Soil, a magic carpet under our 👣
This thin layer we barely notice, is the foundation of all life on Earth and vital in tackling climate change.
This #WorldSoilday, follow our soil 🧵 and learn about the EU-funded @LIFEprogramme projects making waves in this space. ⤵
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745335550611456
➡ How does soil help combat #climatechange?
Soil removes and stores a HUGE amount of carbon from the atmosphere 🌱🌳
This is especially true in northern Europe, where the colder and wetter climate favours the build-up of carbon in soil.
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745348024475648
Great news, right?
However, when its poorly managed, soil can also release carbon back into the atmosphere.
This contributes to global warming and makes our efforts to fight #climatechage less effective.
So, what do we need to do?⤵
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745356891557895
We need to use land in ways that protect our soils. That means:
🌲Tackling deforestation
🥕Making farming more sustainable
🔥Combatting climate change-induced wildfires and droughts that damage soil
❌Addressing soil pollution, acidification and salinisation
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745364659122177
The 🇪🇺 is working to improve the health of our soils, especially via the @LIFEprogramme.
Here's 3⃣ of our favourite soil restoration projects from across Europe.
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745401724116992
In northern Europe, the🌱LIFE Peat Restore🌱 project has been restoring peatlands in 🇪🇪🇩🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇵 so they can capture and store more carbon.
There’s a handbook of best practices for others, too.
Read: https://europa.eu/!RcNMBv
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745408913543170
In northern Italy, intensive agriculture has degraded the soil.
The🌱LIFE agriCOlture project🌱is testing ways to improve soil management, which can then be replicated across Europe.
Read more: https://europa.eu/!dtfpQK
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745417708593153
We know that in the years to come, climate change will put more pressure on European soil.
That's why the 🌱LIFE DESERT-ADAPT project🌱is finding ways to counter aridification and land desertification in Italy, Portugal and Spain 🇮🇹🇪🇸🇵🇹
Read more: https://europa.eu/!QPYbb6
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745425484877824
Thousands of @LIFEprogramme projects are tackling climate change in their own way:
Want to find out more about soils and how they can help combat climate change, read @EEA’s report: https://europa.eu/!T4KJ88
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745437006635009
In addition to storing carbon, healthy soils:
🪱 Support more biodiversity
🥔Offer higher crop yields
💪 Are more resilient to droughts and floods
🌫 Reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/i/web/status/1599745374175961088