Composting education and awareness could be crucial in driving the adoption of in-situ composting. According to a survey by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), about 60% of urban residents in India are not aware of composting techniques.
composting education and awareness
Current agricultural practices and excessive grazing has degraded the soils and ecological systems. Degradation of the environment leads to poverty and ecological destruction.
Soil Degradation: Conventional agricultural practices often rely on monocropping, heavy use of chemical fertilizers, and frequent tilling. This depletes the soil of its nutrients and microorganisms, making it less fertile over time.
Overgrazing: Animals feeding excessively on the same land can also deteriorate the soil and make it less productive. The vegetation doesn't get enough time to recover, and the soil gets compacted, which reduces its capacity to hold water.
Erosion and Desertification: Soil erosion occurs when the topsoil is swept away by wind and water, a problem exacerbated by both poor agricultural practices and overgrazing. Eventually, this can lead to desertification, which means the land becomes so degraded that it's almost impossible to grow anything on it.
Poverty Cycle: For communities that depend on agriculture, degrading soil health means lower crop yields. This pushes them deeper into poverty, forcing them to exploit the land even further to make ends meet. Poor families can't afford to let the land rest or invest in sustainable practices.
Societal Impact: Poor health, lack of education, and limited access to healthcare are all downstream effects of this ecological degradation and poverty cycle.
How land restoration can help to break the cycle of poverty and ecological destruction:
In Kenya, the Green Belt Movement has planted over 51 million trees since 1977. This has helped to improve soil quality, reduce erosion, and provide livelihoods for thousands of people.
In Ethiopia, the RESTORATION project is working to restore degraded land in the Tigray region. The project has helped to increase crop yields, improve livestock productivity, and reduce poverty.
In India, the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute has developed a number of technologies to reclaim saline and degraded land. These technologies have been used to reclaim over 2.5 million hectares of land, benefiting millions of people.
So, the work of restoration isn't just about soil and plants; it's also about breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a more sustainable and equitable future.