News
SoilTrEC Press Release March 2010
NSF News Release March 2010
Critical Zone Science puts the depletion of soil carbon on the global radar
Critical Zone Science is helping to highlight the dramatic opportunities and the improvements desperately needed in the way the world manages its precious soils.
Steve Banwart, Professor of Environment Engineering Science has co-authored the Benefits of Soil Carbon chapter in the influential United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Year Book 2012.
According to the Year Book, if changes are not made to the way land is managed, current trends in the way land is used to develop cities and intensify agriculture will lead to widespread loss of soil carbon and soil degradation. This impairs the many essential services of soil; to nourish crops, filter water, store carbon that is removed as CO2 from the atmosphere by plants, and provide habitat and support biodiversity.
This could also lead to profound implications for climate change as soils contain huge quantities of carbon in the form of organic matter than in turn binds the nutrients needed for plant growth and allows rainfall to penetrate into underground aquifers.
Since the 19th century, an estimated 60 per cent of the carbon stored in soils and vegetation has been lost as a result of land use changes such as clearing land for agriculture and cities. Research also shows that some kinds of conventional and intensive agriculture are triggering soil erosion rates some 100 times greater than the rates at which nature can form soil in the first place.
Professor Banwart, who is internationally recognized for his work in reactive processes in soil and groundwater, believes multiple benefits can be delivered through effective management of soil carbon.
Professor Banwart said: “Soil carbon is at the heart of Earth's 'Critical Zone' - the thin outer veneer of our planet that we depend on for almost everything. We have technology and land management methods available that can help protect soil carbon and increase it. To seize this opportunity, we need the right policies and incentives to encourage implementation.”
Carbon stocks can be enhanced by ensuring that carbon inputs to the soil are greater than carbon losses. For example forests have considerable potential for adding large stocks of carbon both above and below ground. In croplands, reducing tillage and integration of several crops in a field at the same time can increase organic material, soil biodiversity and soil health, as well as increase food production, particularly for subsistence farmers.
The Year Book, launched four months in advance of the Rio +20 Summit, also highlights another issue of emerging global concern – the challenges of decommissioning the growing numbers of end-of-life nuclear power reactors.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director said: “The Year Book spotlights two emerging issues that underline the challenges, but also the choices, nations need to consider delivering a sustainable 21st century – urgently improved management of world’s soils and the decommissioning of nuclear power reactors.
“The thin skin of soil" on Earth’s surface is often one of those forgotten ecosystems but it is amongst the most critical to the future survival of humanity. The Year Book cites many options for improved, sustainable management such as no-till policies to ones that can assist in productive agriculture in organic soils without draining peatlands.”
Notes:
THE UNEP Year Book was launched on the eve of the 12th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum.
The UNEP Year Book 2012 is available at http://www.unep.org
Soils Comment article in Nature
"Researchers must collaborate to manage one of the planet's most precious and threatened resources for food production and much more", says Steve Banwart.
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