Considerations for the use of soil ecological classification and assessment concepts in soil protection.

In comparison with other environmental compartments, the protection of soil was identified relatively late as an important issue. Even later, policy makers and the general public considered the ecological functions of the soil. However, recently, the central role of these functions, as well as the importance of the soil organism community, has become obvious in several countries in Europe and in the European Union itself. In this contribution, basic considerations referring to use of ecological endpoints for the classification and assessment of soils are discussed. The article begins with two goals of protection: to protect soil so that it can function and to protect soil as a habitat for organisms necessary for these functions. Afterward, the quality of soil from is discussed from a biological point of view. Finally, on the basis of experience from limnology and botany, recommendations are made for monitoring programs. In other articles of this series, details of the entire approach to ecological classification and assessment are outlined.