Importance of soils
Soils form the basis of human life. They produce food, filter and store rainwater, store carbon dioxide from the air and provide a habitat for countless plants, animals and fungi. Where there is no soil, there is a hostile desert and it quickly becomes clear that protecting the soil is one of the most urgent tasks facing mankind and will become even more important in the future in view of climate change. Furthermore, in Germany alone, an area the size of around 70 football pitches is "consumed" every day by building on it for housing and transport facilities. Against this backdrop, the German government has set itself the goal of reducing the daily increase in settlement and transport areas in Germany from around 51 hectares per day today to less than 30 hectares per day by 2030 in order to achieve net zero land consumption by 2050 in the sense of a circular economy.
Rodgau soil protection concept
Under the motto "The city of Rodgau acts responsibly and sustainably to preserve its soil for future generations" the town council has drawn up a soil protection concept with the engineering firm Schnittstelle Boden from Ober-Mörlen, which is subsidised by the Ministry of the Environment of the State of Hesse to the tune of 85%. This is also intended to support the achievement of the national land recycling economy. A municipal soil protection concept helps to take into account the various requirements, concerns and objectives of soil as a protected resource and to place planning on a more sustainable basis. So far, the creation of soil protection concepts is not yet widespread in local authorities. There are currently municipal soil protection concepts in around 15 cities in Germany. Together with the existing climate analysis and the climate protection concept, the soil protection concept is to be understood by the administration as a steering instrument for urban development. Soil is a valuable but often unknown resource.
Sense and purpose of a concept
Soil protection concepts are designed to protect, sustainably utilise and also restore soils in the long term. They are based on a detailed inventory of soil conditions and also include a soil function assessment. In addition, the concepts also make statements on climate protection, climate adaptation, erosion control, water retention and land use in order to preserve the diverse functions of the soil and avoid or at least minimise negative influences - such as harmful soil changes. Assessment maps can be used to identify soils that are particularly worthy of protection and incorporate them into future planning and construction projects. These thematic maps are displayed in the city's publicly accessible web-based geographical information system. The concept will be presented and explained at the meeting of the Committee for Urban Development, Planning and Construction on 27 November at 7.30 pm in the City Council Chamber. Interested members of the public are cordially invited to attend.