About ISCN

Soil carbon is a chemical fingerprint for many inter-related processes governed by biogeochemical and landscape-scale phenomena. These inter-related soil processes define the capacity for soil to provide food, fiber, nutrients, water and a balance among land, atmosphere, and terrestrial waters. Soil carbon studied in proper context is indicative of key indicators of soil health, resilience, and security because of its chemical relationship to soil organic matter, water, and nutrients. Soil carbon is also directly attributable to exchanges of carbon dioxide and trace gases between land-water, and land- air systems and therefore is a key component in the regulation of our global climate system.

The International Soil Carbon Network (ISCN) is a science-based network that facilitates data sharing, assembles databases, identifies gaps in data coverage, and enables spatially explicit assessments of soil carbon in context of landscape, climate, land use, and biotic variables. The network provides (1) scientific and logistical infrastructure for sharing knowledge, information, and data, (2) shared data and recognition, and (3) opportunities for synergistic interactions, (4) products beneficial to stakeholders and scientists, (5) a framework for common scientific protocols and collaborative decision support tools

The ISCN relies on support from multinational, private, and governmental entities to support and maintain collaborative efforts of scientists and stakeholders. This support may include facilities for meetings, travel grants, IT expertise, and the many hours of service that form the basis for collaborative science.