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
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.
The study of the impact of urbanization on bees and other pollinators was carried out in the Berlin metropolitan area. PHOTO: Fabian Schneidereit on UnsplashFabian Schneidereit su Unsplash

The degree of urbanisation reduces wild bees and butterfly diversity

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German research confirms that the degree of overbuilding and the quality of the local habitat influence the activity of bees and other insects. Interactions with plants decrease. Yet urban meadows and pastures, with the right actions, can be precious contexts for pollinators. Starting from a suitable height of the vegetation...
India is the world's sixth largest producer of bauxite. Photo: Yercaud-elango Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Yercaud-elango Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

From India to Australia: the bauxite paradox

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In India, the mining of bauxite, a rock needed for aluminum production, takes land away from agriculture, producing permanent soil damage. But this same resource, paradoxically, may carry with it a solution
For years the number of insects has been steadily, worryingly decreasing. PHOTO: Pixabay

Insects in decline? “it’s a fault of soil consumption and pollution”

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A Swiss-German study investigated the main factors behind the constant decline of insects and their biodiversity. Invasive species and intensive agriculture are also of concern. 40% of all species will be at risk of extinction in the coming decades.
Climate change causes soil to lose moisture faster on average. Photo: Suhayb the Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Suhayb the Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Soil moisture is a key factor in predicting droughts and floods

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According to a study from U.S., variation in soil moisture is the crucial factor in understanding extreme phenomena such as droughts and floods and Overcoming uncertainty related to climate change
Mosses cover 9.4 million km2 of land on the Planet, an area comparable to the territory of Canada or China. Photo: Krishna satya CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain DedicationPhoto: Krishna satya CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Mosses are an amazing ally for soil health

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The University of New South Wales study: mosses promote nutrient accumulation in the soil and carbon sequestration. In degraded areas, moreover, these plants accelerate the regeneration process
NRM analyzes of thousands of soil samples taken from UK farmland have shown deficiencies in magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. PHOTO: Steven Weeks on Unsplash

UK, two thirds of soils show nutrient deficit

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An analysis by the independent laboratory NRM: as a result of the degradation, wheat crops show 10% less nitrogen and 25% less phosphorus. Thousands of soil samples extracted from UK farmland

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