Restoration of urban sealed soil, contamination analysis and evaluation of crop pollution: the REUSES project

Urbanisation continuously consumes land resources. Soil sealing disrupts carbon fixation, water cycles, and air flows, threatening ecosystems. To preserve and restore ecological soil functions, the European Union aims to achieve ‘no-net-land take by 2050’, supporting the de-sealing of unused urban areas. The project REUSES (Restore Urban Sealed Soil for Alternative Ecosystem Services) mainly aims to restore the soil functionality of case study areas that have been sealed for a long time by impermeable materials, such as concrete and asphalt, and to establish green spaces for citizens in the form of community gardens. The first step implied de-sealing selected areas in Ancona, precisely two abandoned parking lots. Afterwards, the soil’s biochemical and physical parameters will be evaluated before and after the interventions. The presence of contaminants, including heavy metals and hydrocarbons, will also be assessed. Then, the soil will be ploughed and hoed to reduce its compaction and amended with suitable compost in different concentrations to promote plant growth. Afterwards, two crop cycles of seasonable vegetables will be planted. The impact of soil de-sealing on crop production will be assessed by analysing the change in soil characteristics and the edible parts of the selected vegetables. The presence of heavy metals and other contaminants in the edible parts of the plants will be evaluated for food safety. Moreover, the REUSES project also aims to assess citizens' perceptions and interests in urban gardens and determine what is necessary to involve them by conducting a local survey. In conclusion, the insights gained from this project can serve as a basis for broader initiatives and projects aimed at urban restoration, generating best practices protocols for soil restoration.