This report presents the result of WP2 of the RECARE project. One of the objectives of WP2 (Base for RECARE data collection and methods) is to provide an improved overview of existing information on soil threats and degradation at the European scale. The report is written by a group of experts from the RECARE team, coordinated by Bioforsk. In total, 60 persons were included in the process of writing, reviewing and editing the report. Eleven soil threats were identified for the report.

These soil threats are soil erosion by water, soil erosion by wind, decline of organic matter (OM) in peat, decline of OM in minerals soils, soil compaction, soil sealing, soil contamination, soil salinization, desertification, flooding and landslides and decline in soil biodiversity. In the review process, the WP2 team organised a workshop on soil threats and ecosystem services to improve our understanding and knowledge on the concepts and applications of ES and soil functions. Most of the authors/co-authors of the respective soil threats have attended the workshop.

This report provides comprehensive, thematic information on the major soil threats of Europe with due
attention given to the Driving force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response to soil threats. The report is organized
into 14 chapters and extended annexes. Each chapter on a specific soil threat consists of seven sections
annexed with references, and gives short descriptions on the following:
 definition of the soil threat and processes involved
 state of the soil degradation,
 drivers/pressures (including climate, human activities, policies),
 key indicators of the soil threat,
 methods to assess the soil threat,
 effects of the soil threat on other soil threats,
 effects of the soil threat on soil functions.