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In highly productive areas, such as tropical and temperate ecosystems, the efficiency of carbon use by microbes decouples from the respiration rate once this exceeds a critical threshold. Photo: pxhere CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Deedpxhere CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Deed

The connection between microbes and carbon cycle is more complicated than expected

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In some circumstances, a new study explains, microbial respiration, with the resulting release of carbon, can increase even when biomass production remains constant. A factor that must be included in climate projection models
In Southeast Asia, deforestation and land conversion have released more carbon and greenhouse gases than any other activity over the past two decades. Photo: Pok Rie Pexels free to usePok Rie Pexels free to use

Deforestation has made Southeast Asia a net source of carbon

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In the first two decades of the century, according to a Japanese study, the forests in the area released more carbon than they stored. Fires, peatland degradation, and fossil fuels are making things worse
Between 2000 and 2020, approximately 90% of cities worldwide recorded an increase in the extension of urban forests. Photo: vgnavada from the WordPress Photo Directory CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Deedvgnavada from the WordPress Photo Directory CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Deed

From Paris to New York, urban forests are spreading around the world

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From the French capital to NY, as well as in Denmark and Brazil, the world's major cities are increasingly focusing on tree planting and soil de-sealing. Better air quality, climate mitigation, and biodiversity conservation are the main benefits delivered
The study has important implications for climate change, as tropical forests are essential carbon sinks for the planet. Photo: pxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredPhoto: pxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Nitrogen doubles the regeneration speed of tropical forests

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When provided with adequate nitrogen tropical forests can recover from deforestation twice as fast as they would under normal circumstances, a research led by the University of Leeds has found
The surface of ferrihydrite has mixed areas of positive and negative charges, allowing it to attract both negatively charged substances such as phosphates and positively charged substances such as metal ions. Photo: Jerry Bigham Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedJerry Bigham Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

This is how iron minerals promote soil carbon sequestration

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Iron oxide minerals trap more than a third of the organic carbon in soil. Among them, a study explains, ferrihydrite uses different strategies to capture different compounds
The study, which involved the universities of Aalborg and Vienna, is particularly significant for a country with a strong agricultural tradition such as Denmark. Photo: Jane Tierney Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedJane Tierney Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

Denmark has mapped national soil microbiome

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The study, which involved the universities of Aalborg and Vienna, holds particular significance for a country with a strong agricultural tradition such as Denmark. The degree of habitat disturbance, the authors explained, affects microbial profiles
Today only 7% of the original surface area of continental peatlands has remained intact, and their climatic boundaries are changing. Photo: SiberianJay Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedSiberianJay Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Climate change puts Europe’s last peatlands at risk

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Currently, a study has found, only 7% of continental peatlands can be considered intact. But climate pressure is increasing, and in the coming years the situation could worsen
The results of the Chinese study revealed divergent trends: soil moisture decreased between 1980 and 2023, but the trend reversed after 2010. Image: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 DeedU.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Deed

Measuring global soil moisture is more difficult than expected

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A Chinese study has proposed a new double validation method to compare humidity data from nearly a thousand stations. Highlighting and solving typical spatial representativeness errors
Plants and microorganisms are essential for mobilizing phosphorus in the soil, but their effectiveness is influenced by many factors. Photo: pickpik royalty freepickpik royalty free

Plant and microorganism biodiversity increases the availability of phosphorus in the soil

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Uno studio cinese rivela i meccanismi che influenzano la capacità di mobilizzazione del fosforo. La fertilizzazione riduce la presenza di elemento assorbibile, la rigenerazione forestale la fa aumentare
59% of global deforestation is caused by meat production and 33% by soy production, both occuring in the Amazon. Photo: Ben Lamb Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedBen Lamb Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

Meat and soybean (plus coffee) are driving deforestation in the Amazon

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The latest WWF report identifies the main factors behind the ongoing phenomenon in the Amazon. Meat and soy top the list in terms of impact, ahead of cocoa, palm oil, and coffee