World Soil Day: Sampling of the 3rd national soil survey completed

Since the third national soil survey launched in China in 2022, the sampling has completed with a total of 3.11 million soil samples collected, said an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs at a press conference on Thursday.

The survey covers about 11 billion mu (over 733 million hectares) of different types of lands across the country, including cropland, forest land, grassland and unused land, according to the ministry.

The survey aims to fully examine the property, variety and utilization of the soils so that the lands can be well protected and used in the future.

To better preserve the soil resources, the country also revealed an action plan in November to strengthen the prevention and control of sources of soil pollution until 2027. 

Issued by authorities including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Development and Reform Commission, the plan underlines efforts to improve the quality of the ecological environment of soil, as well as efforts to promote the country's high-quality economic development.

Today, December 5, also marks the World Soil Day, which aims to gather attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. 

The theme for this year is "Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage," which underscores the importance of accurate soil data and information in understanding soil characteristics and supporting informed decision making on sustainable soil management.

(Cover via CFP)