… loss An earthworm in its natural habitat. Source: S. Marahrens / Umweltbundesamt The world’s soils are neither barren nor dead, for they constitute the … have a high absorption capacity and ability to regenerate, but they too have their limitations.” This passage from Germany’s national biodiversity strategy (adopted in … fails to give soil ecology its due in that for the various spheres of action, it limits itself to setting goals aimed at protecting soil organisms indirectly – one …

… is carcinogenic. Source: zonch / Fotolia.com Benzene is an organic, chemical compound with an aromatic odour. It is carcinogenic and a content of petrol. last update … of catabolism can cause cancer. Air quality standards There is an Europe-wide limit value of 5 µg/m³ as annual mean that is valid since 1 January 2010. Benzene - Annual tabulation Here the annual tabulations from 2000 onwards can be found (station-by-station). Associated content Documents Informationsblatt Benzol …

… The CORINE Land Cover (CLC) program CORINE Land Cover 2006 Source: Umweltbundesamt Land cover is a key indicator of anthropogenic environmental pollution. The … program was carried out by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR)’s Deutsches Fernerkundungsdatenzentrum, on behalf of the UBA. Associated content Links Corine Land … the Reference Year 2009 to the Year 2006 Related contents Indikator: Siedlungs- und Verkehrsfläche Umweltmanagement im UBA Bebauung und Versiegelung Bodenfunktionen …

… compaction Farm machinery tends to compact the soil. Source: S. Marahrens / Umweltbundesamt Farm vehicles exert pressure on the soil that varies according to equipment weight. If the weight generated underneath the tires exceeds ground stability, the soil particles are compacted; … it is possible to determine whether a given soil is compacted, no statutory limit values have been set in this regard. Section 17 of the Federal Soil …

… and nature conservation associations Source: Anerkennungsstelle für Umwelt- und Naturschutzvereinigungen Environmental and nature conservation associations can … responsible for the recognition of German associations whose scope of activity is limited to a given federal state. The UBA maintains a list of all the environmental … and workshop papers: Rechtsschutz zur Stärkung des Umweltschutzes , Transboundary Access to Justice for Environmental NGOs and the conference Rechtsschutz im …

… of soil can only be determined through measurements. Source: S. Marahrens / Umweltbundesamt Soil pollutants are ubiquitous. They stem from natural sources, factories, … and households. Deposits of such soil pollutants can seep into the groundwater or are uptaken by plants, they can pose an environmental and health risk. … and radionucleides. Soils filter pollutants and can clean water - but they have limits. Source: S. Marahrens / Umweltbundesamt Soils filter and neutralize all sorts …

… regime in the form of the Federal Mining Act (BBergG) . This serves mainly to underpin the secure supply of raw materials with more efficient licensing and … as the raw material safeguarding clause. According to this clause, regulations under public law that stand opposed to the exploration for and extraction of raw … connecting links for environmental protection and resource conservation A special feature of federal mining law is the fundamental distinction between so-called …

… content Publications Reduzierung der Flächeninanspruchnahme durch Siedlung und Verkehr Umweltschutz im Planungsrecht Klimaschutz in der räumlichen Planung … Related contents Zugang zu Umweltinformationen Umweltordnungswidrigkeiten und Umweltstraftaten Ressourcenschutzrecht Umweltrecht Rechtsschutz und Verbandsklage Related publications Analysis and Enhancement of the Legal …