The proposed analytical framework applies systems thinking to the land topic. It uses the interdisciplinary concept of land systems and aims for an integrated assessment strategy for monitoring the state of land and its resources.

Key challenges are related to constraints in data availability and scientifically sound methodological approaches to measuring the sensitivity level of trade-offs between environmental supply and socio economic demands (i.e. biophysical and human subsystems of a land system).

The outcomes of an operative land systems assessment approach should identify regional differences (territorial aspect), track changes over time (dynamic component) and provide information on the changing qualitative properties of land resources that are altered by important land processes (functional component). The properties of land systems are addressed by linking them to the land functions that are largely determined by soil functions and the inherent provision of ecosystem services.

EU policies that govern land management and secure protection of nature and ecosystems need integrative concepts and underpinning methodologies to track progress towards the sustainable use of land and soil resources. The proposed analytical approach builds on a currently existing knowledge base and aims at overcoming the fragmentation of available assessment methodologies. The proposed approach could also support more balanced spatial planning and territorial coherence in the context of governing urban, peri-urban and rural areas.