The document provides information on developing national soil organic carbon (SOC) maps according to Global Soil Partnership specifications. It outlines the methodological considerations for a country-driven approach, including compiling national SOC measurements, developing SOC soil grids using digital soil mapping, and delivering 1km version 0 SOC maps. Detailed specifications are provided for sharing national SOC data and auxiliary information. The document also discusses capacity planning and sharing examples from other national SOC inventories to support the creation of a cookbook for developing SOC maps.

1. GSOC17
Introduction
Product specifications
Existing SOC maps
Methodologies

2. Background
Scharlemann et al 2014
“Climate change models are currently using soil carbon
estimates that vary by an order of magnitude. We’re creating
scenarios of climate change, and basing decisions on these
scenarios, even though the input data are actually really
uncertain.”
“Decisions on soil carbon
management require an improved
understanding of the global
variation in carbon stocks, as well
as their importance relative to
carbon stored in vegetation.”
Rosser et al 2012

3. Background
 Precise and reliable global view on soil organic carbon (SOC) is
needed under different UN conventions and related processes
(SDG, 4per1000)
 Soil carbon is key indicator related to water and nutrient
dynamics of soils, its decomposer activity, and the physical soil
structure/stability.
 A combination of reliable national SOC estimates around the
globe can provide a new baseline on the currently existing SOC
density.
 Task initiated by UNCCD-SDI and GSP-ITPS

4. National coordination
 Reporting under SDG 15.3.1, subindicator soil carbon, linking
soils with national agro-environmental statistics
 Support to UNCCD LDN target setting programme, soil carbon is
progress indicator
 Reporting under UNFCCC GHG programme (LULUCF soil C pool
and pool changes): allow for Tier 2/reference C stocks
 Soil carbon as indicator for soil health and land resilience in
national mitigation and adaptation programmes
International coordination
 UNFCCC/IPCC – UNCCD/SPI –GSP/ITPS workshop
 Pillar 4 capacity/Status of the world soil resources

5. Methodical considerations
 Country-driven approach
 Generate SOC soil grids (version 0 acc to P4IP): use existing soil
profile data and soil (polygon) maps, combined with digital soil
mapping
 Build on UNFCCC/IPCC GHG definitions and reporting methods
(see GSP-Guideline, 0-30 cm; (if possible subdivide depth
classes; GlobalSoilMap Specs: 0-5 cm, 5-15 cm, 15-30 cm, 30-60
cm, 60-100 cm and 100-200 cm)
 Build on existing national capacities and extend these
 Develop first indicator for the Global Soil Information System
(GSIS) - GSP demonstration project

6. Soil Polygon map
Soil profiles
SoilSTAT
Soil grids
Pillar 4 Indicator: soil C stock 0-30 cm (soil organic
carbon, mineral soils, peat, O-layer)
Representative set of samples from soil
profiles with soil C analysis, BD and stones
estimated or measured
Soil maps as basic data for upscaling
DSM Class-/Geomatching
Rasterization
+ land cover,
climate, etc.
1k version 0 soil grids

7. National SOC map exists
YesNo
GSP specifications are fulfilled
Yes No
recalculate
Product accomplished:
deliver to GSP secretariat
Produce new map
with own capacity
Compile national SOC
measurements
Yes No
Share national SOC data with
GSP secretariat to organise
the uscaling to 1 km grid
Yes
1
2
3
Country-driven approach

8. Detailed Specifcations
Specification 1: Share auxiliary information about the national
data sources, e.g. type of sampling (soil profile
or auger), density of sampling points in the
country, sampling design (distribution and
sampling depth/s), time of sampling (year),
selection criteria (if subset of soil profiles is
selected from a larger national database).
Metadata

9. Detailed Specifcations
Specification 1: Share auxiliary information about the national
data sources, e.g. type of sampling, density of sampling points,
sampling design, time of sampling, selection criteria.
Metadata
Specification 2: Share metadata about SOC analysis method/s,
type of analysis; type of apparatus; temperatures used; in case of
wet oxidation: method and variations; sample treatment, sample
preparation; for calcareous soils: report whether and how
inorganic carbon was analysed.

10. Detailed Specifcations
Specification 3: Share metadata about SOC stocks calculation
Metadata
SOC = d * BD * (Ctot – Cmin) * CFst)Mineral soils
SOCforest floor = weightOR * (Ctot – Cmin)
Forest floor
(O-layer)
Peat extent (area) of peat (and peat types), the
depth of peat, %C and bulk density
Derive data from soil horizons for d = 0-30 cm

11. Specification 4: Share details about the upscaling approach
1. Upscaling method (description, citation)
2. Input data/covariates, grid, soil maps, etc.
Specification 5: Temporal dimension: share the sampling date.
If the national data situation allows, pre-1990 or post-1990 sub
data sets might be defined. Quality/capacity: The more data
points are used, the better the reliability and accuracy of the SOC
map
Detailed Specifcations

12. Specification 4: Share details about the upscaling approach
1. Upscaling method (description, citation)
2. Input data/covariates, grid, soil maps, etc.
Specification 5: Temporal dimension: share the sampling date.
If the national data situation allows, pre-1990 or post-1990 sub
data sets might be defined. Quality/capacity: The more data
points are used, the better the reliability and accuracy of the SOC
map
Detailed Specifcations

13. Data sharing procedure
 Data shared by countries will be collected by the
GSP Secretariat.
 The GSP data policy will ensure that the national
terms of condition are fully respected.
 Data can be shared using common GIS formats and
metadata should be compiled in an excel file
(template will be provided through the cookbook).

14. 41 c
Examples to learn from
8. Literature
8.1 General Literature on SOC inventories and spatial modelling (19)
8.2 Specialized methodical literature
8.2.1 Bulk density (22)
8.2.2 Digital Elevation Models (6)
8.2.3 Inorganic carbon (1)
8.2.4 Digital Soil Mapping (21)
8.2.5 Vertical SOC, Depth profiles (8)
8.2.6 Rock content (1)
8.2.7 Soil carbon analysis (3)
8.2.8 Soil carbon monitoring (5)
8.2.9 Remote sensing, spectroscopy (5)
8.2.10 Uncertainties (4)
8.3 National SOC inventories
8.3.1 North America (2C, 4)
8.3.2 Near East and Sub-saharan Africa (9C, 12)
8.3.3 Asia (6C, 9)
8.3.4 Central/South America (2C, 2)
8.3.5 Pacific (2C, 5)
8.3.6 Eurasia (1C, 3)
8.3.7 Europe (19C, 45 / 1Europe, 4)
8.4 Regional SOC inventories (17C 20)
41 countries
Cookbook
literature overview

15. Examples to learn from
41 countries
Capacity planning
Cookbook
previous and
future workshops
tools

16. Capacity planning
Planning of national capacity (personnel, time)
Planning of additional needs (equipment, training)

17. Capacity planning
 reflect about the guideline and how to implement
Each workshop participant, to reflect and share…
 choose national approach
 contact relevant national institutions
 contact national focal point, also RSP colleagues
(P4) not attending this workshop
 develop a work plan (who, what, when);
coordinate with national focal point
Basis for RSP/GSP secretariats to plan actions.

18. share information about national
projects/literature on SOC stock assessments
Cookbook
In order to support the writing of the cookbook,
GSP secretariat shares preliminary literature overview!
Develop e-learning tool.

19. digitize, C, BD, stones, coordinates, 0-30 cm
First technical steps
Prepare soil profile data:
Prepare covariates: soil, geology, climate, land cover,
land form