for net greenhouse gas removals in the LULUCF sector as referred to in Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/841 > minimum value Member States shall lay down the minimum value by soil texture No exemption Part C: soil descriptors without criteria Aspect of soil degradationSoil descriptor Excess nutrient content in soilTotal nitrogen content in soil (mg g-1) SOC to nitrogen ratio AcidificationSoil acidity (pH) Member States may also select the optional descriptor: base saturation (i.e. (Ca + Mg + K)/effective cation exchange capacity (CEC)) Topsoil compactionBulk density in topsoil (A-horizon ) (g cm-3) Optional: saturated hydraulic conductivity (cm per day) air capacity (%) Loss of soil biodiversityDNA metabarcoding for fungi and bacteria Member States may also select at least one optional soil descriptor for biodiversity, such as: metabarcoding of archaea, protists and animals phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) abundance and diversity of nematodes abundance and diversity of earthworms abundance and diversity of springtails abundance and diversity of native ants soil biological quality based on arthropods (QBS-ar) presence of invasive alien species and plant pests soil basal respiration Soil contaminationConcentrations of PFAS-21 or concentrations of PFAS-43 or selected PFAS set by Member States in accordance with Article 7(4) Concentrations of selected active substances in pesticides and their metabolites set by Member States in accordance with Article 7(4) Optional: concentrations or presence of a selection of other emerging soil contaminants set by Member States in accordance with Article 7(4) Part D: soil sealing and soil removal indicators Aspect of soil degradationSoil sealing and soil removal indicators Soil sealing and soil removalTotal sealed soils and areas that underwent soil removal (km2 and % of Member State surface) Soil sealing and soil removal, de-sealing and net-sealing (average per year – in km2 and % of Member State surface) Total settlement area (km2 and % of Member State surface) Land use change to and from settlement area (average per year – in km2 and % of Member State surface) Member States may also measure other related optional indicators, such as: soil artificialisation land fragmentation land recycling rate land taken for commercial activities, logistic hubs, renewable energies, surfaces such as airports, roads, mines consequences of soil sealing and soil removal, such as quantification of loss of ecosystem services, change in the intensity of floods