‘Carbon-rich biomined soil can be used in degraded forests’

‘About 42% of the area under low soil organic carbon needs replenishment’

A. Ramachandran, Emeritus Professor, Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management, Anna University, has suggested that carbon-rich soil reclaimed from bio-mined dump sites can be used in forests in the State. This, he said, will be a natural way of mitigating climate change since the carbon will help fix other nutrients.  Speaking at a recent training programme on “Carbon Sequestration and Enhancement of Carbon Sink in Forestry” organised by the centre and the State Planning Commission, he said about 47% of forests in the State were in need of such carbon fixation. “It would help both the bio-mining projects and the forests. The green cover can be rejuvenated with avian-flora like Naaval, Athi, Aalam and Itchi trees. That will help us strengthen our avian population,” he said. 

Nearly 42% of area under low soil organic carbon needs replenishment, which lost due to continuous reckless exploitation for several decades. Biomined soil, which contains 5% to 8% carbon, can be utilised in enriching soil carbon for enhancing carbon sequestration