15. Stresses the need for Member States to use rural development funds to enhance adaptation to climate change in agriculture and forestry; recalls the role that soil organic matter plays in terms of soil fertility and water retention capacity and as a carbon sink and invites the Community to adopt and support appropriate soil management practices that maintain soil organic matter levels across European soils as an effective way for adapting to increasing temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns; underlines the need for adequate crisis prevention and risk management measures at the Community level as well as at national and region ...[+++]al levels, as the number of crises will clearly rise in the future, with particular reference to a systematic land management effort ensuring longer water retention times and a lower fire burden on forests; believes that risk management should be made an integral and explicit part of EU cohesion policy;

'loss of organic substance' means a lasting reduction in the organic fraction of soil due to mineralisation into CO 2 .

'loss of organic substance' means a lasting reduction in the organic fraction of soil due to mineralisation into CO 2 .

(2k) 'loss of organic substance' means a lasting reduction in the organic fraction of soil due to mineralisation into CO2.

For the purpose of this Communication, soil is defined as the top layer of the earth's crust, formed by mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms.

For the purpose of this Communication, soil is defined as the top layer of the earth's crust, formed by mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms.