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The Role of Citizen Science in Meeting SDG Targets around Soil Health

doi: 10.3390/su122410254
Healthy soils are vital for sustainable development, yet consistent soil monitoring is scarce, and soils are poorly represented in United Nations Sustainable Development Goals targets and indicators. There is a clear need for specific ambitions on soil health, accompanying metrics, and cost-effective monitoring methodologies. In this paper, we review citizen science methods and platforms which could compliment structured soil monitoring programmes and contribute to filling this knowledge gap. We focussed on soil structure, organic carbon, biodiversity, nutrients, and vegetation cover. Each method was classified as red, amber, or green (RAG) in terms of time requirements, cost, and data reliability. Toolkits were assessed in terms of cost and requirement for specialist kit. We found 32 methods across the five indicators. Three soil monitoring methods scored green on all criteria, and 20 (63%) scored green on two criteria. We found 13 toolkits appropriate for citizen science monitoring of soil health. Three of them are free, easy to use, and do not require specialist equipment. Our review revealed multiple citizen science methods and toolkits for each of the five soil health indicators. This should pave the way towards a cost-effective, joined-up approach on soil health, informing national and international policy and supporting the move towards farmer-led, data-driven decision-making.
- Natural Environment Research Council United Kingdom
- Earthwatch Institute United Kingdom
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology United Kingdom
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology United Kingdom
- University of Oxford United Kingdom
soil health, Environmental effects of industries and plants, TJ807-830, sustainable development goals, TD194-195, participatory monitoring, Renewable energy sources, Environmental sciences, Agriculture and Soil Science, 306, soil monitoring, citizen science, GE1-350
soil health, Environmental effects of industries and plants, TJ807-830, sustainable development goals, TD194-195, participatory monitoring, Renewable energy sources, Environmental sciences, Agriculture and Soil Science, 306, soil monitoring, citizen science, GE1-350
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).25 popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10% influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).Top 10% impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10%
