This document discusses the launch of the International Network of Black Soils (INBS) in Rome on March 21, 2017. The INBS aims to provide a platform for countries with black soils to discuss sustainable soil management practices and develop guidelines. Black soils, including Chernozems, Kastanozems, Phaeozems, and Mollisols, constitute an important global source of food but are at risk of degradation. The INBS will foster collaboration among member countries on conserving and sustainably using black soils to support food security and climate change mitigation. So far, 23 countries have joined the network. The first Global Symposium on Black Soils will take place in September 2018 in Harbin,

1. Yuxin Tong, GSP secretariat
International Network
of Black Soils

2. U S, Mollisols
Argentina, Mollisols
China, Isohumisols
Russian and Ukraine,
ChernozemCanada, Chernozem
Black soils are high in soil organic carbon

3. Black soils constitute an important source of food for many
countries and for the world in general, and are often recognized
as inherently productive and fertile soils.
16.8 16.6
3.4 2.7 1.7 1.4
42.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
China United
States of
America
Argentina Russian Ukraine Canada total
Maize + Wheat + Rice + Soybeans
Percentageoftheworld
o The black soils in northeast China
account for 1/3 of China’s commodity
grain and 1/5 of China’s total grain.
o Black soils in the United States accounts
for 21% of the country’s territory.
o The total area of black soils accounts for
52.6% of arable lands in the Russian.
o Black soils in Argentina account for 32%
of the territory.

4. Their significant soil organic carbon (SOC) content
makes them sensitive as potential sinks and sources of
greenhouse gases.
Isohumisols, Songnen Plain. Northeast China
Water erosion Wind erosion
Decrease in Soil DepthSOC dynamics in Heilongjiang Province

5. Mollisols, Illinois, USA
Where does the C go? In the atmosphere? How much of it?
Soil organic matter decreased by
35.6-52.5% in Argentina.
The amount of SOC in Russia and
Ukraine have declined by 40%.
Decrease in Soil Depth

6.  Black soils remain very sensitive to anthropogenic intervention. They are prone
to severe degradation such as loss of SOC, but also:
Guiqing Han; Ivan Vasenev; Miguel Taboada
Loss of stable aggregates
Salinization or sodification
Soil compaction
Soil nutrient unbalance
Soil biodiversity losses
Anthropogenic soil acidity

7. • Considering the great importance of black soils and their risk of severe
degradation, it has become crucial to promote their conservation and
sustainable use,
• And to unlock their potential in the longer term to support food security
while protecting the environment and mitigating climate change.
On the basis of recommendation of the FAO’s Global Soil Partnership
(GSP) on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the
discussions and decisions from the Global Symposium of Soil Organic
Carbon, the International Network of Black Soil (INBS) has been
launched in Rome on 21th of March 2017.

8. Launch of INBS
Mr. Guiqing Han, Heilongjiang Academy
of Agricultural Sciences, China
Side event: Launch of the International Network of Black Soils (INBS)
Ms. Skye Wills, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA), USA
Mr. Miguel Taboada, INTA,
Argentina
Mr. Ivan Vasenev, Timiryazev Academy,
Russian Federation

9. INBS initiative was submitted by China
China has 1.03 million km2
black soils
China expressed their will to cooperate
with black soil countries
towards sustainable soil management
for food security and climate change
mitigation.

10. Definition of black soils
• The preliminary definition of black soils under the International Network
of Black Soils is:
• Black soils are defined as Chernozems, Kastanozems and Phaeozems
based on the World Reference Base (WRB) and Mollisols by the US Soil
Taxonomy.
Soil types Soil classification
INBS
Chernozems WRB
Kastanozems WRB
Phaeozems WRB
Mollisols US Soil Taxonomy
National black soil
types
Chernozems Russian classification
Isohumisols China classification
Chernozemic Canada classification
Chernozems Ukraine classification

11. Black soil distribution in the world based on the WRB,
includes Chernozems, Kastanozems and Phaeozems.

12. Mollisols under US Taxonomy

13. Objectives
Provide a platform for black soil countries to discuss common issues and
develop governance guidelines related to the conservation and sustainable
management of black soils
Develop a report on the global status, current production and challenges in
black soils
Foster collaboration among these countries towards promoting the
sustainable use and management of black soils and identify relevant
research gaps
Serve as a platform for incorporating real local challenges for knowledge
sharing and technical cooperation on black soils management

14. How will it work?
• The network is established under the framework of the Global Soil
Partnership (GSP).
• Countries with black soils, through their national soil partners, are
invited to join this network under clear terms of reference.
• The ITPS of the GSP will provide the scientific and technical advice
needed.
23 countries have joined the INBS: Armenia, Austria, Argentina, Brazil,
Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Indonesia, Kyrgystan, Malaysia,
Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Romania, Russian, Slovakia,
Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, and USA.

15. Top 20 countries by area
of black soil in the world
WRB
2034596
1831664
926192
807037
744126
629199
436554 402804
243158
78657 65019 62276 60283 53475 45521 34524 30997 30718 29635 27381
0
500000
1000000
1500000
2000000
2500000
Chernozems + Kastanozems + Phaeozems (km2)

16. Countries with black soils in the EU
WRB
60283
29635
21192
9893
5778
4935
3244
2584
1491
1034
Chernozems + Kastanozems + Phaeozems
km2
Romania
Hungary
Bulgaria
Germany
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Austria
Poland
Greece
Italy
Total: 140,069 km2

17. Global Symposium on Black Soils
The International Symposium on Black
Soils & the 1st Plenary of International
Network of Black Soils (ISBS18) will take
place in Harbin on 10 - 12 September 2018.
The Symposium will discuss and compile the
information available in the Concept note
and the Framework of INBS.
The Symposium will consolidate future
cooperation between the members of the
INBS, and action plans for the sustainable
development of black soils with a focus on
soil organic carbon, soil nutrients, soil
erosion and soil health.

18. Thank You for Your Attention
• You are all welcome to the Global Symposium on
Black Soils in Harbin.
• For the benefit of this black treasure of agriculture.