Commission 4.3. Soils and land use change

Officers

Mission

The mission of Commission 4.3 is to synthesize and promote research and education, and facilitate the transfer information on the impacts of changing land use on soil resources, the cascading effects on soil, water and air quality and the implications of these effects for society on agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Objectives

	To better understand the effect of changing land use on soils, in terms of their physical, chemical, and biological properties.
	To explore the role of land use change on the sustainability of the expected productivity of soils
	To explore the role of land use change on soil properties and processes, as they affect the ability of soils to sustain productivity and produce services, in terms of water quality and watershed function, nutrient cycling, C storage and sequestration, for example.
	To educate those influencing land use change as to the short and long-term impacts of such changes on agricultural productivity, soil properties, ecosystem function and human enterprises.
	To transfer technology and research to policy makers and the public on the types of land use changes that protect future soil function, and related environmental quality indicators.