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According to the United Nations, degradation affects up to 50 percent of the Planet's rangelands. Photo: ILRI/Stevie Mann CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericILRI/Stevie Mann CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

“Half of the Planet’s rangelands are degraded,” UN says

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A snapshot from the latest UNCCD Report: degradation affects up to 50 percent of rangelands, twice as much as previous estimates. Central Asia and North Africa are the hardest hit areas
In the Tibetan Plateau, the benefits of vegetation enhancement for erosion control will be undermined by climate change. Photo: McKay Savage CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericMcKay Savage CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

Climate mitigation is the first barrier against erosion in Tibet

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Climate change will be decisive in increasing erosion in the Tibetan Plateau, a Chinese study finds. So curbing rising temperatures becomes decisive
Scientists developed a system that can predict missing data by taking into account soil and air dynamics. Photo: Beyond My Ken CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 InternationalBeyond My Ken CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Artificial intelligence accurately measures soil evapotranspiration

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Researchers at the University of Illinois have used artificial intelligence to predict missing data. Algorithm reduces margin of error compared to traditional measurements
NASA has launched two missions to monitor the soil and atmosphere for traces of water and signs of volcanic activity. Photo: Pixabay Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication licensePhoto: Pixabay Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication license

NASA will monitor soil moisture on Earth’s surface

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Soil moisture monitoring is also among the goals of NASA's latest missions. For the U.S. Space Agency, this is a new contribution to the study and protection of soil thanks to satellite data
Bees, both domestic and wild, play a crucial role in pollinating 70 percent of the Planet's plant species and contribute 35 percent of global food production. Photo: Rhododendrites CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 InternationalPhoto: Rhododendrites CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

A step forward in the fight of bees against mites

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Canadian study provides new details on the interaction between bees in their post larval stage and the Varroa destructor, a mite capable of destroying up to 40 percent of pollinator colonies each year
The reviewed projects affect 3.4 million hectares of land in the interior drylands of Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia where forest cover has increased by just 0.8 percent. Photo: John Robert McPherson CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 InternationalJohn Robert McPherson CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Forest regeneration in Australia does not influence CO2 sequestration

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A study shows that restoration projects implemented in Australia have had a negligible impact on tree cover. A finding that openly questions the effectiveness of the national carbon market
In the state of Assan in northeastern India, erosion affects nearly 300 square kilometers of topsoil, or 31 percent of the total. Photo: Akarsh Simha CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 GenericPhoto: Akarsh Simha CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

In India, 30 percent of the soil is at risk of erosion

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A study illustrates for the first time the extent of the phenomenon in India. For 3 percent of the area, the situation is defined as "catastrophic" according to the new classification
When they ecosystems do not have enough time to recover before another drought or fire they may suffer permanent damage. Photo: Russ Allison Loar CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 GenericPhoto: Russ Allison Loar CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

Drought alters post-fire recovery in the U.S.

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NASA satellite data reveal how drought has hampered recovery from wildfires in the western United States, resulting in the risk of creating permanent soil damage
The study on microbes was based on an analysis of previous research conducted in the Caatinga forest in eastern Brazil. Photo: Cesar Coelho CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 InternationalCesar Coelho CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Return of microbes certifies soil restoration in Brazil

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A study highlights the recovery of microbial diversity in regenerated semi-arid areas in Brazil. Thus confirming the validity of soil regeneration techniques
Microbes may be a viable solution to managing desertification. Photo: Richard Allaway CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericPhoto: Richard Allaway CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

Microbes are a key resource for slowing desertification

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Chinese investigation shows how microbes play a relevant role in countering desertification through their ability to manage essential soil nutrients