The new European Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive (Soil Monitoring Law)

The new European Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive (Soil Monitoring Law) states that member states must improve the soil health, strengthening its capacity to:

• Providing ecosystem services

• Retain water

• Sustain production

• Act as a carbon sink.

Stone removal directly contributes to these objectives:

1. Improvement of soil health (aligned with Art. 1 and Art. 5)

By removing large stones, the volume of fertile soil where roots, microorganisms and organic matter develop is increased.

2. Increased carbon storage capacity (aligned with sustainable soil management principles)

The fine soil recovered after destoning is capable of forming stable complexes (clay-humic), essential for the retention of organic carbon.

3. Reduction of erosion and soil loss (aligned with resilience objectives)

Preventing runoff and maintaining the fine fraction protects the carbon already stored.

4. It promotes sustainable practices such as green roofs

These practices are recognized by the EU as tools for improving soil resilience and carbon balance.