INSII Second Workshop: Release of the report
Since its inception in 2015, the International Network of Soil Information Institutions (INSII) has been working towards establishing a Global Soil Information System (GLOSIS) to strengthen soil data and information (Pillar 4 of the GSP) availability and sharing at the global level.
On 24-25 November the INSII held its second session to elaborate on the implementation of Pillar 4. After a very intensive 2-day session, progress was made towards the setting-up of the Global Soil Information System (GLOSIS) and its data products including SoilSTAT, and the compilation of the Global Soil Organic Carbon map to be released by the end of 2017. The workshop report is now available.
The workshop addressed key elements concerning the establishment of the INSII network, the election of the new INSII Chair, the selection of the Global Soil Partnership Soil Data Facility, the GSP data policy and a so-called arrangement which will officially request INSII institutions to implement Pillars 4 and 5 through national action. All the decisions on GLOSIS, as well as on the Global Soil Partnership Soil Data Facility will be submitted for their final endorsement to the 5th GSP Plenary Assembly from 20 to 22 June 2017.
INSII members confirmed Mr. Luca Montanarella, chair of the GSP Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, as the pro-tempore Chair of INSII until a new chair will be announced during the 5th Plenary Assembly. The open call for applications for the Soil Data Facility was reviewed and finalized and will soon be available online. INSII members committed to play an active role during the execution of activities of the Pillar 4 implementation plan, including the development of a global soil organic carbon map (GSOCMap).