To raise the awareness of the general public, policymakers and other scientists of the importance of soil in africa ecjrc soil atlas series. The soil map of africa is provided as part of the soil atlas of africa, which is an excellent resource describing the changing nature of soil across the continent as well as essential background on soils globally and in africa. The scanned maps were stored at 150200 dpi in jpeg compressed format. During the first phase, the isric africa collection of more than 2000 maps was completed by the end of june 2005.
Spotlight on africas life source first soil atlas of africa. Addis ababanairobi, 25 november 2010 the major challenges facing africas water resources have been laid out in striking clarity in a new atlas compiled by the united nations environment programme unep. The soil atlas of africa is more than just a normal atlas. The joint research centre of the european commission has published a soil atlas of europe and africa. A pdf of the atlas is available to download from the soil action web site from monday, april 29th. Afsis is producing digital soil maps using legacy data e. This soil atlas shows what can succeed and why the soil should concern us all.
The atlas aims to raise awareness of the need for improved protection and sustainable management of soil resources in africa. Labs, kawanda 0 6816 9077 6000 7000 8000 9000 c soil over 12,000samples 7000 2944 3000 4000 5000 water plant soil c plant. Geochemical atlases association of applied geochemists. Rather, this volume presents an interpretation of an often neglected natural resource that surrounds and affects us all. It builds on the considerable knowledge on soils in africa that has been amassed through the substantial endeavours of. Soil atlas of africa and its associated soil map data esdac. The soils laboratory and office block at the national agric. Soils of africa are less fertile compared to those in the rest of the world, according to a paper presented by columbia university during the african fertilizer summit. In the first instance, a shape file is available describing the dominant wrb reference soil group and associated qualifiers 29420. Soil maps of africa the maps from the isric africa collection, more than 2000, were scanned using a contex wide format colour scanner fsc 6040 chroma.
The data underpinning the soil atlas of africa will gradually be made available for download. The classification system contains two main levels, soil form and soil family. Similar approach as for the soil atlas of europe 2006 and the northern circumpolar soil atlas 2009 and soil biodiversity atlas 2010. Labs, kawanda 0 6816 9077 6000 7000 8000 9000 c soil over 12,000samples 7000. A team of international experts has drawn up the soil atlas of africa the first such book mapping this key natural resource to help farmers, land managers and policymakers understand the. Mapping soil properties of africa at 250 m resolution. This innovative soil atlas of africa is intended to be a step towards raising public awareness on the importance and the key role of soil in africa. The digital atlas of australian soils is available as a shapefile. Soil atlas of africa eu science hub european commission. Pdf contributions to the soil atlas of africa au, fao.
The soil atlas is available in a printed version and available for download pdf. A source of educational material to schools and universities. The soil atlas of africa explains the origin and functions of soil, describes the different soil types that can be found in africa and their relevance to both local and global issues. May 07, 2018 the soil atlas of africa was a collaboration between the european union, the african union and the food and agriculture organization of the united nations to support and encourage the sustainable use of soil resources in africa. Addis ababanairobi, 25 november 2010 the major challenges facing africa s water resources have been laid out in striking clarity in a new atlas compiled by the united nations environment programme unep. The global significance of soils demands global responses. The atlas also discusses the principal threats to soil and the steps being taken to protect soil resources. Raising awareness of the value of soil across africa.
These maps are being developed using approaches and standards that are fully compliant with the global digital soil map initiative. Chemical properties of the soils are discussed in chapters 5 and 6. Pdf soil maps of europe, published by the eu and the european soil bureau network. May 23, 20 a team of international experts has drawn up the soil atlas of africa the first such book mapping this key natural resource to help farmers, land managers and policymakers understand the. The soil atlas of africa intends to produce derived maps at continental scale with descriptive text e. In 1991, a digital version of the atlas was created by the bureau of rural science from scanned tracings of the published hardcopy maps. Soil datasets an soil atlas of europe and africa digital. The soil atlas and associated soil map is available to download from the european soil data centre. Soil atlas of africa publications office of the eu. Soil quality and soil productivity in africa nrcs soils. An introduction to the first ever soil atlas of africa. Soil in africa is generally undervalued especially by.
To support eu policies and instruments for development and. Soil erosion and deforestation are the main forms of land degradation responsible for the decline in land productivity in turn reducing income of farm households in ethiopia. The atlas compiles existing information on different soil types in easily understandable maps that cover the entire african continent. Harmonisation of the soil map of africa at the continental scale. Towards a harmonisation of the soil map of africa at the. Facts and figures on a fossil fuel our coal atlas contains the latest facts and figures on the use of coal and its environmental and social consequences. Pdf a pdf of the atlas is available to download from the following address.
With more than 60 detailed graphics, the atlas illustrates the coal industrys impact on nature, health, labour, human rights and politics. This is because the terrain of africa is very old and has experienced no volcanic rejuvenation. Geochemical atlases are maps or databases providing regional coverage for a given media type soil, sediment, groundwater, rocks, etc at a large scale. Africa has long needed to significantly and sustainably intensify its smallholder agriculture. Apr 26, 20 european commission press release details page european commission press release brussels, 26 april 20 the european commission has today presented the first soil atlas of africa, highlighting a vital natural resource which provides food, fodder, fuel wood, reduces flood risk and protects water supplies.
European commission press release details page european commission press release brussels, 26 april 20 the european commission has today presented the first soil atlas of africa, highlighting a vital natural resource which provides food, fodder, fuel wood, reduces flood risk and protects water supplies. But achieving largescale, sustainable increases in productivity is a complex process. They often cover a whole country or a larger region. Other factors like weathering, erosion and leaching. While it is intended primarily for the general public.
More than four decades of research and development work in africa have not resulted in the 35 % annual increase in agricultural growth badiane and delgado, 1995 that is necessary for most african countries to ensure sustainability of agriculture and the promise of food security in the next decade. Average soil temperature on march 1 in greensboro, nc 27409 todays average 312020 5year average 2016 2020 10year average 2011 2020 get automated soil temperature alerts for key pests delivered by email. G eological atlas of africa project, i have been fortunate to have had support from many individuals and institutions in several african, european and north american countries. Soil atlas of africa european soil data centre europa eu. Digital soil mapping africa soil information service. It presents a new and comprehensive interpretation of an often neglected natural resource. Synopsis of atlas of african agriculture research and development.
It also discusses the principal threats to soil and the steps being taken to protect soil resources. To raise the awareness of the general public, policymakers and other scientists of the importance. A new soil map of africa at the continental scale department of. In this year, the united nations wants to further the goal of soil protection. The soil atlas of africa is an essential reference to a nonrenewable resource that is fundamental for life on this planet. Africas soil diversity mapped for the first time global. The atlas explains the origin and functions of soil, describes the different soil types and their relevance to both local and global issues.
The resulting map shows the predicted distribution of world reference base soil taxa within soil mapping units. It uses maps, informative text, and photos to answer questions and provide context on the diverse soil landscape in. African soil diversity mapped for the first time scidev. The africa water atlas uses hundreds of before and after images, detailed new maps and other satellite data from 53 countries to show. This atlas is a great achievement, but, soil scientists working i n africa, still have more to do for the development of this. The soils of south africa have been classified using a hierarchical system soil classification working group 1991, and include a large number of soil bodies which range from soil bodies black, smectitic clay on dolerite to yellow, kaolinitic clay on beaufort sediments. You are invited to download all the 3 parts as the total size of the atlas is more than 500 mb. The africa soil information service afsis is developing continentwide digital soil maps for subsaharan africa using new types of soil analysis and statistical methods, and conducting agronomic field trials in selected sentinel sites.
Most of the keying attributes are physical soil characteristics, and can be determined in the field. Aims of the atlas soil in africa is generally undervalued especially by policy makers. The soil atlas of africa supports and encourages the sustainable use of soil resources in africa and the global soil partnership for food security. Soil atlas of africa and its associated soil map data.
Soil quality and soil productivity in africa introduction. The soil atlas of africa is the result of a collaborative initiative of the european union, the african union and the food and agriculture organization of the united nations to support and encourage the sustainable use of soil resources in africa and the global soil partnership for food security. Due to the limited relevance of past and current global climate change agreements to africas climate and environmental problems, the hardest hit. Soil atlas of africa aims of the atlas goals to raise the awareness of the general public, policymakers, land users and scientists of other disciplines of the importance of soil in africa. Atlas of our changing environment provides compelling evidence of the extent and severity of such dramatic change over the past 30 years on the regions environment due to both natural processes and human activities. A team of international experts has drawn up the soil atlas of africa the first such book mapping this key natural resource to help farmers, land managers and policymakers understand the diversity and importance of soil and the need to manage it through sustainable use. The soil atlas of africa was a collaboration between the european union, the african union and the food and agriculture organization of the united nations to support and encourage the sustainable use of soil resources in africa.