Soil is the prime global carbon (C) sink, contributing almost two-third of the carbon under terrestrial ecosystem. Soil organic carbon positively affects soil fertility and productivity, as it is an important resource that offers essential ecosystem services including food, fibre, habitats for biodiversity, climate regulation, water filtration and purification and human heritage. But, improper land management techniques, soil erosion and climate change have resulted in the loss of a significant quantity of SOC. However, appropriate management based on scientific data can not only prevent SOC loss but also restore additional SOC and directly solve major global concerns such as nutritional security, environmental sustainability and mitigating and adaption to climate change. Increasing SOC storage can greatly enhance our capacity to meet the objectives of numerous international and national policies, such as the UNCCD, FAO, and IPCC goals as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. To attain the stated aims of increasing SOC stocks, an efficient integrated solution that can combine existing national and intergovernmental policies is required. SOC is a crucial natural resource that is needed to achieve these objectives, which include improved soil health, sustainable agricultural practices and environmental services, as well as boosting soil carbon storage.
Carbon sink, Climate change, Environmental sustainability, SOC stock, Soil health
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