Soil biodiversity and organic carbon are essential to reverse desertification

Abstract

Soil biodiversity, organic carbon, and their interactions, play critical roles for the maintenance and regulation of ecosystem services in drylands, including soil fertility and food production, among others. Climate change and anthropogenic impacts can result in soil carbon and biodiversity decreases, which can cause alterations of the carbon cycle and the loss of essential ecosystem functions. It is therefore crucial to advance our knowledge on the complex soil biological diversity, and its interactions with the soil organic carbon in drylands. This information will allow us to design effective strategies for carbon sequestration, thus contributing to reverse desertification. In this review, we discuss the importance of the soil biodiversity and organic carbon in drylands in a global change context and underline their interactions and their responses to climate change and degradation. We also highlight the use of novel techniques recently developed, including genomics, and effective soil management practices for promoting soil biodiversity and enhancing soil carbon levels, to ultimately, halt degradation and desertification.