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.
Britain has advised its nationals to evacuate South Sudan as fears of renewed civil war grow following the collapse of a fragile peace deal.
Britain's King Charles was briefly hospitalized due to temporary side effects from cancer treatment and has cancelled Friday’s engagements on medical advice.
Britain recorded 19,125 potential modern slavery victims in 2024, surpassing previous figures. Experts urge policy reforms as stricter immigration laws leave victims afraid to seek help.
Britain's Royal Navy confirmed on Wednesday that it has been monitoring a Russian warship and a merchant vessel navigating through the North Sea and English Channel.
The International Skating Union (ISU) apologised on Thursday for displaying the flag of Taiwan rather than the Chinese Taipei emblem at the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing at least 28 people and leaving 81 trapped. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on the U.S. to rethink its new tariffs on European goods and engage in dialogue with the European Commission, criticizing the move as "nonsense."
Greenland is set to form a unity government while a US delegation visit stirs tensions. President Trump renews calls to acquire the island despite opposition.
Six Russians died and 39 tourists were rescued after the "Sindbad" viewing submarine sank off Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Hurghada. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, which highlights ongoing safety concerns in Egypt’s vital tourism sector.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
Mexican forces have dismantled a massive meth lab in Zacatecas, dealing a blow to a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
A devastating overnight drone attack on Kyiv, attributed to Russian forces, resulted in the deaths of three people, including a five-year-old child, and left ten others injured.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
France, Italy, and Slovakia have urged the EU to simplify its carbon border levy rules this year, calling for reduced red tape and standardized emissions calculations to ease the burden on businesses.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) officially confirmed that 2024 was a record year for renewables additions to global power capacity. Renewables represented more than 92 per cent of all new electricity generation capacity installed last year.
The Sydney opera house, and other iconic national monuments round the world turned off their lights at 8:30pm local time to commemorate earth hour.
A new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be created, the UK government has announced. 20 million trees set to be planted across the West of England in the coming decades, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.
Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, with the last three years seeing the largest mass loss on record, according to a UNESCO report. The accelerated ice loss, driven by climate change, is contributing to rising sea levels.
The International Skating Union (ISU) apologised on Thursday for displaying the flag of Taiwan rather than the Chinese Taipei emblem at the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing at least 28 people and leaving 81 trapped. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on the U.S. to rethink its new tariffs on European goods and engage in dialogue with the European Commission, criticizing the move as "nonsense."
Greenland is set to form a unity government while a US delegation visit stirs tensions. President Trump renews calls to acquire the island despite opposition.
Six Russians died and 39 tourists were rescued after the "Sindbad" viewing submarine sank off Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Hurghada. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, which highlights ongoing safety concerns in Egypt’s vital tourism sector.
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