The International Network of Black Soils (INBS) aims to provide a platform for knowledge sharing for countries with black soils to discuss common issues related to the conservation and sustainable management of these soils and the need to foster technical exchange and cooperation. Launched in March 2017 in presence of representatives from national soil institutions from Argentina, Brazil, China, Russian Federation, and the USA, the INBS will foster collaboration and identify relevant research gaps to be addressed in a report on the global status, the current productivity and the challenges in black soils. Delegates from 18 countries signed the Harbin Communiqué (September, 2018). For more information contact the GSP-Secretariat and [email protected]
Black Soils are characterized by a thick, dark-colored soil horizon rich in organic matter. Due to their inherent high fertility, these soils remain very sensitive to anthropogenic intervention and are prone to severe degradation. Because of their high soil organic carbon (SOC) content, they are also very sensitive and can be potential large sources of greenhouse gases. Extensively and intensively farmed, they constitute the food basket for many countries. Notwithstanding the relatively small percentage (7%) of the world’s ice-free land surface Black Soils cover, it is crucial to promote their conservation and sustainable use to maintain their functioning in order to sustain their supporting food security while protecting the environment and mitigating climate change.
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The establishment of this network has the following objectives:
1. To provide a platform for countries with black soils to discuss common issues related to the conservation and sustainable management of Black Soils.
2. To develop a report on the global status, current productivity and challenges in black soils.
3. To foster collaboration among these countries towards promoting the sustainable use and management of Black Soils and identify relevant research gaps.
4. To serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and technical cooperation on Black Soils management.
Check the launching video
Check the DG Graziano Da Silva video message
The network is established under the framework of the Global Soil Partnership. Countries with Black Soils through their national soil institutions (i.e. Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Hungary, India, Mexico, Mongolia, Paraguay, Romania, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, etc.) will be invited to join this network under clear Terms of Reference and under the guidance of a Network Chair (to be appointed following the Terms of Reference). Check the International Black Soil Monitoring Network.
Contact us at the GSP Secretariat if you need to reach out the INBS country focal point.
INBS focal point | Contact person |
Chairman | Ivan Vasenev (Russian Federation) |
Previous Chair | Guiqing Han (China) |
Vice -Chairman | Mykola Mirshnychenko (Ukraine) |
Secretary | Yuxin Tong |
The Argentine Republic | Marcos Esteban Angelini |
Canada | Xiaoyuan Geng |
European Union | Luca Montanarella |
The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal | Chandra Risal |
The Federative Republic of Brazil | Ademir Fontana |
Hungary | Tamás Hermann |
The Kingdom of Morocco | Rachid Moussadek |
The Kingdom of Thailand | Sunsanee Arunyawat |
The Kyrgyz Republic | Roza Orozakunova |
Mongolia | Enkhtuya Bazarradnaa |
The Republic of Poland | Bozena Smreczak |
The Republic of Mozambique | Jose da Graca Tomo |
The Republic of Armenia | Markosyan Albert |
The Republic of Bulgaria | Toma Shishkov |
The Republic of Chile | Rodrigo Osorio Hermosilla |
The People's Republic of China | Baoku Zhou |
The Republic of Colombia | Napoleón Ordóñez Delgado |
The Republic of Georgia | Giorgi Ghambashidze |
The Republic of Indonesia | Yiyi Sulaeman |
The Republic of Iraq | Kutaiba M.Hassan |
The Republic of Kazakhstan | Potehin Konstantin |
The Republic of Kazakhstan | Saparov Abdulla |
The Republic of Moldova | Tatiana Ciolacu |
The Republic of Turkey | Hakkı Emrah Erdogan |
The Eastern Republic of Uruguay | Carlos Clérici |
The Republic of Zambia | Stalin Sichinga |
The Russian Federation | Ivan Vasenev |
The Slovak Republic | Martin Saksa |
The Republic of South Africa | Matshwene E. Moshia III |
The Syrian Arab Republic | Hussam Hag Mohame Husein |
Ukraine | Mykola Miroshnychenko |
The United States of America | Skye Angela Wills |
10 - 12 September 2018 | Harbin, China
Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the government of the Heilongjiang Province, the Symposium promoted the sustainable use and management of black soils.
Recommendations from the Symposium
Prioritizing soils with the highest carbon stocks in the development of national and regional policies on soil conservation to prevent SOC losses.as per the GSOC17 recommendations.
Raising awareness for food security
Over 60 photos from 20 countries received for the contest, which challenged people to show the current status of black soils in their area or ways in which the region's black soils are sustainably managed
INBS agreed to advance science and technology of black soils management in the world
The International Network on Black Soils was established during the Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon (March 2017).
During the International Symposium on Black Soils, INBS discusses the structure and roadmap of the network.
The second workshop of the International Network of Black Soils (INBS) was held in Chisinau, Moldova on 04 - 05 October 2019.
ITPS finalized the definition of black soils and focused on the preparation of the Global Status of Black Soils.
INBS held its working session online through the Zoom platform.
The training session is creating the Global Black Soil map following the indications provided in the guidelines.
INBS has been postponed and will held its third workshop on 22 - 24 September 2021.