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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
The application of biochar is one of the soil conservation best practices suggested by WEF. Photo: GIZ/Tim Brunauer Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)GIZ/Tim Brunauer Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

“Support and rewards are needed to preserve soil and climate mitigation”, WEF says

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World Economic Forum shows the link between soil health and climate mitigation. Supporting farmers by rewarding soil- and climate-friendly practices is crucial
Total emissions from the agricultural sector in Europe fell by 20.7 percent between 1990 and 2020. Photo: CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredCC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Agriculture and soil contributed to declining emissions in Europe

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Between 1990 and 2020, annual CO2 equivalent emissions fell from 5.65 billion tons to 3.7 billion tons. Reductions in fertilizer use and livestock population have made an important contribution. While in soil, absorbed carbon exceeds the amount emitted
Fish smoking and the resulting demand for firewood are a major driver of deforestation. Photo: T.K. Naliaka Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)T.K. Naliaka Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Smoked fish is driving deforestation up in Congo-Brazzaville

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In the Republic of Congo, growing demand for firewood is fueling deforestation. After mangroves, alarm now extends to inland forests
Wetlands store the most carbon per unit area. Photo: Kelly Fike/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region Public Domain Mark 1.0Kelly Fike/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region Public Domain Mark 1.0

Carbon sequestration should address the tough balance between climate and biodiversity

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Carbon sequestration is an important tool for climate protection, EEA study says. But some practices to promote storage can reduce natural capital. The European agency ranked different terrestrial and marine habitats according to their storage capacity

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