The Global Soil Biodiversity Observation Network (Soil BON) is working in partnership with the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) and other global and regional partners to increase the monitoring of soil ecosystems. The goal is to connect multi-national partners and initiatives in a worldwide effort to understand soil biodiversity, document how it is changing, how these changes affect people who rely on soil living resources for their well-being and livelihoods, and to better understand how the sustainable use of ecosystems can protect soil biodiversity. To achieve these goals they plan to monitor 1000 locations across the world including Asa Forest Research Station and Aneboda IM along with six other stations in Sweden. The purpose of the sampling is to have two paired sites, one nature conservation site (Aneboda IM) and one non-conservation site (Asa) and the samples need to be from a single habitat type. All eight sites in Sweden are dominated by Norway Spruce.

The pandemic has slowed down and Röbäcksdalen is able to welcome visitors once again.
In June a delegation from LUKE in Finland came by and got a demonstration of our animal and field facilities. They showed particular interest in SITES spectral and SITES water, since similar activities are done in Finland, and there is a potential for fruitful collaborations between SITES and LUKE in these areas. In July, Länsstyrelsen arranged a field day for farmers at Röbäcksdalen. The visit focused on herbicide and pesticide management practices and attracted farmers and advisors from all over northern Sweden. In August the station will be visited by a large group of around 60 animal and plant breeders, as part of a larger workshop occurring in Umeå. The summer season wraps up in September with planned visits from the VH faculty at SLU and from a small group from the government office, who is working with the national food strategy for the government. 
There have also been more external researchers visiting the station now. Among others are a research group from Bonn University, who are sampling soils in Röbäcksdalen, Asa, and Svartberget as part of a larger European project, and a group from Alnarp who are using the drying and milling facilities at Röbäcksdalen. 

The Global Soil Biodiversity Observation Network (Soil BON) is working in partnership with the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) and other global and regional partners to increase the monitoring of soil ecosystems. The goal is to connect multi-national partners and initiatives in a worldwide effort to understand soil biodiversity, document how it is changing, how these changes affect people who rely on soil living resources for their well-being and livelihoods, and to better understand how the sustainable use of ecosystems can protect soil biodiversity. To achieve these goals they plan to monitor 1000 locations across the world including Asa Forest Research Station and Aneboda IM along with six other stations in Sweden. The purpose of the sampling is to have two paired sites, one nature conservation site (Aneboda IM) and one non-conservation site (Asa) and the samples need to be from a single habitat type. All eight sites in Sweden are dominated by Norway Spruce.

The pandemic has slowed down and Röbäcksdalen is able to welcome visitors once again.
In June a delegation from LUKE in Finland came by and got a demonstration of our animal and field facilities. They showed particular interest in SITES spectral and SITES water, since similar activities are done in Finland, and there is a potential for fruitful collaborations between SITES and LUKE in these areas. In July, Länsstyrelsen arranged a field day for farmers at Röbäcksdalen. The visit focused on herbicide and pesticide management practices and attracted farmers and advisors from all over northern Sweden. In August the station will be visited by a large group of around 60 animal and plant breeders, as part of a larger workshop occurring in Umeå. The summer season wraps up in September with planned visits from the VH faculty at SLU and from a small group from the government office, who is working with the national food strategy for the government. 
There have also been more external researchers visiting the station now. Among others are a research group from Bonn University, who are sampling soils in Röbäcksdalen, Asa, and Svartberget as part of a larger European project, and a group from Alnarp who are using the drying and milling facilities at Röbäcksdalen.