Global Soil Partnership

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:

  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 for black soils;
  3. 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;
  4. To serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and technical cooperation on black soils management.

CountryFocal point
The Republic of MozambiqueJose da Graca Tomo
The Republic of ZambiaStalin Sichinga
The Republic of South AfricaMatshwene E. Moshia III
The Republic of South AfricaCornie van Huyssteen
KenyaBernard Waruru
The Republic of RwandaChuma Andre
The Republic of CameroonGeorges Ndzana
The Federal Republic of NigeriaVincent Aduramigba
The Federal Democratic Republic of EthiopiaSheleme Beyene Jiru
The Republic of the NigerHassane Bassirou
The Republic of UgandaAbone Mugade Daniel Abone
The People's Republic of ChinaBaoku Zhou
The Republic of IndonesiaYiyi Sulaeman
MongoliaEnkhtuya Bazarradnaa
The Federal Democratic Republic of NepalChandra Risal
The Kingdom of ThailandSunsanee Arunyawat
The Islamic Republic of PakistanChang Muhammad Saleem / Dr. M. Saleem
The Kyrgyz RepublicRoza Orozakunova
The Republic of KazakhstanAzamat Yershibulov
The Russian FederationIvan 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)

INBS Facilitator: Yuxin Tong

Main activities

Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly focused on “black soils” and data-sharing initiatives
23/06/2017

لعربية   |   中文     |  English   |    Français  |  Русский |  Español Soil...

COP24 | Black Soils for Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
06/12/2018

Presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland...

World Soil Day 2022: FAO publishes first global report on black soils
05/12/2022

Report calls for sustainable management amid mounting threats  


Latest publication

Global status of black soils
2022

Black soils are carbon-rich and highly fertile soils known as the world's food basket due to the variability of crops they sustain..

Global Black Soil Distribution Map

This was developed and submitted by fourteen INBS countries, and INBS coordinated the mapping process.


GBSmap - v1.0
Learn more about the GBS map

Events and working sessions

INBS agreed to advance science and technology of black soils management in the world

10/9

2018

12/9

2018

10/09/2018 - 12/09/2018

During the Symposium discussions focussed on the concept note and the institutional framework of the INBS in order to consolidate the membership for future cooperation and action plans. As far...

12/10

2020

13/10

2020

12/10/2020 - 13/10/2020

The online discussion will allow countries to progress on the Black Soils Report and the Global Black Soil Distribution Map. Please check the Presentation and the Concept note and Agenda

Publications

Status of the World's Soil Resources - Technical Summary
15/10/2018

This document presents a summary of the first Status of the World’s Soil Resources report, the goal of which is to make clear the essential connections...

Key document
Status of the World's Soil Resources: Main Report
12/10/2018

The 2015 Status of the World’s Soil Resources (SWSR) is a reference document on the status of global soil resources that provides regional assessments...

Key document
Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management
19/06/2018

The guidelines provide technical recommendations on how SSM can be achieved. The VGSSM are of a voluntary nature and are not legally binding. They elaborate...

Global Map of Black Soils
20/05/2022

Considering the great importance of black soils and their risk of severe degradation, it has become crucial to develop a deeper understanding of the...

Global status of black soils
05/12/2022

Black soils are carbon-rich and highly fertile soils known as the world's food basket due to the variability of crops they sustain..