Background Soils provide seven main ecological functions: carbon sequestration; water purification; prevention of erosion; support of biodiversity; habitat for pollinators; production of wood/fibre; and food production. Most of these functions provide economic, as well as ecological benefits, to local communities. However, they are inhibited by soil sealing, a phenomena created by human activities. Soil sealing is the covering of the ground by an impermeable material; it is one of the main causes of soil degradation in the EU. Soil sealing often affects fertile agricultural land, puts biodiversity at risk, increases the risk of flooding and water scarcity and contributes to global warming. According to the European Environment Agency, since the mid 1950s the total surface area of cities in the European Union has increased by 78%, whereas its population has grown by only 33%. In the context of the Soil Thematic Strategy (COM(2006) 231), the European Commission has highlighted the need to develop best practices to mitigate the negative effects of sealing on soil functions. Furthermore, the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe (COM(2011) 571) proposes that by 2020 EU policies take into account their impact on land use with the aim of achieving no net land take by 2050. A working group was set up to focus on European Guidelines on Best Practices to Reduce, Mitigate and Compensate Soil Sealing [(SWD (2012) 101], though current studies suggest that soil sealing is nearly irreversible. It is therefore essential that territorial management planning takes into account the environmental and economic costs and benefits associated with soil functions when assessing land-use options. Objectives SOS4LIFE is a demonstration project that aims to implement European regulations on soil protection defined by the European Guidelines on Best Practices to Reduce, Mitigate and Compensate Soil Sealing. The main objective of the project is the implementation of a viable regulatory framework and planning tool to achieve, at municipal level, the ‘no net land take’ target and promote de-sealing interventions as a way of compensating fir newly urbanised areas and improving urban resilience to climate change. SOS4Life aims to fill a structural gap that is widespread in public systems of land governance, Namely the lack of tools and appropriate urban regulations for municipalities (not only in Italy) to counteract land take. The specific objectives of the project are to: Evaluate ecosystems services provided by urban soils and quantify costs and impacts caused by land take and soil sealing, both in urban and rural contexts; Define a viable regulatory framework and operational tools for achieving, at the municipal level, the no net land take target and for promoting urban regeneration; Promote and practice de-sealing interventions as a way of compensating newly urbanised areas and improving the urban resilience to climate change through practical case study applications; Give methodological bioclimatic criteria for the re-design of the de-sealed open spaces; Develop a Urban and Soil Decision Support System to be adopted by municipalities and regions for monitoring land use change, soil-sealed areas, urban regeneration processes and soil ecosystem services; Transfer regulatory frameworks, tools and methods to other municipalities and local authorities both in Italy and elsewhere in Europe to allow for replication; and Raise awareness of the need to safeguard our soils among decision makers, technicians and local citizens. Expected results: Definition and adoption by the three partner municipalities of the project of a viable urban regulatory framework for achieving the no net land take target through a binding soil compensation system; Implementation of three de-sealing demonstration actions in urban areas (two parking lots and one brownfield in each municipality) for a total amount of de-sealed surface of 10 750 m2; Guidelines for topsoil removal and placement: in each area, a plot of de-sealed soil will have been preserved and used for monitoring activities and as an information point for the general public; Implementation of an Urban and Soil Decision Support System (US-DSS) for the evaluation and monitoring, at municipal level, of land-use change, soil ecosystem services and disused areas; Development of a benchmarking method, at national and European level, for the evaluation of ecosystem services provided by urban soils and for the assessment of economic/environmental impacts caused by land take and soil sealing; and Definition of guidelines for the management of urban soils and best practices to improve their ecosystem services;