Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine causes not only human suffering, material destruction, large-scale ecological consequences, disturbance of the soil cover and its pollution, but also leads to deterioration of food security of Ukraine and the world. The International Scientific and Practical Conference “Soil Preservation Imperatives” was devoted to these problems. Today’s challenges”. The event was also listed on the FAO interactive global map of World Soil Day 2022 events.
Swedish scientists were not left out either, and they spread information about our conference in their circles. They are no less concerned than we are about the state of Ukraine’s soil and the consequences of Russian aggression.
David Bendz, the head of the scientific department of the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI) interviewed Yuriy Zaitsev, the general director of the state institution “Institute of Soil Protection of Ukraine”. The original material can be found at the link: https://press.sgi.se/ posts/news/konferens-om-markens-tillstand-i-krigsdrabbat, read the translation of the interview below:
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Despite the raging war, World Soil Day is also celebrated in Ukraine. On December 5, an online conference with 100 participants will be held on how to protect the soils of Ukraine. David Bendz, head of the scientific department of the Swedish Geotechnical Institute, has been in contact with the institution that organizes the conference.
Different topics of the conference include monitoring, deterioration of soil quality and consequences of the war on the territory of Ukraine. The conference is an opportunity for specialists and researchers from different countries to exchange experience. However, the conference is conducted in Ukrainian.
– I do not speak Ukrainian, so it is difficult to participate, but the issues raised by the conference are also interesting for us. At SGI, we work with issues of land resources, and what is happening to the soil in Ukraine is happening in our immediate vicinity. War has a large-scale impact on the environment and agricultural land. Our mission also includes maintaining a certain international outlook, says David Bendz.
Before the conference, David Bendz maintained contacts with the state institution that organizes the conference.
– It’s great that they’re organizing this conference despite the situation they’re in, says David Bendz.
Yuriy Oleksandrovych Zaytsev heads the state institution “Institute of Soil Protection of Ukraine” in Kyiv, which is the organizer of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Soil Conservation Imperatives. Today’s challenges”. He notes that during the active hostilities, according to the institution’s specialists, irreparable damage was caused to the soil cover of eleven regions of Ukraine with an area of about 21 million hectares.
How does the war affect the soil in Ukraine?
– Military operations lead not only to physical deterioration of the soil, such as mixing of soil horizons and overcompaction, burning of the fertile layer and destruction of microflora, but also to chemical pollution. The direct impact of shells, burnt military equipment and oil products destroy the ecosystem and pollute the soil with heavy metals and toxic elements. Accumulation of heavy metals has long-term effects and affects soil fertility, as well as health risks due to uptake by crops. Metal remnants are one of the most dangerous consequences of military operations, as they are stored for a long time in conflict zones, says Yuriy Oleksandrovych Zaytsev.
What is needed for soil restoration?
– First of all, demining and an ecological and agrochemical survey of the soil that has been affected by military operations must be carried out. Then it will be possible to make a decision on the possibility of further use of the damaged plot of land for the cultivation of agricultural crops. We are already analyzing various methods that will help restore soil fertility, – says Yurii Oleksandrovych Zaitsev.
How to organize a conference despite the war?
– There will be a lot of soil restoration work – so it is necessary to discuss it now. Previously, scientific conferences were held live, and this year – online, which is a consequence of the war. We are aware of the difficulty due to the instability of the energy supply, but even in such a difficult time, communication between scientists is necessary. I am grateful for the support that both Ukraine and the conference are receiving at a difficult time, and that we have the opportunity to raise issues related to the state of soils in Ukraine, – says Yurii Oleksandrovych Zaitsev.