Foreword

1. Basis of the study

Context and handling of the study commissioning

Expert group involved

Literature analysed

Reading guide and terminology used in this condensed report

2. Implementation frameworks for soil quality assessment

Actors and mechanisms involved in soil quality assessment

Diversity of perceptions of soils and their qualities

Co-production of information on soil quality

3. Governance frameworks and soil quality

Private property and public intervention

Measures and economic values of soil quality

Criteria used in the field of law

Regulating soil de-artificialisation and ecological restoration

Territoriality of public intervention on soil quality

4. The dimensions of soil quality and health

and the choice of functions

Historical developments in terminology and concepts

A not-yet-stabilised distinction between soil quality and soil health

From soil quality to its ecological functions

Approaches to assess soil multifunctionality

Limitations of a function-based approach

5. Assessment process

Purpose of the assessment

Choice of the indicandum and of the relevant indicators

Measuring parameter and indicator values

Reference framework and interpretation framework

Scoring or normalising indicators

Multi-criteria aggregation forming a soil quality index

Monitoring soil quality over time and space

6. Generic list of soil function indicators and assessment trial in a given area

Main categories of indicators

Selected generic indicators

Operationality of indicators

Assessing soil quality in France

7. Lessons learned and avenues for research

Summary of key lessons

Areas for research

Appendices

Bibliographic sources cited

Acronyms and abbreviations

Working group