When is the last time you took a handful of soil and held it up to your nose? Do you remember the fresh, earthy aroma that enchanted your senses? You wouldn’t believe that part of the organic matter that has such a bewildering smell is carbon, the very substance that threatens the fate of the planet. But what if we would tell you that the same whiff is the one that can provide humankind with a solution to fight climate change?
The world’s soil traps more organic carbon than the planet’s atmosphere and all plants. Plants remove carbon out of the atmosphere during the photosynthesis process, and when they die, the soil traps both the plants and the carbon.
If we would manage to store more carbon in the land, we would remove the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and slow down climate change. The process would also improve the structure of the land and provide plants with nutrients.
Restoring soil is an essential step in fighting climate change
Improving the soil’s state in the following years is essential for slowing down climate change. It’s expected that by the end of 2050, the world population to reach over 9 billion, and put higher stress on the planet’s land. As in the business industry, when demand grows, so does the production and use of resources. But when used extensively, the soil fails to recover and triggers processes like soil erosion. When soil thins, its productivity diminishes, and with less soil available, the water level drops. The soil can slow down climate change in the long run, but people need to help it recover its properties.
The planet’s running out of time
Yes, soil can help fight climate change, but for how many years? At present, the world’s population expects the soil to store and purify water, support crop production, trap carbon and provide land for new constructions, but how long can it bear all these things without help? Until now, there have been few programs to improve and restore soil properties. Research shows that in regions where the soil has been used for intensive agriculture extensively, it has already thinned and no longer supports human needs. In those zones, soil erosion is vast, and the local communities need to find ways to thicken the land to extend its lifespan.
How can we save the earth on Earth?
Authorities need to find ways to conserve soil properties and develop sustainable programs for soil use. All civilisations have contributed to soil damage, but by adopting new agricultural changes and switching to new practices, we can interrupt soil deterioration and stop climate change. Ensuring land is vegetated, planting trees and plants, and providing the soil with the needed nutrients can save the earth on Earth. Preserving the soil should be an initiative that brings farmers, governments, scientists, and land managers together. For a liveable planet, we must treat soil erosion as a global issue.
