Contamination and plastic pollution in soils are even greater than those affecting the seas and oceans.

Pollution, there is more plastic in agricultural land than in the oceans

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FAO produced the first report on the use of plastics in agri-food systems. Pollution is pervasive, especially in Asia. The solutions revolve around the "6Rs": reject, redesign, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. It is essential to invest in the search for alternative products
A National Guard soldier in LaPlace, Louisiana: Hurricane Ida was the costliest natural disaster of 2021 with its $65 billion in damage. Photo: Louisiana National Guard Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Louisiana National Guard Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

The climate bill: 2021’s Top 10 natural disasters caused $170 bn damage

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Total damage caused by extreme climate events, however, would rise up to $250 bn. Deforestation-related CO2 emissions have been the crucial factor.
Deforestation in the Berau area of eastern Indonesia is contributing to rising temperatures and increased heat-related deaths. Photo: Erin Myers Madeira/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Erin Myers Madeira/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Deforestation-related deaths are rising in Indonesia

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Rising temperatures driven by deforestation are creating increasingly dangerous working conditions and raising mortality rates in Indonesia, study finds
Launched in 2015, the SEPAL platform hosts over 7,000 users currently engaged in anti-deforestation efforts. Photo: Crustmania Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Photo: Crustmania Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

FAO relaunches open-source data to curb tropical deforestation

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Phase 2 of SEPAL, the digital land monitoring program launched by the UN organization, is underway. The target are the tropical areas, which are the epicenter of global deforestation.
Congo's forests are one of the largest global sinks of irrecoverable carbon. Photo: Marie Frechon. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Photo: Marie Frechon. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

“Irrecoverable carbon released from forests is driving climate change”

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The world stores at least 139 billion tons of carbon that once dispersed cannot be offset in time. Protection of endangered areas and indigenous communities is essential
Jequitibá and Jatobà trees in the municipality of Mococa, in the State of São Paulo. Brazil has the highest number of endangered species in the world. Photo: Mauro Halpern Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Mauro Halpern Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

It’s not just the Amazon: one third of trees species in the world risks extinction

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From Asia to Europe 30% of trees species could disappear, says BGCI. Human activities and climate change under scrutiny. The solutions? Expanding protected areas and raising more funds
Nel 2023 la Commissione UE finalizzerà la Nature Restoration Law con l’obiettivo di tutelare legalmente il suolo e azzerare il consumo netto entro il 2050. Foto: Gerd Altmann Creative Commons CC0 Public domain

EU ready to work on soil law: “Net consumption must go to zero by 2050”

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The Commission has announced a European law for soil protection by 2023. Debora Fino (Re Soil): "An historic choice, now Member States can take a major step forward". Concerns over France and Germany's position
In Indonesia, emissions from land use change and forestry sector have contributed to nearly half of the country's emissions over the past 20 years. Photo: Deanna Ramsay/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Deanna Ramsay/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

“Without nature conservation, we should expect more pandemics despite vaccines”, scientists say

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Harvard researchers: ecosystem degradation drives new pandemics. "Covid has already required $6 trillion spending. Protecting nature would cost 50 times less"
The sharp decline in biodiversity recorded among common birds in European farmland is a wake-up call for soil health. Photo: Pixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not requiredPixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not required

“Intensive agricultural practices are harming birds”. As biodiversity crisis deepens

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Unsustainable land management is harming common birds in agricultural areas, according to Czech ornithologist Petr Voříšek. Their biodiversity index has plummeted in the last 40 years.
In Indonesia, emissions from land use change and forestry sector have contributed to nearly half of the country's emissions over the past 20 years. Photo: Deanna Ramsay/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Deanna Ramsay/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Climate activists worried as Indonesia leaves anti-deforestation deal with Norway

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The termination of the agreement on tree preservation between Oslo and Jakarta puts Indonesia's commitment at risk. As the country has already lost almost 10 million hectares of primary forests in the 21st century.