Rebuilding soil organic matter: farming in eastern Austria

Forum task/Soil diary: Relate to the region you live in!

Now that you know about the drivers of SOM (and, as an indicator, SOC) decline and the management practices to reverse this trend in both forests and farming systems: think about your own situation or the region you currently live in. What are the drivers for SOC loss in your region, and what is being done about it?

Choose one of the following options and share your observations in the forum or document them in your soil diary!

• Option 1: Take a break and go for a walk outside. Can you see signs that SOC is likely being lost due to land use or land management? What are they, and what could be done?
• Option 2: Do you know a farmer or forest manager in your area? Ask them how they feel about their challenges and how they overcome them. If you don't know any, search for a farmer's association or community garden nearby and start a dialogue at their next event.
• Option 3: Ask yourself and share: what role could cooperation between farmers, scientists, and society play in maintaining healthy soils in the future?