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Salt-affected land in the Syrdaryo region in eastern Uzbekistan. The former Soviet republic is one of the hardest hit countries by soil salinization. Photo: Milo Mitchell Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Milo Mitchell Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

“Excess salt threatens up to 50% of global crops”

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Salt overdose in world soils may impact on the lives of 1.5 billion people. But some best practices can help us solve the problem, FAO says
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.
The Ulan Buh desert in Mongolia hosted the first large-scale trial conducted by Chinese researchers. Photo: 摩游乐 Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)摩游乐 Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

China is fighting desertification by adding cellulose to sand

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Chinese researchers offer a solution to soil degradation: a plant paste that can turn the desert into a grassland. The new technology might help 500 million people in Central Asia
Soil analysis of the Mayon volcano in the Philippines has revealed some promising species of bacteria. Photo: Patryk Reba Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Patryk Reba Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Soil bacteria from a volcano bring new hope for cancer treatment

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Scientists from the University of Los Baños have isolated 30 bacteria species found at the Mayon volcano, in the north of the country. One of them seems to have relevant antibiotic and antitumor properties.
Taliban negotiators in Doha, Qatar, November 2020. On the left, wearing a gray suit and white mask, is Abdul Ghani Baradar, current abinet leader in Kabul. Photo: Ron Przysucha, U.S. Department of State, Public DomainRon Przysucha, U.S. Department of State, Public Domain

CBS: “How climate change has become a Taliban ally”

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Over the past three decades, floods and droughts have devastated the agricultural soil in Afghanistan, CBS says. This helped the Taliban to recruit a growing number of desperate farmers with no alternatives
Nematodes are essential players in the soil system providing benefits or damage depending on properties of 30,000 different species. Photo: Starlight Hunter Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)Starlight Hunter Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

In Japan a DNA test unveals the secrets of soil nematodes

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Genetic testing also works with nematodes, which are crucial for ecosystem. A new study from offers new perspectives for the study of soil
Tibet, China. Desertification is heavily threatening Central Asia. Photo: Christopher Michel Attribution 2.0 General (CC BY 2.0)Christopher Michel Attribution 2.0 General (CC BY 2.0)

Anti-desertification Chinese sea buckthorn brings a new hope for Asia

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Half a century of care to regenerate 50 square kilometers of arid land in Tibet. This is how a resilient plant has beaten desertification
Russia is home to 640 billion trees and one-fifth of the Planet's forests. Photo: John Kopiski Pixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not requiredJohn Kopiski Pixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not required

Climate-saving forests: Russia seeks credibility

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For the CO2 market, Russia's forests are still an unexploited gold mine. Now the government wants to take on the opportunity.
A farmer at work in Bangladesh. Also operating in Malawi and Burkina Faso, FAO's project in the Asian country aims to tackle micronutrient deficiencies in the soil that lead to so-called "hidden hunger". Photo: Ben Pederick, Good Morning Beautiful Films Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Photo: Ben Pederick, Good Morning Beautiful Films Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Fortified rice to tackle malnutrition: Bangladesh faces the micronutrient challenge

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The Soils for Nutrition project goes ahead in Bangladesh. Three agriculture sites bet on fortified rice and best practises for land management