International Network of Black Soils (INBS)

The International Network of Black Soils (INBS) aims to provide a knowledge sharing platform for countries with black soils to discuss both the common issues related to the conservation and sustainable management of these soils and also the need to foster technical exchanges and cooperation. Launched in March 2017, with representatives from national soil institutions from Argentina, Brazil, China, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America (USA), the INBS will enhance collaboration and identify relevant research gaps to be addressed in a global status report on the challenges of scaling up the sustainable use of black soils. Delegates from 18 countries signed the Harbin Communiqué in 2018.

Functions, duties and more

The establishment of this network has the following objectives:

To provide a platform for countries with black soils to discuss common issues related to the conservation and sustainable management of black soils;
To develop a report on the global status, current productivity and challenges for black soils;
To foster collaboration among countries with black soils towards the promotion of the sustainable use and management of black soils and to identify relevant research gaps;
To serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and technical cooperation on black soils management.

Country	Focal point
The Republic of Mozambique	Jose da Graca Tomo
The Republic of Zambia	Stalin Sichinga
The Republic of South Africa	Matshwene E. Moshia III
The Republic of South Africa	Cornie van Huyssteen
Kenya	Bernard Waruru
The Republic of Rwanda	Chuma Andre
The Republic of Cameroon	Georges Ndzana
The Federal Republic of Nigeria	Vincent Aduramigba
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia	Sheleme Beyene Jiru
The Republic of the Niger	Hassane Bassirou
The Republic of Uganda	Abone Mugade Daniel Abone
The People's Republic of China	Baoku Zhou
The Republic of Indonesia	Yiyi Sulaeman
Mongolia	Enkhtuya Bazarradnaa
The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal	Chandra Risal
The Kingdom of Thailand	Sunsanee Arunyawat
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan	Chang Muhammad Saleem / Dr. M. Saleem
The Kyrgyz Republic	Roza Orozakunova
The Republic of Kazakhstan	Azamat Yershibulov
The Russian Federation	Ivan Vasenev

Any partner of the FAO Global Soil Partnership can become a member of INBS. To become a partner of the Global Soil Partnership, please register through the online form and send an email to [email protected] and [email protected].

National institutions, academia, NGOs, civil society, farmer associations, and other stakeholders interested in participating in this joint action to achieve the sustainable and productive management of black soils are welcome to join this network.

INBS Governance
Chairman	Miguel Ángel Taboada (Argentina)
Vice-Chair	William May (Canada)
Steering Committee	Miguel Ángel Taboada (Argentina) William May (Canada) Georges Martial Ndzana (ITPS, Cameroon) Xinhua Peng (ITPS, Chinan)