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In Kerala, in southern India, natural forests store an average of 16.61 grams of carbon per kilogram of soil, compared to 11.82 grams in teak plantations. Photo: Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedPhoto: Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Natural forests beat artificial regeneration in carbon sequestration

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In intact forests, soil carbon levels are significantly higher than in areas being restored by tree planting, where higher soil acidity reduces sequestration capacity
According to researchers, trees, forest soils, and dead wood in Germany store a total of 2.2 billion tons of carbon. Photo: © Thünen Institute/Marius Möller press releaseThünen Institute/Marius Möller press release

Forest soil in Germany has offset carbon losses from trees during drought

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The discovery comes from the Thünen Institute: between 2018 and 2020, German forest soil stored more carbon than expected, almost entirely offsetting the losses associated with plant mortality
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
Pesticides have a significant impact on various beneficial organisms in the soil, such as mycorrhizal fungi and nematodes, compromising biodiversity. Photo: Maasaak: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedMaasaak: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Seventy percent of agricultural land in Europe contaminated with pesticides

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University of Zurich findings: seven out of ten crop soils in Europe are polluted with pesticides that have a significant impact on the biodiversity of microbial communities. Fungicides are responsible for more than half of the residues detected
Still largely unknown, soil microbiome include more than half of all existing species, including nematodes, plants, fungi, bacteria, archaea, and other microbial species. Photo: Carol M. Highsmith Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedPhoto: Carol M. Highsmith Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

US soil microbiome under investigation by researchers

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A group of researchers led by Johns Hopkins University is exploring the US microbiome by collecting soil samples from urban and rural locations to identify genetic connections between the environment and microorganisms
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 construction of new roads is a particularly significant sign of deforestation. However, many of them are difficult to identify. Photo: Kate Evans/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DeedKate Evans/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

A map of future roads helps fight deforestation

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A team of Australian researchers managed to develop a deforestation risk index based on the probability that an area may be affected by new road construction
The importance of this technique lies in its applicability to cereal crops, which are fundamental to global food security. Photo: Pixabay Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication licensePixabay Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication license

Researchers have turned cereal plants into pollution sensors

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US researchers have developed a genetic circuit that activates upon the presence of contaminants in cereal crops by inducing grasses to produce a visible pigment
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

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