This report presents an analysis of European and national regulatory frameworks and policies that provide regulatory or financial instruments for ecosystem services provided by healthy soils in various sectors with a particular focus on farming, forestry, mining, and restoration.
This report is primarily intended for policymakers, practitioners, professionals, and researchers involved in sustainable land-use planning, environmental monitoring, and soil health policy development. Specifically, it aims to support national and European stakeholders in implementing sustainable strategies by offering a clear overview of existing policies that promote sustainable land use practices or disincentivize harmful activities. It also provides practical guidance for those seeking opportunities for direct support in generating economic benefits by outlining the implementation and application conditions of current policies.
For the identified economic instruments in the Milestone MS6.1, a comprehensive analysis of the relevant national and European policy frameworks was conducted. This desk research was complemented by a qualitative analysis of the perceptions and knowledge of local stakeholders, gathered within the selected case study communities.
The methodology for the policy framework analysis involved applying an analytical matrix that examined the objectives, content, formulation, and implementation of each policy. During the local validation phase, tailored analysis sheets and guiding questions were developed to support stakeholder dialogue and collect informed feedback.
The report includes the following main results:
● Analysis of Economic Instruments
This section details the economic instruments applicable to the Case Studies (CS) involved in the project. These instruments were identified through a combination of literature review (D6.1) and co-design activities with stakeholder communities within each CS (MS6.1).
● Multilevel Policy Framework Analysis
This involves an analysis of European and national policy frameworks that promote healthy soil through the application of economic instruments for diverse land uses.
● Local Assessment
Analysis of local perceptions and perspectives on policies presented as relevant to the implementation of economic instruments.
This report serves as a tool for understanding and delving deeper into existing policies that support healthy soil through various economic instruments. Its value is further enhanced by integrating local stakeholders’ perceptions and perspectives of these policies.
The identified perceived barriers and bottlenecks are explicitly detailed, with a notable finding being a common lack of knowledge among local stakeholders particularly on European-derived policies. This insight is paramount for the successful implementation of policies that promote effective environmental, ecological, and social sustainability.
The knowledge and content within the report are designed to be a valuable resource for drafting the D6.4 Policy recommendations for transformative soil health protection. Special emphasis will be placed on incorporating the perceptions and perspectives gleaned from the local stakeholders, including researchers, NGOs, policymakers, farmers and businesses involved in the policy validation phase.
The analyses and local perspectives gathered in this report will inform future projects, particularly for developing recommendations by synthesizing the contributions of other WPs related to the policy issue. Furthermore, the findings will contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Soil Strategy to 20301 and the Soil Mission2 and will guide the development of policies and interventions for different land uses, aiming to promote sustainable and scalable practices for soil and ecosystem restoration.
Publication Date: 2026-06-19