Connect locally with a Network of Passionate Individuals.
This event is free for all ALGA Members
Soil is more than just a medium for keeping us upright; it is a complex, location-specific ecosystem. It is the product of topography, climate, parent material, bioactivity and, above all, time. Rightly so, there is a significant interest on the chemical constituency of soil – particularly where human activity has adversely impacted its natural state and could pose a threat to human health. When we think about remediation, however, are we properly considering all values of soil: its physical structure, biogeographic and ecological significance, climate modifying properties, including carbon storage.
In 2022, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law to protect and restore the soil and ensure that it is used sustainably. This directive is currently in the final approval process. Over this year, the COMMON FORUM and ALGA will explore the state of knowledge on soil health, and how recent developments may affect the assessment and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater.
Do our current standards and practices adequately consider the values of soil beyond its chemical constituency? Are we missing key considerations in our assessment approach? Are we deploying remedial techniques that cause more harm than good, particularly in marginally contaminated sites?
This first seminar in the series will consider the importance of soil health in the context of contaminated land activity. Titled “Integrating Soil Health in Remediation”, it will explore the aspects of soil health that need to be considered by the contaminated land community – both policy makers and practitioners – in designing interventions aimed at tackling contamination.
Keep an eye out for the second and third webinars which will 1) address the balance between chemical hazards and other soil benefits in decision-making; and 2) how we use soil values to guide soil reuse in urban environments.
This webinar is is specifically targeted at Regulators working in the field of contaminated land and groundwater
Dru assisted in the policy development and drafting of Victoria’s new Environment Protection Act and its supporting regulations. During implementation he was a key author on policy and guidance developed to support the contaminated land and groundwater duties and continues to provide advice on key contaminated land initiatives. He has represented EPA Victoria on a number of cross-jurisdictional committees and regulatory presents at contaminated land conferences in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand on regulatory frameworks. Prior to joining EPA he practiced as a safety and environment lawyer and as a consultant, specialising in asbestos compliance. He is Senior Adjunct Lecturer at University of New South Wales, Canberra, and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Australian National University. He served on the Board of ALGA between 2018 and 2022 and supports a range of ALGA interest groups and networks, including the collaboration with the ICCL.
Linda Maring has studied soil science in Wageningen and has over 20 years of experience in soil and subsurface management, related to spatial developments and societal challenges and needs. She focuses mainly on urban and industrial soil health. She part of the coordination team for the research programs between Deltares and the Dutch ministry on water, soil and spatial planning and is involved in several European Mission Soil projects; currently coordinating the SPADES project on soils in spatial planning and design.
Bavo obtained master degrees in applied economics and cultural studies, and a post-graduate in accountancy and finance. After working as a policy coordinator and international policy officer for the Flemish government, he is employed since 2017 as policy officer in the soil team of the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission, where he currently deals with the implementation of the EU Soil Strategy and the negotiations on the proposal for the Soil Monitoring Law. Bavo has more than 16 years of experience as a soil policy maker, with a specific focus on soil contamination and remediation.
Free for all (Registration is for regulators only)
