Application maps - Ecosystem services provided by the soils of the Emilia-Romagna plain

Ecosystem Services are the processes by which natural ecosystems support and meet human needs. Soil, while not itself an ecosystem, has been recognised as a matrix providing ecosystem services (Dominati at al, 2010). They are divided into 4 macrocategories: Support, Regulation, Procurement, Cultural (MEA, 2005, de Groot et al., 2002). The soil is able to perform very important functions, such as regulating the microclimate, sequestering carbon, creating a water tank, supplying raw materials, food and fibers, habitats for microorganisms. As part of the SOS4LIFE project, six maps relating to BIO, BUF, WAR, WAS, CST and PRO ecosystem services were produced for the plain part of the Emilia-Romagna region, plus a map showing an overall quality index. A methodology specifically developed for this area was used (Calzolari et al, 2016).