Soil sealing means covering soil with an impermeable surface such as asphalt or concrete to make way for roads, houses, schools, offices and parking zones – symbols of urban growth. As Europe’s population increases, the continent grows ever closer to running out of the space needed to maintain its people.
Soil embraces a number of essential functions for life including for agriculture and the provision of locally-produced food; for regulating water flows to prevent floods and the overloading of sewage systems; for storing large quantities of carbon, thereby helping to fight climate change; as an important reserve of biodiversity and for the provision of green, recreational spaces. A combination of factors – including ill-conceived urban planning strategies, excessive land consumption and inefficiently-used land where infrastructures, such as warehouses, stand empty in villages and towns – has led to an urgent need for concrete measures and the promotion of an integrated approach at EU and national level.
More info: Mostra
Produced by: Mostra
Year: 2012
Language: English
Region: Europe
