A New Digital Georeferenced Database of Soil Degradation in Russia

Information on human-induced soil degradation in Russia has now been compiled in a new digital georeferenced database. It comprises the latest data on the status of soil degradation in Russia, including soil deterioration in non-agricultural regions. The information has been linked to a digital soil database, which has been recently prepared for the FAO by the Dokuchaev Soil Institute. Soil degradation attributes were derived from unpublished maps compiled by the State Committee on Land Resources and Land-Use Planning of Russia. The analysis shows that more than 14.5% (243 million hectares) of the Russian territory is affected by soil degradation caused by a variety of reasons, including socioeconomic changes, and improper management and technology. The assessment reveals that the rate of soil degradation and loss of soil productivity in Russia has been fairly rapid.