When soil becomes sealed

Soil Diary/Forum

Now that you understand the basic concepts of land take, soil sealing, and impermeable surfaces, take a moment to reflect. Imagine explaining soil sealing to a friend, colleague, or family member who is not familiar with the topic – how would you describe it? And remember, there is no single “perfect” definition of soil sealing. Different definitions highlight different aspects depending on perspective and audience.

Below, you will find four definitions. Based on these, create your own definition of soil sealing in your own words and in your preferred language. Share it in the Forum or note it in your Soil Diary.

• “Sealed soils can be defined as the destruction or covering of soils by buildings, constructions and layers of completely or partly impermeable artificial material (asphalt, concrete, etc.)… It is the most intense form of land take and is essentially an irreversible process.” Prokop et al. (2011)
• “Soil sealing is the loss of soil resources due to the covering of land for housing, roads or other construction work.” Joint Research Centre, European Soil Data Centre
• “Covering the soil with an artificial impervious surface.” Tobias et al. (2018)
• “Soil sealing equates to a covering of the soils with artificial materials, which are completely or partially impermeable.” Soil Monitoring Law (2025)