An knowledgeable expressed grave concern about Türkiye’s escalating desertification menace, standing at a worrisome 73.4%, primarily because of erosion exacerbated by heavy rains induced by the local weather disaster.
In an unique assertion to Anadolu Agency (AA) to mark World Soil Day, Deniz Ataç, chairman of the board of the Turkey Foundation for Combating Erosion, Afforestation and Protection of Natural Assets (TEMA), underscored the crucial function of soil as the elemental sustainer of all terrestrial life varieties. He highlighted soil’s pivotal operate in regulating local weather, being a major meals supply and a basic element of the water cycle.
“An alarming 95% of our food originates from the soil, demonstrating its indispensable nature in sustaining life. Soil’s intricate ecosystem supports a myriad of life forms, from microscopic organisms to plants, birds, reptiles and mammals,” Ataç emphasised.
He additional illuminated the essential function of soil within the carbon cycle, indicating that it shops a good portion of the world’s carbon emissions, appearing as an important carbon sink. “In fact, soil harbors three times more carbon than the Earth’s atmosphere, underscoring its pivotal role in mitigating climate change,” Ataç added.
“At present, soil serves as humanity’s largest carbon sink, making it imperative in addressing the global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss,” Ataç emphasised, urging concerted efforts towards soil conservation to fight these urgent points.
Highlighting the crucial influence of abrasion on ecosystems, Ataç emphasised that the topsoil, which incorporates the best natural matter, is essentially the most densely inhabited space for residing creatures. However, erosion results in the lack of this important topsoil.
Ataç underscored that erosion considerably diminishes soil productiveness, biodiversity, water retention and carbon storage capability, contributing to a dangerous scenario the place 73.4% of the nation faces the specter of desertification.
Attributing the surge in erosion to heavy rains intensified by the local weather disaster, Ataç revealed that roughly 642 million tons of soil erode yearly within the nation, affecting 39% of agricultural and 54% of pasture lands.
Urban enlargement exacerbates the discount in productive agricultural lands, resulting in decreased range and productiveness in soil, finally posing a danger to future meals safety. Ataç famous that erosion-induced manufacturing loss in agricultural items might attain as much as 50%. Protecting the soil in opposition to erosion entails a vital function performed by vegetation in sustaining its integrity.
Areas devoid of vegetation cowl and characterised by steep slopes expertise essentially the most erosion. To improve vegetation cowl, Ataç pressured the need of afforestation efforts, pasture enchancment initiatives and soil conservation practices in agricultural lands. Implementing measures like terracing and afforestation and adopting practices comparable to contour plowing, decreased tillage and strip-like planting in sloping lands are important to defend the soil from erosion.
Ataç highlighted TEMA Foundation’s complete efforts in soil safety and erosion fight. Besides restoring degraded lands beneath rural improvement research, the muse implements sustainable agricultural practices to stop erosion, focusing totally on afforestation actions as a key technique to fight erosion.
The basis has planted 38.4 million saplings throughout an space equal to 44,543 soccer fields and sowed 700 million acorns over an space much like 22,000 soccer fields. Ataç emphasised their proactive function in advocating for vital authorized laws to guard and handle soil and pure property.
Expressing the Turkish individuals’s deep affinity for soil, saplings and nature, Ataç highlighted residents’ sturdy help for afforestation endeavors. He famous that a good portion of the TEMA Foundation’s afforestation initiatives operates in collaboration with the General Directorate of Forestry. Additionally, Ataç invited these taken with donating saplings to achieve out to the muse by numerous communication channels or go to their official web site for contribution particulars.
Underlining the urgent necessity to intensify consciousness and champion the reason for soil preservation, Ataç pressured the shared accountability in safeguarding this invaluable useful resource. With soil serving as a habitat for a powerful 59% of the world’s terrestrial life, housing a various ecosystem of life varieties, Ataç emphasised the crucial significance of soil conservation for the planet’s long-term sustainability.
Source: www.dailysabah.com