Experiences with the German Soil Protection Act to Realise Best Management Practice-the Precaution Basis Against Soil Erosion

摘要

In Germany, two important activities currently address soil conservation issues and the sustainable use of soils. One is a proposal for a "Convention on Sustainable Use of Soils (Soil Convention)" being entitled: "Preserving Soils for Life", which is the result of the Tutzing Project on ,,Time Ecology". The other activity is the ,,Act on Protection against Harmful Changes to Soil and on Rehabilitation of Contaminated Sites" (Federal Soil Protection Act), which went into force in March 1st, 1999. The Soil Protection Act has two tasks: precaution and hazard prevention. The precaution against soil erosion and soil compaction will be realised through the principle of 'Best Agricultural Practice'. To define the term of 'Best Agricultural Practice' for site-specific conditions, a group of experts was constituted that developed the so-called "Bund-Laender-Papier on Best Management Practice for Precautions against Soil Compaction and Soil Erosion". The expert's group involved scientists, members of agricultural and environmental bodies, farmers, extension services and others. The elaborated material contents different state examples and should be the basis for decision making on soil conservation issues according to the regionally specific conditions.