CH-4.4 :: Harmonisation

Relevance of the issue and justification of the need for research:
Understanding how ecosystems function requires close cooperation between researchers from different disciplines. However, there is currently a lack of basis documents that make the connection between soil, sediment and water. As well missing in the field of ecosystems are uniform data acquisition and sampling methods, binding standards for biological tests and a standardised terminology. In the field of soils, better links between existing soil data records as well as uniform soil description standards would improve the information base a lot. NABODAT is a soil information system with the aim to link the already existing soil data in Switzerland.
Specific research topics and knowledge gaps:
Natural capital
• Missing basis documents on the Soil-Sediment-Water-System: There is a lack of basis documents interlinking soil, sediment and water.
• Missing harmonisation in the field of ecosystems: Standardise the vocabulary used by different scientific disciplines and also by the administrative authorities. Standardise the sampling methods between cantons and between states for collecting ecosystem data. Standardise the methods for assessing and analysing ecosystem data. Develop binding standards for biological tests to identify stress factors in ecosystems.
• Missing harmonisation in the field of soils: Develop binding soil description standards. Bring existing soil data records together. Coordinate the soil strategies between different states.
Land management
• Missing harmonisation in the field of soils: Develop binding soil description standards. Bring existing soil data records together. Coordinate the soil strategies between different states.
Stakeholders:
• University/research institute, workshop participants