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Nei deserti l’impatto delle azioni antropiche ha interessato soprattutto il carbonio organico particolato nel terriccio e quello di origine microbica e vegetale nel sottosuolo. Foto: Circe Denyer CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Deed

Human activity causes carbon loss in deserts

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Some human-induced disturbances cause significant carbon loss in the soil of hyper-arid environments, a Chinese study claims. Among the most impactful activities even some practices considered “sustainable” such as seasonal harvesting and irrigation
Over four decades, the planet's soil has become greener overall. But it has also become drier. Photo: Jialiang Gao Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedJialiang Gao Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Greener but less wet: a Chinese study reveals the global soil paradox

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Research: in forty years, two-thirds of vegetated areas have become greener, but half of those also experienced considerable soil drying. Crucial factor: increased evapotranspiration
Red Mountains of Bolivia. PHOTO: Jan Kronies - Unsplash.

Drought, climate change, and scientific diplomacy: a collective response from Latin America

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Science cannot act alone to combat the climate crisis, and without it, no transformation is possible. Some experiences developed by South American countries highlight the importance of acting jointly
il Parco Nazionale di Doñana National Park in Spagna è una delle aree più colpite dagli effetti della siccità. FOTO: Ministero spagnolo per la Transizione ecologica e la Demografia (MITECO), 2022.

Drought, the Mediterranean in the hotspot in the world is small

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Un nuovo rapporto dell'UNCCD ha individuato gli impatti, ambientali, sociali ed economici della siccità nelle zone più colpite nel biennio 2023-2024. Tra loro, Spagna, Marocco e Turchia. "Una catastrofe globale che si estende su milioni di km quadrati e colpisce milioni di persone"
Drought impacts vegetation growth and rivers in Europe. Photo: Torsten Sachs (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu) Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported CC BY-ND 3.0 DeedTorsten Sachs (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu) Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported CC BY-ND 3.0 Deed

Drought is once again a major threat to European agriculture

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Agricultural drought is affecting northwestern Europe, the Baltic and some eastern and southern regions of the Continent. In contrast, following heavy rains higher yields are expected in Italy, Greece and the Iberian Peninsula
The land where the Aravalli Green Wall will be built in India has long been subject to increasing desertification due to climate change and human activities. PHOTO: TeshTesh via Wikimedia Commons.TeshTesh via Wikimedia Commons.

Desertification, India will have its own “Green Wall” to fight it

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1,400 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, the Green Wall will cross 4 states of India along the Aravalli mountain range. The territory has long been subject to increasing desertification that damages agricultural activities and ecosystems
Organized by the TERRASAFE and MONALISA projects, the webinar is scheduled for June 17, on World Desertification Day. Image: TERRASAFE and MONALISAImage: TERRASAFE and MONALISA

A webinar to discover new solutions against desertification

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On the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, on June 17, experts from two European projects outline strategies to counter the problem and share their experiences
Turisti in coda per visitare il villaggio di Aceredo, in Spagna, riemerso dalle acque durante la siccità del 2022. Gli eventi estremi, come le ondate di calore, possono trasformare gli ecosistemi in fonti di emissioni nette di carbonio. Foto: o_andras Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deedo_andras Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Drought and extreme heat reduce carbon sequestration capacity in plants

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Plant respiration and decomposition of organic matter increase carbon emissions offsetting additional sequestration associated with extended growing season, a study by the Autonomous University of Barcelona finds
In the Caatinga area of Brazil, three years after the elimination of grazing, there are no significant improvements for the soil. Photo: Otávio Nogueira Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedPhoto: Otávio Nogueira Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

Overgrazing halt not enough to restore soil in Brazil

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The study in the Caatinga region in Brazil: stopping grazing is not enough to restore soil health. Additional regenerative practices must be adopted to achieve results
From 1981 to 2021, thirst waves in the U.S. became 17 percent more intense and 23 percent more frequent. Photo: USDA photo by Bob Nichols. Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed.USDA photo by Bob Nichols. Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed.

US agriculture pays the price of atmosphere “thirst”

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An American study introduces the concept of “thirst waves.” In the US they have been on the rise for at least four decades. The phenomenon occurs when evaporative demand is high and plants therefore need more water