Farmer's Footprint Australia’s Post

🌱 #WorldSoilDay reminds us of the essential role soil plays in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Soil is much more than just "dirt"—it's the foundation of life, supporting processes vital to both nature and humanity. Here are just a few ways soil contributes to ecosystem health: 1️⃣ Nutrient Cycling: Soil stores essential nutrients and facilitates their release through decomposition, enabling plant growth and maintaining food webs. 2️⃣ Water Regulation: Acting like a sponge, soil retains water for plants, filters impurities, and prevents erosion. 3️⃣ Habitat for Biodiversity: Home to countless microorganisms, insects, and larger organisms, soil supports life from the ground up. 4️⃣ Carbon Storage: Soil helps mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon and regulating greenhouse gas emissions. 5️⃣ Foundation of Food Webs: Healthy soil sustains plants, which in turn support entire ecosystems. Our environmental team leverages this understanding in wetland delineations, where soil provides critical clues about ecosystem health. By analyzing hydric soils—those saturated long enough to develop distinct characteristics—we identify wetlands and assess their ecological functions. At Fisher Associates, we’re committed to preserving and restoring these delicate ecosystems. Through thoughtful environmental stewardship, we work to ensure wetlands and their surrounding habitats thrive for generations to come. Let’s continue to care for this vital resource to build a greener, more sustainable future. 🌍 Learn more about our work: https://lnkd.in/gcp8Z8_s

What a beautiful post by Troy Carter on the importance of not only gaining the trust of land stewards but also genuinely valueing them for the knowledge and wisdom they have. They should really be in the 'C-suite' / leadership team of any forest carbon project rather than being considered 'stakeholders' that need to be consulted for compliance. They don't have fancy corporate titles to show, or LinkedIn, or the opportunity of (or interest in) speaking at conferences to improve their 'brand'. And yet, they are the stewards of the forests that we aim to protect with our investments. They are the insiders, we are the outsiders. I just read a post by Equitable Earth on their new forest carbon standard which included a focus on educating land stewards on carbon markets to empower them for informed decision-making, rather than 'dealing with them' as part of a 'co-benefit' or SDG on social impact. #highintegrity #naturebasedsolutions #IPLC #benefitsharing #transparency #carbonmarkets #VCM #forestry #socialimpact

First “ah hah” moments of Day 2 of the Global Nature Positive Summit, after seeing inspiring examples of how community action in regenerative agriculture by farmers in Somaliland via Graham Strong and water restoration in Fiji and PNG by Stacy Jupiter, as well as a framework for centring Indigenous knowledge and cultural practice from Terri Janke, who said “knowledge doesn’t just come from sandstone colleges. It comes from sand and stone and land and sky”, and this from Marco Lambertini on current financial considerations of nature: “We only value nature when it’s dead. We only value a tree when it’s cut down. We only value a fish when it’s on our plate.” To help scale a fundamental shift of how we regenerate nature, we need to change how we calculate financial value of nature.

Today marks 54 years since the first Earth Day on 22nd April, 1970, when a crowd in Milwaukee listened to Gaylord Nelson, the founder, speak about our intrinsic connection with the planet. 🌍 Nelson's powerful words in this video launched Earth Day and sparked a global movement that has expanded significantly over the past five decades. Reflecting on his message, it’s clear Earth Day has evolved from a focus on pollution to how we address other critical issues like climate change and biodiversity loss, reflecting our own deepening understanding of humanity’s inextricable relationship with (and dependence upon) the natural world. Three Key Takeaways 🔎 1. The Critical Importance of Environmental Quality: Enhancing our environment is as critical now as it was then, humanity’s future depends on regenerative practices. 2. A Comprehensive Approach to Ecology: We need solutions that consider entire ecosystems, utilising nature's regenerative power to tackle broad environmental challenges. 3. Sustained Commitment Needed: Addressing these challenges demands persistent ethical, financial, and political commitment. Nelson’s message is more relevant today than ever before. Nature is not just a setting for our lives, it is vital for our survival and wellbeing. So What Can We Do? ♻️ Spread the Word: Increase awareness about the importance of nature protection and restoration. Sharing knowledge and experiences can inspire collective action. 🌿 Support Nature Restoration: Participate in or support local and global conservation and restoration projects. Visit Earthly’s project page for ideas, every effort contributes to making a positive impact. ✊ Raise your Voice: Advocate for robust environmental protection and restoration laws, such as the emerging Ecocide law (Stop Ecocide International). Our unified voice can drive meaningful legislative change. 🎙️ Watch the below video clip for the full speech 💬 (Thank you to Benjamin Bolton for cleaning/colourising the original footage!) #EarthDay #GaylordNelson #NatureRegeneration

🌿 New insights into #wetland ecosystems and global carbon cycling revealed by tea bags! 🌍 🔬 Our study leveraged a four-year, global experiment with 180 wetlands across 28 countries. Using innovative standardized tea-litter methods, we explored the complex interactions between climate, organic matter types, and wetland ecosystems. The study was by Stacey Trevathan-Tackett from RMIT University's Centre for Nature Positive Solutions and is "Climate Effects on Belowground Tea Litter Decomposition Depend on Ecosystem and Organic Matter Types in Global Wetlands," published in Environmental Science & Technology. Key findings: ➡️ Freshwater wetlands and tidal marshes exhibit the greatest potential for carbon preservation. ➡️ Elevated temperatures accelerate the decomposition of recalcitrant organic matter (like lignin-rich rooibos tea), but the impact varies across ecosystem types. ➡️ By 2050, climate projections suggest increased decomposition rates, potentially reducing belowground organic matter stocks in wetlands. 🌱 Why it matters: Understanding the intricate balance of organic matter decomposition helps us predict carbon sequestration capacity in the face of climate change. These insights are vital for enhancing climate models and supporting conservation efforts in these critical ecosystems. Read the full paper here for free: https://lnkd.in/g_2AQ_Bc #ClimateChange #BlueCarbon #Wetlands #CarbonSequestration #Sustainability

What are the risks to humans and the environment if fish are exposed to microplastics? Once in the food chain, microplastics can increase exposure and risk to various organisms that have both ecological and human health effects. Microplastic sinks are accumulations of deteriorated plastic debris in waterbodies. These may play a role in microplastics entering the coastal aquatic community food chain. As part of a multifaceted, multiyear assessment of the risk of microplastics to fish in tidal waters, our experts: • Developed an ecological risk assessment conceptual model for microplastics and striped bass • Are evaluating microplastic loadings in the coastal waters of Washington, DC and the Potomac River • Drafted a science strategy for the Chesapeake Bay Program for future microplastic research and monitoring Learn more about our work: https://hubs.la/Q02rLllb0 #EarthMonth #EarthMonth2024 #Sustainability #1BillionPeopleChallenge #LeadingWithScience #PlanetVsPlastic

🌱 Celebrating World Soil Day: Soil Science for a Sustainable Future 🌍 As a passionate Master's student in Soil Science, I’m constantly amazed by the incredible role soil plays in sustaining life on Earth. It’s not just dirt—it’s the foundation of food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience. This year's theme, “Healthy Soil, Healthy Life,” resonates deeply with me as I delve into the science of soil health, fertility, and conservation. By understanding soil's complex ecosystems, we can unlock sustainable solutions for: Feeding the world’s growing population 🍎 Combating land degradation 🌾 Mitigating climate change 🌦️ Let’s use this World Soil Day as a call to action to protect and rejuvenate our soils. Together, we can make a difference, one field at a time. #WorldSoilDay #SoilScience #SustainableAgriculture #HealthySoils #ClimateAction

This image humorously illustrates the irony of attempting to support life, while neglecting fundamental environmental principles. It depicts a person standing on a tree stump (representing a cut-down tree), wearing an oxygen mask connected to a tank and using a watering can to futilely water the stump. Here are some key interpretations: #Deforestation: Cutting down trees not only destroys habitats but also impacts the availability of clean air. Trees are crucial for absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. #Sustainability_Awareness: The image emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in agriculture. Overexploitation of resources can lead to environmental crises, affecting air quality and overall ecosystem health. #Reforestation_and_Conservation: Highlighting the need for reforestation and conservation efforts. Preserving and planting trees is essential for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources. #Interdependence_of_Life: The reliance on an oxygen tank underscores how human life is interconnected with the health of the planet. Healthy ecosystems support human well-being, demonstrating the necessity of environmental stewardship. #Futility_of_Actions: Watering a tree stump represents futile efforts to rectify environmental damage after the fact. It suggests that once significant damage is done, such as cutting down a tree, it cannot simply be undone by small actions like watering. The broader message being: #Conservation_Urgency: The image stresses the urgency of conserving natural resources before they are depleted. It’s a call to action to protect the environment proactively rather than trying to fix issues after causing significant harm. #Human_Nature_Interdependence: It emphasizes the interdependence between humans and nature. Destroying natural resources like forests directly impacts human survival and well-being, illustrated by the need for an oxygen tank. #Sustainability: The image advocates for sustainable practices, highlighting the need to balance human activities with environmental conservation to ensure long-term ecological health. In summary, this image is a powerful visual metaphor for the importance of #environmental_conservation and the consequences of neglecting our natural resources. It underscores the need for proactive measures to protect and sustain our environment. What are your thoughts?

🌊 Are we giving back as much as we take from our oceans? ‘From nature, good things come, and to nature, bad things go.’ Our relationship with the ocean begins with resource extraction and ends with waste disposal, but it's time to rethink this cycle. Ussif Rashid Sumaila, professor of ocean and fisheries economics at The University of British Columbia and co-recipient of the 2023 The Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, advocates for an interdisciplinary approach—bringing together academics, governments, and NGOs to co-create solutions for the critical challenges facing our oceans. 🌍 The ocean is vital to our survival, so we need to work across disciplines to safely extract resources and reduce pollution for a sustainable future. 🌊🌿 #OceanConservation #Sustainability #InterdisciplinaryApproach

🌍World Soil Day: Caring for the world beneath our feet 🌿   Soils are not just dirt beneath our feet; they are the lifeblood of our planet, nurturing biodiversity, filtering water, storing carbon, and sustaining agriculture. Yet, our interactions with soil have often veered towards degradation, posing threats to our environment and livelihoods.   Research under The Natural Resources Institute's Inequalities, Care, and Soils research theme delves into human-soil relationships, exploring how inequalities shape our interactions with this vital resource. From gender disparities in land access to the historical impact of colonial soil science, we are unravelling crucial insights for sustainable soil management 👩🌾🌾   Learn more about our vital work to support informed decision-making and policy that recognises the living and complex nature of soils and human-soil interactions 👉 https://lnkd.in/eVHetFJG   Together, let's nurture our soils, empower farmers as stewards of the land, and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future 🌱   Join us on 11th December for an insightful workshop, “Decolonising Soil Research in the Global South”, where we'll explore the connections between historical and contemporary soil data and how to meet the needs of land and agricultural research and practice. Register here ⤵️ https://shorturl.at/qcitz    #WorldSoilDay #SoilHealth #SustainableSoilManagement Marcos Paradelo Perez Lucie Büchi Lora Forsythe