19 March 2015: A workshop convened by the European Soil Partnership (ESP) and organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) provided an update on the status of implementation of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP). Participants highlighted regional-level developments and key challenges faced by the ESP. Focal Points from 20 European countries and partners from more than 20 countries participated in order to consolidate the ESP and discuss the regional implementation plan.

Workshop participants addressed: ESP governance, utilizing the ‘Guidelines for Regional Soil Partnerships;’ regional-level issues related to the GSP pillars of action; and the need to implement regional activities covering the full spectrum of soil issues.

Partners agreed to continue with the current ESP Steering Committee members for another year and to review Committee membership during the next ESP workshop from 8-9 March 2016. They also agreed to continue the process for developing a regional implementation plan with the involvement of more partners. Regional-level awareness raising activities are being held in connection with the International Year of Soils (IYS) 2015 and beyond. The workshop, which met in Rome, Italy, from 17-18 March 2015, also convened within the framework of the IYS. [FAO News Story] [International Year of Soils Website]