The map reflects the variable climatic, pedological and geomorphological conditions in Europe and the surimposed impact of human interventions that date back to prehistoric times,when agriculture started on the continent. The map clearly indicates the need for a genuine policy of soil conservation and of adequate land and water use management to combate soil degradation. Topics of 4 separate soil erosion maps are: Erosion by water, Badlands, Mass movements and flash floods, Wind erosion.