Mission: Advance the understanding of soil processes and interactions within agricultural, forestry, and broader environmental systems. Develop innovative solutions and management practices that promote soil health, sustainable resource use, ecosystem resilience, and risk reduction.

Aims:

1. Investigate soil functions across scales to support agriculture, forestry, and environmental quality, including the role of soil biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration.

2. Assess the impacts of human activities (land-use change, pollution, resource extraction) on soil health, ecosystem services, and long-term sustainability.

3. Develop and evaluate innovative practices and tools for pollution control, soil health enhancement, climate change adaptation, and mitigation.

4. Analyze the socioeconomic dimensions of environmental change to support equitable and sustainable transitions.

5. Promote transdisciplinary knowledge exchange and collaboration with stakeholders for addressing complex soil-related challenges and optimizing ecosystem services.

The research within the Soil Functions, Agriculture, and Forestry research group (RG2) aligns with the urgent need to improve soil health, sustainable resource use, and ecosystem resilience, as highlighted in EU initiatives such as the Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, Biodiversity Strategy, EEA initiatives, and the Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience, along with the UN SDGs (responsible consumption, climate action, and life on land), and the Portuguese initiatives on sustainable agriculture, forestry, and soil conservation.

RG2 directly supports:

TL2 -Environmental Management, Pollution, and Modeling: RG2 research improves pollution monitoring and management, and environmental modelling.

TL3 – Socio-Ecological Systems and Resources: RG2 work enhances understanding of the nexus between land use and socio-economic drivers, employing a transdisciplinary approach, informing decision-making and supporting long-term sustainability.