In the Amazon, in the absence of landowner exemptions, natural vegetation could have retained 2.4 billion tons of carbon. Photo: Rawpixel Public Domain Free CC0 ImageRawpixel Public Domain Free CC0 Image

Landowner amnesty has hampered land restoration in the Amazon

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Since 2012, more than 50 percent of deforestation in the Amazon has occurred in "protected" areas in private hands, a U.S. study has found. Amnesty that excluded managers from restoration obligation was crucial
Mediterranean forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services. Photo: Elina Tzivara Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Elina Tzivara Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Mediterranean forests face desertification risk

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In the past, forests around the Mediterranean Sea partly turned into steppes within a few decades as precipitation rates changed. Today, a German research explains, this scenario could happen again
Habitat diversity can mitigate the effects of climate change on insects. Photo: Stefan Bernhardt iDiv Use of the pictures permitted for reports related to this https://www.idiv.de/en/news/news_single_view/5140.html media releaseStefan Bernhardt iDiv Use of the pictures permitted for reports related to this https://www.idiv.de/en/news/news_single_view/5140.html media release

Habitat diversity helps insects address climate change

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Insects adapt to global warming with different energy management, a German research has found. Microhabitat diversity, which is crucial, is declining due to land-use changes
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are typically found in fluorinated pesticides that contain one or more fluorine atoms in their molecular structure and are considered particularly effective in combating plant pests. Photo: Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (Michigan) Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (Michigan) Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Worrying data in the U.S. on PFAS contamination in soil

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In New Hampshire, the presence of fluorine-based substances was detected in all soil samples taken by researchers. These products, known as PFASs and contained in pesticides, are typically difficult to dispose of
Drip irrigation is a practice of great importance for smart agricultural management. Photo: H. Gomez/CIMMYT Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)H. Gomez/CIMMYT Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Algorithms drive irrigation in smart agriculture

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In an attempt to make irrigation more efficient, Stanford University has developed a new and more accurate system for calculating evapotranspiration. Measurement is shortened by 100 times
Nitrogen, contained particularly in fertilizers, produces variable effects on plants and soil microfauna. Photo: Michael Trolove Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)Michael Trolove Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Excess nitrogen also impacts soil invertebrates and insects

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A Dutch meta-analysis of 126 studies conducted worldwide illustrates the consequences of nitrogen accumulation for soil microfauna. Effects vary across species. Climate factor
In 2019, the Colombian government launched a military offensive against deforestation known as Operation Artemis. Photo: Pixabay Content license Attribution not requiredPixabay Content license Attribution not required

“Colombian government’s fight against deforestation has been a failure,” NGOs say

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Operation Artemis, launched by the Colombian government to combat deforestation, has benefited a minimal share of the affected areas, argue NGOs Mongabay and Cuestión Pública. Abuses to indigenous communities have been reported
Carbon detection project takes place in Moosomin, in the southeastern area of the Canadian state of Saskatchewan. Photo: Jimmy Emerson Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Jimmy Emerson Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Canadian researchers start a soil carbon measurement project

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An annual project in the state of Saskatchewan will collect data on soil carbon occurrence. The goal is to assess soil effects and generate measurable and verifiable emission credits
The decline in pollinating insects has negative effects on the availability and price of healthy foods such as nuts, legumes, fruit and vegetables, causing an increase in premature deaths. PHOTO: Pixabay

500,000 deaths a year linked to the decline in pollinators

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The "prudential" estimate is contained in a new international study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Premature deaths are thought to be caused by decreasing availability and rising prices of healthful foods, which are in turn linked to the global decline of bee and pollinators
Between 2010 and 2018, commitments made by companies to tackle deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon ensured the protection of about 7,000 square kilometers of forest. But it could have been 24,000. Photo: Neil Palmer (CIAT) Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)Neil Palmer (CIAT) Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Cattle-related deforestation in the Amazon could have been halved

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If anti-deforestation agreements had been fully implemented, 24 thousand km2 of land could have been saved in the Amazon compared to the 7 thousand actually protected between 2010 and 2018, according to a study from U.S.

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