In soils the right balance of fungi and bacteria is very important to maintain a healthy soil for both forests as well as agricultural lands. Due to intensive farming practices, we see that the fungal diversity and the population in soils have come down drastically.
In England, conservationists are pioneering an innovative ecosystem restoration project by transferring fungi-rich soil from ancient woodlands to newly created forests.
Led by Forestry England, the initiative involves transplanting soil cores containing up to 300 species of fungi from Hagg Wood to York Community Woodland, a new 78-hectare site. These fungi, particularly mycorrhizal fungi, form symbiotic relationships with trees, enhancing their growth, nutrient uptake, and resilience to disease and extreme weather. However, these crucial organisms are often absent in newly established woodlands due to soil degradation.
The experiment, to be monitored over the next decade, aims to demonstrate how fungi translocation can restore soil health and biodiversity. If successful, it could serve as a global model for combating soil degradation, a growing crisis highlighted by the UN's World Soil Day.
A recent UN-backed study warns that land degradation is threatening Earth's ability to sustain humanity, with over 15 million square kilometers already affected and the problem worsening each year. Soil erosion alone could lead to a 10% drop in global crop production by 2050, exacerbating risks of malnutrition and famine amid a rising global population.
Experts like environmental campaigner Anand Ethirajalu stress that restoring the balance of fungi and bacteria in soils is vital not only for forests but also for agriculture and human health.
The project underscores the urgent need to value and restore soil ecosystems as a cornerstone of climate resilience, biodiversity, and food security.
British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said on Sunday that the decision to deploy additional Royal Air Force jets to the Middle East was primarily aimed at safeguarding UK personnel and military infrastructure, though support for allies, including Israel, remains on the table.
Britain’s King Charles will travel to Ottawa for the state opening of Parliament, highlighting continued ties with Canada, where he remains head of state.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
Five men have been arrested in the UK, including four Iranian nationals, over an alleged terrorist plot.
Britain’s Prince Harry says he is deeply disappointed after a UK court upheld the decision to deny him full police protection.
Indonesia has conducted the first passenger-carrying test flight of the EHang 216-S flying taxi, marking a milestone in the country's push towards future urban air mobility.
Norway is stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $640 million package aimed at boosting the country's drone capabilities, both on the battlefield and for infrastructure protection.
Ukraine faces a massive housing crisis as the ongoing war leaves over 2.5 million homes damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction efforts are advancing, but the road ahead remains long, complex, and deeply tied to economic, demographic, and security realities.
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
The EU is moving to simplify and unify its space policy with a landmark proposal—the EU Space Act aimed at boosting Europe’s competitiveness in the global space economy and establishing a single, streamlined market for space services.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
China has surpassed its 2030 renewable energy target six years ahead of schedule and now leads the world in clean energy investment, innovation, and deployment, transforming itself into a global powerhouse in the transition to a sustainable energy future.
New research highlights that naturally-regenerating forests, often overlooked in climate policies, could remove carbon up to eight times faster than newly planted trees.
Azerbaijan has been elected Chair of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) key decision-making body, marking a first for the country and strengthening its role in global environmental policy.
Growers in Chile’s Atacama Desert are turning fog into water to grow crops, including lettuce and lemons, in one of the driest places on Earth.
More than 110 million people across Europe — or more than 20% of the population — are exposed to dangerous levels of transport noise that threaten human health, the environment, and economic stability, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report released today (24 June).
Indonesia has conducted the first passenger-carrying test flight of the EHang 216-S flying taxi, marking a milestone in the country's push towards future urban air mobility.
Norway is stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $640 million package aimed at boosting the country's drone capabilities, both on the battlefield and for infrastructure protection.
Ukraine faces a massive housing crisis as the ongoing war leaves over 2.5 million homes damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction efforts are advancing, but the road ahead remains long, complex, and deeply tied to economic, demographic, and security realities.
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
The EU is moving to simplify and unify its space policy with a landmark proposal—the EU Space Act aimed at boosting Europe’s competitiveness in the global space economy and establishing a single, streamlined market for space services.
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