Recital (37)

Soil is a limited resource subject to ever-growing competition for different uses. Land take is a process which causes a modification of land use and of the characteristics of the soil. It can be seen as an overarching concept that can be subdivided into multiple aspects. The first aspect of land take is a change from natural and semi-natural land uses towards settlement areas. The second aspect of land take is soil artificialisation caused by the durable alteration of the soil components and soil characteristics, resulting in a loss of the capacity of soils to provide ecosystem services. Soil artificialisation can be further divided into three main processes, namely soil sealing, soil removal and other types of soil artificialisation. Soil sealing equates to a covering of the soils with artificial materials, which are completely or partially impermeable. Buildings are an example of impermeable soil sealing. Train tracks built with permeable materials are a type of partially impermeable soil sealing. Roads, waste disposal grounds and dumping grounds could be considered as other examples of soil sealing. Soil removal is a temporary or long-term removal of the surface layer of the soil and sometimes of the subsoil in an area. It occurs, for example during construction works, open-pit mining or quarrying. There are other, less visible, types of soil artificialisation such as the intentional stabilisation and compaction of soil, the modification of layers of soil or subsoil with the inclusion of artificial materials or the partial covering of soil with composite materials. The most visible and impactful subtypes of soil artificialisation, namely soil sealing and soil removal, are the easiest to monitor, especially through remote sensing and machine learning. Therefore, soil sealing and soil removal should be monitored together with their effects on soil’s capacity to provide ecosystem services.