Because of the war, Ukraine lost over 10 million of its 60 million hectares of land
Launched today at the Observatory Stakeholder Forum on EU for the soilsthe State of Soils in Europe 2024 report assesses the state of soil degradation in the EU and other countries in the European Economic Area, including Ukraine, Turkey and the Western Balkans. The report shows an alarming condition and trends such as the degradation of the soil has deteriorated greatly in recent years, and underlines the need for immediate action to reverse this trend.
For example, total soil erosion is estimated at 1 billion tonnes per year across the EU. To date, approximately a quarter (24%) of soils in the EU are affected by water erosion, mainly in arable land, with projections of a possible increase of 13-25% by 2050. Unsustainable water erosion affects around a third (32 %) agricultural land. Mechanical soil agitation, a common practice in agriculture, can also initiate soil degradation. This phenomenon, called soil erosion, can have a significant impact on cultivated fields. Other forms of erosion include wind erosion and harvesting, among others.
Nutritional imbalances are also increasing: they are now estimated to affect 74% of agricultural land. These changes in soil composition can have negative consequences. For example, excess nitrogen is increasing and can be harmful to human health, crops, ecosystems and the climate. Meanwhile, soil organic carbon, which is essential for keeping soil healthy, is declining in agricultural areas. An estimated 70 million tonnes of this organic carbon was lost from cropland in the EU and UK between 2009 and 2018.
Peatland degradation is also a concern. These wetlands are major carbon sinks: they absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and store them, helping to mitigate climate change. As they deteriorate, peatlands can release these gases back into the atmosphere. In the EU, peatland drainage is responsible for around 5% of total greenhouse gas emissions. 50% of peatlands in the EU are now assessed as degraded, many of which are irreparably damaged.
Outside the EU, the situation is just as dire – particularly in Ukraine, where hostilities have caused serious soil destruction. Over 10 million of Ukraine’s 60 million hectares of land are estimated to have been destroyed due to Russia’s invasion. Recovery from this damage can take decades or even centuries. In Turkey, about 1.5 million hectares of land have salinity problems, which can affect both agricultural productivity and ecosystem health. The Western Balkans report over 100 identified contaminated or potentially contaminated sites due to mining and industrial activities, although the true extent of soil contamination in these areas remains unknown.
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