The indicators and monitoring cluster was established to support Mission Soil projects in navigating the evolving policy and technical landscape of soil health assessment. Notably, defining and monitoring soil health indicators involves unique challenges. They vary across scales (local, national, EU-wide), differ by land-use context (agricultural, forest, urban soils), and need to be adapted to different pedoclimatic conditions and management objectives. Moreover, indicators must balance simplicity and robustness to be both useful and scientifically sound. In this context, the cluster provides a platform for both projects developing new indicators and monitoring frameworks and those using or planning to use indicators, helping them exchange knowledge, share methodologies, and explore synergies. The cluster is thus useful for both project typologies. A key driver for this collaboration is the forthcoming Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, which will set a harmonised framework for soil health monitoring across the EU. The cluster offers an opportunity for projects to align their efforts and contribute collectively to its future implementation and revision.

The factsheet is available in EN, DE, FR.