International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC)
| Column | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction | – Established: 1966. – Headquarters: Wageningen, Netherlands. – Mission: To serve the international community with soil-related information, promote sustainable land use, and support global environmental initiatives. – Scope: Collaborates with international organizations and countries to advance soil knowledge and management practices. |
| Objectives | – Knowledge Hub: Compile and provide reliable soil data and information. – Sustainable Land Use: Support environmentally sustainable practices through soil data. – Global Collaboration: Facilitate research and capacity building for global soil management. |
| Members (Dec 2024) | – Membership: ISRIC operates as an independent foundation without formal membership. – India’s Collaboration: India collaborates with ISRIC on soil information and management projects. |
| Reports/Indices | – ISRIC Reports: Technical documents like “Towards the standardization and harmonization of world soil data: Procedures Manual” and “Root zone plant-available water holding capacity of the Sub-Saharan Africa soil.” – World Soil Information Service (WoSIS): Provides harmonized global soil data. – SoilGrids: Delivers spatial predictions of soil properties at a 250 m resolution. |
| Instruments | – World Data Centre for Soils (WDC-Soils): Hosts soil-related collections and services. – ISRIC Soil Data Hub: A platform for accessing soil datasets. – World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB): A global system for soil classification. |
| Structure | – Board of Trustees: Governs ISRIC, ensuring accountability and strategic direction. – Executive Management: Oversees daily operations and implements strategic plans. – Scientific Staff: Conducts research and manages information services. |
| Subsidiary Organs | – Data Management Unit: Ensures the accuracy, standardization, and accessibility of soil datasets. – Capacity Building Unit: Offers training programs and supports global soil research initiatives. |
| Committees | – Advisory Committee: Provides guidance on strategic priorities and technical standards. – Research Collaboration Committee: Supports partnerships with international research institutions. |
| Initiatives | – Guest Researcher Programme: Provides opportunities for researchers to collaborate with ISRIC on soil data and analysis. – Community of Practice: Engages global soil data practitioners to share knowledge and best practices. – Collaboration with WOCAT (World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies): Focuses on soil protection and rehabilitation through decision-support tools and knowledge management. |
