The main objective of the module is to acquire knowledge about soil, one of the non-renewable resources of the planet, a critical capacity to assess the necessity of taking measures and to develop regional and national action plans using modern decision-making tools.

The module covers the subject “soil” starting from soil basic properties, characteristics and functions as well as the understanding of its importance in ecosystems quality and function. Also, through the course, knowledge will be acquired related to:

• Soil-related concepts (sustainability, erosion, sealing, salinization, compaction, pollution, biodiversity, desertification, decontamination, sustainable agriculture, climate change and soil).
• Effects of the degradation and loss of land resources on the environment, society and the economy
• Quality restoration methods and technologies (decontamination)
• Evaluation methods and technologies for monitoring soil quality