An professional expressed grave concern about Türkiye’s escalating desertification risk, standing at a worrisome 73.4%, primarily as a consequence 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 essential function of soil as the elemental sustainer of all terrestrial life types. He highlighted soil’s pivotal perform in regulating local weather, being a major meals supply and a basic part 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 essential impression of abrasion on ecosystems, Ataç emphasised that the topsoil, which accommodates the best natural matter, is essentially the most densely inhabited space for dwelling creatures. However, erosion results in the lack of this very important topsoil.
Ataç underscored that erosion considerably diminishes soil productiveness, biodiversity, water retention and carbon storage capability, contributing to a dangerous state of affairs 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 growth exacerbates the discount in productive agricultural lands, resulting in decreased range and productiveness in soil, in the end 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 towards 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 resembling contour plowing, lowered tillage and strip-like planting in sloping lands are very 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 inspiration implements sustainable agricultural practices to forestall 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 just like 22,000 soccer fields. Ataç emphasised their proactive function in advocating for obligatory authorized rules to guard and handle soil and pure property.
Expressing the Turkish folks’s deep affinity for soil, saplings and nature, Ataç highlighted residents’ sturdy assist 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 considering donating saplings to succeed in out to the inspiration by varied 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 types, Ataç emphasised the essential significance of soil conservation for the planet’s long-term sustainability.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
