nostr:npub1rc6rwel853j89g9pax3ea5j0v06crtszrt3h470qs0hgklefjz8qgpg7hx "Another issue that threatens our biodiversity is topsoil erosion. Nutrient-rich topsoil is a crucial layer of the earth without which flora, fauna, and our entire agricultural ecosystem would not exist. Unfortunately, climate change is washing away this essential layer. India loses approximately 16 tonnes per hectare of topsoil annually. This is much greater than normal levels; in foothill regions, the loss increases by 25 times.

"We must understand how this affects the lives of citizens. Apart from the devastating impact on our environment, this has a huge effect on the livelihoods of the rural population. Lack of topsoil means that forests and arable lands will not be able to retain water, which further leads to flash floods, unpredictable droughts, and several other problems. The agricultural industry is the worst affected. Due to low ground-water reserves, irrigation becomes a challenge. And consistently degrading crop yields result in huge economic losses. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural Research estimates a loss of over 200 billion rupees annually due to topsoil erosion.

"However, solving such a complex and multifaceted issue requires multiple interventions. Both from the technological front and policy-wise..."