BLACK SOILS ARE UNDER THREAT

Black soils are of particular global importance because of their relevance to food security, agricultural sustainability and climate change. Given favourable climatic conditions, these soils are very productive. However, they are threatened by intensive agriculture practices and the consequences of climate change. As black soils are very fertile, they are considered “the world crop basket”, so they will receive increased pressure for usage in the future decades, and that requires some regulation toward their sustainable management. Their significant soil organic carbon (SOC) stock makes them sensitive as potential sinks and sources of greenhouse gases, according to agricultural practices adopted in their management.

TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF IRIBS

The Status of the World’s Soil Resources report  highlighted that black soils remain very sensitive to human intervention. They are prone to severe degradation by factors such as erosion, SOC loss, dehumification, compaction, salinization, and anthropic soil acidification.

On the basis of recommendation of the FAO’s Global Soil Partnership (GSP) on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the discussions and decisions from the Global Symposium of Soil Organic Carbon, the International Network of Black Soil (INBS) has been launched in Rome in March 2017.

INSTITITUTIONAL PROCESS

During the 9th Plenary Assembly of the GSP, the People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province of China proposed to establish an International Research Institutions of Black Soils (IRIBS) under the INBS. The institution aims at promoting capacity building and international cooperation in research and knowledge exchange for the sustainable use and management of black soils. The plenary welcomed the proposal and appointed the INBS to discuss and delivery actions towards the establishment of the platform.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE IRIBS

In the framework of launching coordinated actions on black soil protection, management and restoration, the establishment of an International Research Institution of Black Soils  (IRIBS) was included in the International Network of Black Soils (INBS)'s plan of action. The Headquarter of IRIBS will be established in China and will promote the practice of sustainable soil management in INBS countries by implementing the principles of the revised World Soil Charter and the recommendations in the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management. Soil experts from all countries of INBS will meet at IRIBS to share knowledge and experience, contribute to research and development, foster technical cooperation, build their capacities on sustainable soil management, set up case studies and ultimately provide sound scientific evidences to advise policy makers at the national and global level.

IRIBS AS THE HUB OF REASEARCH ON BLACK SOILS

The Institution will serve as the hub for advancing targeted black soil research based on black soil country’s priorities and this will inform their decision making processes. The activities in the work plan of the IRIBS will be aligned to global priorities as identified in the implementation plan of the INBS and in the global implementation plans of the GSP. In this regard, the GSP will provide technical support and guidance to the Institution and promote technical and scientific cooperation between black soil counties. IRIBS will be reporting its activities to the Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly.

MAIN TASKS OF IRIBS 

1. To support INBS’s member countries to implement INBS and GSP activities including the principles in the revised World Soil Charter and the recommendations in the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management ;
2. To promote the exchange of knowledge, data, Technical cooperation and experience among black soil countries by establishing the Black Soil Information System (BSIS) as direct contributor to the Global Soil Information System (GLOSIS) and under the framework of the International Network of Soil Information Institutions (INSII);
3. To build the capacity of IRIBS’s member countries on Sustainable soil management following a demand driven approach where countries will determine the needs; and
4. To encourage interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary targeted black soil research and management research and development through technical cooperation using different approaches.

• Department of Administration and Collaboration (DAC):
  • Together with INBS organize annual workshop and perform progress report to member countries and partners

• Department of Soil Information and Training (DSIT):
  • Build capacities of soil laboratories and monitoring stations in black soil countries in line with GSP’s GLOSOLAN activities, though trainings and equipment facility supporting;
  • Build capacities of soil information system in black soil countries in line with GSP’s INSII activities including development of the Global Black Soil Distribution Map (GBSmap), though trainings;
• Department of Black Soil Research Development (DBSRD):
  • Organize workshops or webinars at least once per year on sustainable black soil management for technical and scientific knowledge exchange.
  • Support member countries to develop the Report of Global Status of Black Soils.
  • Provide support to capacity building for young technical experts in countries with black soils in line with GSP’s EduSoils platform. Develop one online course per year on sustainable black soil management as well as support field case studies.