Attention to forest soil health

One of our core missions is to produce high-quality scientific knowledge to support decision-making. In the drafting of the new EU Soil Directive, Luke has actively highlighted the specific features of boreal forest soils—an aspect that was notably lacking in the original draft.

Our researchers proposed, for example, that the interval for soil sampling should be adjusted according to soil type and land use. Furthermore, soil health and biodiversity monitoring should be coordinated flexibly with local networks, such as Finland’s VALSE program and eDNA methods.

We also called for a continuous science–policy dialogue to ensure soil management policies deliver tangible environmental benefits, such as carbon retention and reduced water pollution.

Our holistic approach emphasizes the importance of local characteristics and promotes soil health in a way that enhances ecological sustainability and ecosystem services—always grounded in scientific research.