15 páginas, 3 figuras.In order to effectively formulate mitigation strategies and implement conservation measurements to counteract soil erosion, it is essential to objectively identify and
quantify areas at risk. With the adoption of the European Union (EU) Thematic Strategy
for soil protection, a first step is made towards adequate measures to combat soil erosion and other soil degradation processes. However, to provide an effective tool at European level, risk assessment methodologies should be harmonized (i.e. similar although adapted to local circumstances), providing criteria and standardized definitions of risk areas
within the EU. This chapter provides an overview, evaluation and assessment of risk
assessment methods of water erosion currently existing and applied within the EU, in the framework of the EU-funded RAMSOIL project (www.ramsoi1.eu). Only methods with an official status andlor those that are widely scientifically acknowledged were considered and included in this review. Information on RAMs for soil erosion was
identified through both questionnaires and scientific literature review. Questionnaires
were sent to scientists and policy makers in EU Member States and Nonvay. The methods were compared, based on five indicators such as scale, transparency, complexity, cost efficiency and ambiguousness, after which a final statement is made about their soundness, flexibility and acceptability, reflecting the potentials for harmonization.This study was carried out under the EU-funded RAMSOIL (Risk Assessment Methodologies for Soil Threats) Project (Contract 44240). More information is available at www.ramsoi1.eu.Peer reviewe
