ISLANDR: Information-based Strategies for LAND Remediation

The ISLANDR research activities are designed to provide tools and methods so as to support:

• The delineation of polluted soils across Europe,
• An evidence-based assessment of the risks posed by polluted soils,
• The promotion of sustainable and risk-based land management practices,
• The inclusion of a wider valuation approach in financial and investment cases,
• A closer integration of land contamination and spatial planning decision-making.

Lessons learnt and experience gained throughout the project duration will be used to deliver key policy-relevant findings related to the Soil Strategy, the proposed Soil Monitoring Law, and other areas of policy where soils are crucial. 

In order to road-test the project’s findings, seven test areas across Europe have been identified. To begin with, the ISLANDR Test Areas (ITAs) will provide a real-world context for the planned research activities. The ITAs have been selected to cover different land use types, such as urban, peri-urban, rural, agro-forestry, mining, wetlands and coastal areas.

The ITAs are characterized by both point and diffuse sources of pollution, as well as by different soil pollution types, such as organic, inorganic, as well as contaminants of emerging concern. 

Furthermore, ISLANDR brings a dedicated focus to low input remediation, by including test areas impacted by the consequences of the green transition, such as former mining areas. This will ensure that soil remediation will be facilitated even when the cost of remediation is economically marginal or may even be negative.

On the one hand, this necessitates a more thorough understanding of low input remediation approaches from a technological perspective, yet it also requires a wider value proposition for investment cases and financial planning. 

Aims

The project aims to promote the delivery of Green Deal objectives, in particular achieving Zero Pollution by reducing soil pollution and enhancing restoration. ISLANDR will provide a series of tools and methods to support:

1. the delineation of soil pollution sources, 
2. the assessment of risks, 
3. the implementation of sustainable and risk-based land management (SRBLM), 
4. the inclusion of wider valuation approach in financial and investment cases, 
5. closer integration of land contamination and spatial planning decision-making and 
6. key policy relevant findings related to the Soil Strategy, proposed soil health law and other areas of policy where soil is a crucial consideration. 

ISLANDR takes a carefully targeted approach in view of the large existing knowledge base, and has designed its outcomes be easily assimilated by multiple target groups (incl: policy interests, planners and regulators, site managers and their service providers).

Care is taken to ensure support for capacity building and also to service the needs of long term repositories (e.g EUSO). Innovations include using CBA to provide robust valuation for parallel benefits to improve business cases; a technical basis for soil functionality as a “soil health” receptor, and operating window analyses of NBS and other low input remediation.

ISLANDR makes use of 7 test areas across Europe to provide real world research context and road-test findings, including areas impacted by green transition consequences. Roundtables in these areas provide active local stakeholder dialogue and a basis for rapid implementation and new project roll-out.

A key focus of ISLANDR is to facilitate soil remediation in situations where the case is economically marginal or negative, by providing a more thorough understanding of low input approaches and a wider value proposition for investment cases and financial planning.