WOCAT World Map 1 A Standardised Method for Assessment of Soil Degradation and Soil Conser- vation: the WOCAT mapping methodology By: Godert van Lynden 1 , Gudrun Schwilch 2 , Hanspeter Liniger 2 Summary The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) has developed a set of standardised tools to document, monitor and evaluate soil and water conservation (SWC) know-how world-wide, and to disseminate it around the globe in order to facilitate exchange of experience and bet- ter decision making and planning. A set of three comprehensive questionnaires and corresponding databases has been developed to document all relevant aspects of SWC technologies and approaches, and the mapping of their area coverage. The collection of information on SWC technologies and approaches focuses on case studies that describe the technology and its human and natural environment, where it is used, and which approach was used for its implementation. The questionnaire and database on the SWC map aims at providing a spatial overview of soil degradation and conservation. It can be applied at different scales, from local to national and international level. This paper will discuss the map methodology, which covers an assessment of land use, soil degradation, SWC technologies and soil productivity aspects. Data is collected through a “Participatory Expert As- sessment”. The map methodology comprises an interactive mapping tool for data entry and map viewing. The resulting maps help planners, coordinators and decision-makers to make appropriate plans and set priorities for future investments. They also help in identifying knowledge gaps and research priorities. A. Introduction to WOCAT methodology WOCAT (World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies) has the mission of providing tools that allow SWC specialists to share their valuable knowledge in soil and water management, assist them in their search for appropriate SWC technologies and approaches, and support them in making deci- sions in the field and at the planning level. (For further information about WOCAT see Liniger et al. 2002a and Liniger at al. 2002b, papers provided in these proceedings) Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) in the context of WOCAT is defined as activities at the local level which maintain or enhance the productive capacity of the soil in erosion-prone areas through: prevention or reduction of erosion, conservation of soil moisture, and maintenance or improvement of soil fertility. WOCAT has developed three comprehensive questionnaires and a database system to document all rele- vant aspects of SWC technologies and approaches, including area coverage. The methodology for map- ping soil degradation and conservation, and its use for better decision-making is presented in this paper. B. The WOCAT Map Questionnaire The WOCAT Map Questionnaire constitutes the geographical component of WOCAT. It evaluates what is happening where, by linking the information obtained through this questionnaire to a Geographical In- formation System (GIS), which permits the production of maps as well as area calculations on various aspects of SWC. The map Questionnaire (QM) should be considered complementary to the Question- naires on Technologies (QT) and on Approaches (QA). It can be linked to the case studies on SWC de- scribing SWC technologie s and approaches (see separate paper). Linkage of these three questionnaires provides a powerful overview of SWC activities in a country, a region, or world-wide. Base Map For the WOCAT mapping exercise in principle any base map can be used, provided it consists of closed polygons, e.g. administrative or physiographic units. The criteria for the selection and definition of the 1 International Soil Reference and Information Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands 2 Centre for Development and Environment, Institute of Geography, Bern, Switzerland