Soil mapping and processes modeling for sustainable land management

Soil maps and models are indispensable tools in sustainable land management. The sustainable land use of our territory is fundamental to providing long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits. The risk of land degradation and corresponding declines in ecosystem services depends on the type of land use. Soil restoration can be extremely expensive, more than the implementation of sustainable land use practices. This is especially important in the context of climate change and the increasing pressure that a growing population places on soil resources, which is a global phenomenon. The objective of this chapter is to show the advantages of using soil mapping and modeling in sustainable land use planning and management. Soil mapping is fundamental to understand the distribution of soil properties, allowing us to implement sustainable practices in vulnerable areas and prevent land degradation. Soil indicators and models provide indispensable information for an accurate evaluation of land degradation status. Alone, or integrated with other disciplines, soil information is extremely important for understanding the causes of land degradation and implementation of sustainable land management. Accurate information and models are key tools for managers and decision makers to implement sustainable land use management policies.