Urban and Peri-urban

Urban and peri-urban face a wide range of soil-related challenges in a limited area, for example climate change adaptation, local climate regulation, flood mitigation, ecological connectivity and reducing urban sprawl (net land take reduction). In (peri-) urban areas, urban soils are often perceived as degraded - waste material and not a resource. (Peri-) urban soils are thus frequently replaced by excavated natural fertile topsoil materials from surrounding rural areas. Urban areas often experience 1) high rates of soil sealing, compaction or contamination; 2) severe variation in soil type; and 3) low awareness of the soil quality. There is a need for spatial planning instruments that better integrate the functions of soils and NbS to meet these challenges and reinforce knowledge about urban soils.