17 January 2013: The Global Soil Partnership (GSP), an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), held a training on soil legacy databases and soil classification in support of the establishment of a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Soil Partnership and the development of a regional soil legacy database and soil map.

The training was held from 13-17 January 2013 in Amman, Jordan and included a focus on soil legacy data, standard soil templates, quality control and harmonization of soil legacy data, the World Reference Base (WRB) soil classification system, and the harmonization of soil maps and soil profiles using the WRB. Participants of the workshop included representatives from: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

The Government of Jordan will also be establishing an Institute of Digital Soil Mapping, which will be among the first in a network of global centers providing a regional base for activities in the region. The Institute will aim to strengthen academic partnerships and programs and through institutional partnerships, create a soil digital map and network of soil legacy data for MENA. The Institute for Digital Soil Mapping will coordinate the activities of the GSP within the region. [IISD RS Sources] [Global Soil Partnership Training: Soil Legacy Databases and WRB Soil Classification System]