Overview: “Global Soil Mapping in a Changing World”.

Globally ecosystems have been undergoing profound and accelerated change that imposes threats to the functioning and sustainability of agricultural production and natural systems. To assess the distribution, patterns and evolution of soil properties at a global scale under imposed pressures of land use/biome, management and global climate change poses new challenges. Digital soil maps, models, and approaches allow synthesizing our knowledge in support of global soil mapping in a changing world. Concerted efforts are needed to link agronomic and pedogenic perspectives to assess soils at a global scale. 

A brief overview of contemporary approaches to digital soil mapping at continental and global scale is provided, challenges and constraints will be outlined, and a vision provided outlining next steps to achieve a coherent and consistent global digital soil map.