According to a British research, the impact of the war could cost Ukraine crop damage for at least a century. Photo: Heulwolf Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)Heulwolf Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Ukraine, soil damage already amounts to $15 billion

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La FAO e il programma Alimentare Mondiale hanno lanciato un’iniziativa per sminare i terreni agricoli in Ucraina. Nel frattempo gli esperti lanciano l’allarme sulla contaminazione di guerra
By 2022, forest destruction in Ghana increased by 71%, the highest figure on the planet. Photo: Maite Knorr-Evans, World Resources Institute Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)Maite Knorr-Evans, World Resources Institute Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Destruction of tropical forests increased by 10% in 2022

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Despite formal commitments made in Glasgow in 2021, the loss of primary rainforests in the tropics is increasing, says Global Forest Watch. Brazil tops the list. The cases of Congo R.D., Ghana and Bolivia are also worrying
Extreme heatwaves in India put soil productivity at risk. Photo: mckaysavage Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)mckaysavage Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Climate change threatens India’s agriculture and development

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Extreme heat waves, made more and more frequent by climate change, continue in India. Soil productivity is at risk, as is the achievement of growth targets
The 34 per cent decrease recorded between January and June this year in the Amazon comes after a 54 per cent increase from August to December 2022 under the previous government. Photo: Lubasi Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)Photo: Lubasi Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

It’s the Lula effect? Amazon deforestation falls by 34% in six months

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The numbers, which have not been verified by an independent authority, would mark a turnaround for the Amazon after a particularly bad 2022. Fines and bans are increasing. But fires are also on the rise, having never been so extensive since 2007
Biocrusts can regulate both the physical and biological environment of ecosystems. Photo: DainisGeo Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)DainisGeo Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Chinese study unravels the mysteries of biocrusts

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Researchers have shown how surface biocrusts protect subsoil microorganisms by increasing their diversity and stability which benefit the soil
"Terra preta" ('black soil' in English) is found although in small amounts in the Amazon and is part of the macro category of so-called black soils, known for their fertility. Photo: Holger Casselmann Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)Holger Casselmann Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The secret to Amazon regeneration lies in black soil

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According to Brazilian research, the valuable black soil found in parts of the Amazon retains unique characteristics that promote the rapid recovery of deforested land
Carbon captured from the soil of forests, grasslands and pastures is equivalent to about 25% of global emissions Photo: Antonio Jordán (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu) Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)Antonio Jordán (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu) Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Subsoil carbon is particularly vulnerable to climate change

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International study shows how, at one meter depth, soil gives up more than one-third of its pyrogenic carbon after experiencing a 4°C temperature rise in less than five years
Silicon protects canola from clubtroot, a disease that can reduce yields of this crop by 15 percent. Photo: Graham Richter Attribution-Share alike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Graham Richter Attribution-Share alike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Adding silicon to the soil protects canola from its pathogens

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According to a Canadian research, silicon, a widespread and cheap element, helps plants fight clubroot. But it also helps them withstand drought and extreme heat
Thanks to artificial intelligence, deforestation can be prevented by detecting the presence of key variables. Photo: Bruno Kelly/Amazônia Real from Manaus AM, Brasil Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Bruno Kelly/Amazônia Real from Manaus AM, Brasil Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Artificial intelligence challenges deforestation in Brazil

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The PrevisIA system uses artificial intelligence to rapidly analyze satellite imagery detecting critical variables that can promote deforestation. "Its predictive ability is fantastic," according to its creators
U.S. Geological Survey researchers have developed a new remote sensing system to detect deforestation on large geographic and temporal scales. Photo: Cecilio Ricardo United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Public Domain Mark 1.0 No CopyrightCecilio Ricardo United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Public Domain Mark 1.0 No Copyright

New developments in deforestation remote sensing in the U.S.

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By combining old deforestation survey methods, U.S. Geological Survey researchers have developed a new large-scale representation which increases efficiency and accuracy. The hope for the future is real-time mapping