Comprehensive and effective recording of edaphic characteristics of dune ecosystems as applied in the monitoring project of the Flemish coastal dunes

A project was set up in 1996 to monitor management regimes (shrub removal, grazing and mowing) implemented in different nature reserves along the west Belgian coast. The project integrates botanical, zoological, hydrological and pedological research at several levels (Bonte et al., 1997). The soil study aims to produce a comprehensive and effective system of soil description, and in this paper we propose the methodology used for recording soil characteristics at the most detailed research level. The initial period of the monitoring project runs for 3 years