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Soil microorganisms perform critical services for plant and human health. Photo: pxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredpxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Microorganisms are the common thread between soil and human health

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Spread throughout the soil, bacteria, fungi and archaea make up 18 percent of the Planet's biomass. Their services are critical for humans and plants, a new research explains. But some critical factors put their resilience at risk
Peatlands in the Congo Basin cover more than 167 thousand square kilometers, 15 percent more than previously estimated. Photo: Dicklyon Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Dicklyon Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Congo’s peatlands are a barrier against climate change

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More than a quarter of the carbon stored in the Planet's peatlands is found in the Congo River Basin, says a research released by Nature. But these environments are threatened by land use
According to estimates, Britain's small farms could receive a total public/private benefit of £3.1 billion per year. Photo: Colin Smith Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)Colin Smith Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Government incentives and carbon market may revive marginal farms in UK

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Farms located in the most marginal areas of the UK are less productive but they also manage soils with the greatest potential for carbon storage. One trait that can attract public and private funds
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
The Government of Wales wants to remunerate operators who provide sustainable agricultural practices. Photo: David Stowell Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)David Stowell Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Trees and soil testing: Wales rewards new sustainable agriculture

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The Government of Wales has released further details on the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). The mechanism, which remunerates sustainable agriculture and carbon farming initiatives, will come into effect in 2025
European demand for African rubber contributes to deforestation in the continent's west-central area. Photo: Simon Law Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)Simon Law Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Europe under fire as rubber industry is destroying African forests

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In 21st century, the development of rubber tree plantations has led to the destruction of more than 500 km2 of native forests in Africa, says Global Witness. EU regulation is still weak
In a century and a half, forests in the U.S. Midwest have lost the biomass accumulated over 8,000 years. Photo: Tony Webster Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Photo: Tony Webster Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

US Midwest forests have lost 8,000 years of stockpiled biomass

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Since the end of the last ice age, forest growth in the west-central United States has contributed to the sequestration of 1.8 billion tons of organic carbon. The accumulated biomass has been destroyed in just 150 years
European soils are estimated to store 34 billion tons of carbon in the top 20 centimeters of depth. Photo: Jutta Benzenberg/World Bank Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Jutta Benzenberg/World Bank Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Soil and compost management can help Europe achieve climate neutrality

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In Europe, 31.7 percent of total organic carbon stocks are found in agricultural soil. Some good practices, such as the use of compost, can increase carbon sequestration while encouraging yields, says a report by EU Parliament
In Canada and in the rest of the world prairies store carbon in soil and play a key role in climate change mitigation. Photo: Bernard Spragg Public Domain Mark 1.0Bernard Spragg Public Domain Mark 1.0

New study will map carbon sequestration in Canadian prairies

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The most extensive research ever conducted on the prairies in Saskatchewan will quantify carbon sequestration in soil. The study will provide insights into the best farming and grazing climate friendly practices
The logging industry allegedly inspired the attempt to weaken anti-deforestation proposed rules in Europe. Photo: Hannes Knapp © European Wilderness Society CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Photo: Hannes Knapp © European Wilderness Society CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Europe takes one more step back on anti-deforestation rules

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The EU chooses a weak definition of "degradation" in areas affected by deforestation. Scientists are worried, The Guardian says. This choice is a result of lobbying campaign by logging industry, Greenpeace remarks

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