12th ITPS working session, 26-27 May 2020, Zoom platform

1. Table of Content of the Global Status of
Black Soils Report

2. • Considering the great importance of black soils and their higher risk of
severe degradation, it has become crucial to promote their
conservation and sustainable use;
• And to unlock their potential in the longer term to support food security
while protecting the environment and mitigating climate change.
The International Network of Black Soil (INBS) has been launched in
Rome on 21th March 2017, during the Global Symposium of Soil Organic
Carbon.

3. Members of INBS
Canada
USA
EU
Hungary
Russia
Slovak Republic
Poland
Bulgaria
Armenia
Moldova
Georgia
Ukraine
Turkey
Iraq
Syria
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Mongolia
Nepal
China
Argentina
Brazil
Uruguay
Colombia
Chile
Indonesia
Morocco
Zambia
South Africa
Thailand
Mozambique
WRB
31 Countries and 1 Union

4. Second Workshop of International Network of
Black Soils
Chisinau, Moldova on 4 - 5 October 2019
Work plan 2019-2020:
o The definition of black soils will be reviewed and finalized by ITPS.
o The approach of black soil distribution map will be reviewed and modified by pillar
4 working group of GSP.
o INBS will develop a global report on status of the black soils and establish a
network for black soil monitoring.
o The next black soil workshop will be organized by INBS and co-organized by
Ukraine in September 2020.

5. Progress of INBS
o The definition of Black Soils was approved in 11th ITPS Working Session.
o The approach of Black Soil distribution was developed by pillar 4 working
group of GSP.
o A global report on status of black soils has been developed by INBS
network. The table of content has been circulated and approved in the
Black Soil working group of ITPS and endorsed by the editorial board of
the black soils report.

6. HIGHLIGHTS:
• Main objective of INBS is the sustainable management of black
soils for Ensuring Global Food Security and Mitigating Climate
Change.
• The definition of Black Soils is the basis/first step of all other
activities of INBS.
• To finalize and endorse the definition of Black Soils by ITPS.

7. Structure of the report: Global Status on Black Soils
1. Introduction (9 contributors from 5 countries.)
Chapter introduction
1.1 The concept of the Global Report on Black soils
1.2 Definition of black soils
1.3 Ecosystem services of black soils (including agriculture, food nutrition, carbon sequestration and climate
change, regulation of water supply and quality, cultural, spiritual & recreational values)
Conclusion
Chapter 1

8. 2. Portrait of Black soils (explanatory text to the national map of Black soils, coordinated by P4WG of GSP)
(all countries, at least 20 countries)
Chapter introduction
2.1 Global black soil distribution map
2.2 Member countries (all countries that contributed, each country max 2 pages, photo of soil profile, national
map, description of environments, landscape etc.)
Conclusion
Chapter 2
Structure of the report: Global Status on Black Soils

9. 3. Regional status of Black soils (the summary of countries’ findings, such as productivities,
soil organic carbon/ carbon sequestration, erosion, nutrition, water, physics, pollution,
acidification or salinization, etc.) (18 contributors from 11 countries)
Chapter introduction
3.1 Africa (sub Saharan Africa)
3.2 Asia
3.3 Europe and Eurasia
3.4 Latin America and the Caribbean
3.5 Pacific
3.6 NENA (Near East and North Africa )
3.7 North America
Conclusion
Chapter 3

10. 4. The challenges to black soils and the ways/practices to overcome them
(13 contributors from 11 countries)
Chapter introduction
4.1 Changes in land use and urbanization
4.2 Inappropriate soil management
4.3 Inappropriate biomass management
4.4 Inappropriate water management
4.5 Over use of tillage
4.6 Over-use of fertilizers or other external inputs
4.7 Over-grazing
4.8 Monoculture
Conclusion
Chapter 4

11. 5. Potential response (Policy recommendation) (13 contributors from 8 countries)
Chapter introduction
5.1 Policy and institutional constraints
5.2 Research at national level
5.3 Information and knowledge
5.4 Capacity and resource
5.5 Appropriate incentives and regulation
Conclusion
6. The way forward
Chapter 5 and 6

12. Support needed
Call for countries to join the network according to the
endorsed definition of INBS, especially on tropical regions.
Support the activities of INBS:
• the report of the Global Status on Black Soils;
• the Global Black Soil Distribution Map (GBSDmap)
• the International Black Soil Monitoring Network (IBSMN).
http://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/intergovernmental-technical-panel-
soils/gsoc17-implementation/internationalnetworkblacksoils/more-on-black-
soils/international-black-soil-monitoring-network/en/

13. “Protect black soils, invest in the future”