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In China, soil pollution comes largely from non-ferrous metal mining and plant dumping operations Photo: High Contrast Attribution 2.0 Germany (CC BY 2.0 DE)High Contrast Attribution 2.0 Germany (CC BY 2.0 DE)

China launches a new initiative against soil pollution

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Starting next year, a new law to combat soil pollution will be in effect in the Chinese capital. The measure follows the directions of recent national legislation. But there is an unpromising precedent
Pulp and paper sector is one of the major drivers of deforestation in Indonesia. Photo: Sofi Mardiah/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Sofi Mardiah/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Banks’ support for deforestation grew since Paris Agreement

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Since the Paris Agreement of 2015, three hundred corporations contributing to commodity-related deforestation have received $267 billion in funding, according to the NGOs coalition Forests & Finance. Amazon and Southeast Asia are the epicenters of this phenomenon
In the 21st century, deforestation has erased nearly 10 million hectares of virgin forest in Indonesia. Photo: Peter Prokosch Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)Peter Prokosch Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Coal-to-biomass transition fuels deforestation in Indonesia

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In Indonesia increasing deforestation would result in up to 489 million tons of additional emissions, the environmental think tank Trend Asia says. The figure dwarfs the CO2 savings expected with the partial replacement of coal with biomass
Climate properties make tropical peatlands unsuitable for enhanced weathering. Photo: Anna Finke/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Anna Finke/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Enhanced weathering is a threat to tropical peatlands

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Enhanced weathering, used to facilitate the capture of atmospheric CO2 on the ground, has counterproductive effects when applied on peatlands in warmer areas, a German study has found. In these areas, in fact, carbon sequestration is offset by emission growth
Nitrogen is an essential soil resource, but its overuse, mostly related to fertilizer application, is a driver of pollution. Photo: Cade Martin, Dawn Arlotta US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDCP) CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) public domainCade Martin, Dawn Arlotta US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDCP) CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) public domain

Soil nitrogen is the one responsible for water pollution

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During rainy periods soil nitrogen in the soil is channeled into rivers, contributing to their contamination, a research from Nagoya University has found. The investigation thus denies the theory of atmospheric origin of water pollution
Forty years after the last survey, China aims to complete its national land census. Photo: olly301 Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)olly301 Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

China will provide an updated soil survey by 2025

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Forty years after the last study, Beijing aims to complete its land census. While waiting for the data, however, the scenario looks grim. Pollution, erosion and fertility loss remain the main problems
Mangroves on Ubin Island, Singapore. The city-state wants to complete a massive reforestation campaign by 2030. Photo: Eustaquio Santimano Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)Eustaquio Santimano Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Singapore wants to plant one million trees by 2030

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The project launched two years ago aims to restore Singapore's mangroves. The trees, which have been drastically reduced over the years, are a crucial resource for climate, biodiversity and soil
The strong growth of tourism in the Philippines is associated with the expansion of hotel construction and the demand for timber. Photo: André Héroux Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)Photo: André Héroux Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Booming tourism is fueling deforestation in the Philippines

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The trend is associated with the expansion of construction of hotels and demand for timber. The repression toll is tragic as 29 environmental activists have been killed in 2020
In China, the government is set to launch a campaign to restore the country's most fertile soil. Photo: Steve Evans Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Photo: Steve Evans Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

China launches anti-erosion black soil campaign

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China wants to curb degradation of its most fertile soil, spread across three regions which contribute on their own to the production of 50 percent of the country's rice, 41 percent of soybean and 34 percent of corn. But climate change is still a major concern
India has witnessed an increasing trend of plastic use in agriculture, although the phenomenon is relatively recent. Photo: P. Casier (CGIAR) Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) P. Casier (CGIAR) Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Mulch films under fire in India as microplastics pollution gets worrysome

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A study finds the high presence of microplastics in fields where films are used most. The disposal problem in the Asian country remains significant. Concerns over heavy metal contamination

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It’s beneath our feet but we never think about its value. We tread on it, we mistreat it, but a healthy, fertile soil means life. It’s time to take care of the soil and each one of us can and must make a difference.

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