PROTECTING SOILS FROM ECOCIDE

The environmental consequences of armed aggression and hostilities during martial law are very serious and, in some cases, can be considered real ecosystem disasters. During the war, settlements and infrastructure are destroyed, leading to environmental pollution and the destruction of entire ecosystems, especially due to the extremely negative effects of the use of weapons of mass destruction, including chemicals and radioactive materials.

Environmental impacts include air, water, and soil pollution, which leads to the spread of diseases, deaths of flora and fauna, and humans. The level of biodiversity in conflict zones is decreasing, with serious consequences for ecosystems and natural resources. The mass destruction of flora and fauna, poisoning of the atmosphere and water resources can be considered a real ecocide.

The term “ecocide” describes serious violations of environmental standards that result in death or damage to nature. Actions that occur during military aggression, such as emissions of toxic substances, destruction of natural resources, including the destruction of green spaces, forest belts and forests, should be recognized as environmental crimes or ecocide. Affected agricultural land loses its fertility.

The legislatively defined procedure for calculating the amount of damage caused to land plots as a result of armed aggression and hostilities is reflected in the Methodology for Determining the Amount of Damage approved by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

Article 441 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine clearly defines actions such as mass destruction of flora or fauna, poisoning of the atmosphere or water resources, as well as other actions that may cause an environmental disaster under the title “ecocide”. These actions are punishable by imprisonment for a term of eight to fifteen years.

An ecological crisis, which can precede an ecological catastrophe, occurs gradually due to a change in the equilibrium in ecosystems. If consistent stabilization measures are not taken, long-term destructive crisis processes can lead to irreversible catastrophic changes for all living things.

It should be noted that one of the biggest environmental risks is also water pollution. The war damaged and destroyed water supply and sewage systems and other infrastructure facilities, which can lead to the release of contaminated wastewater and chemicals into water bodies. The explosions of warheads can also damage groundwater, which can lead to contamination.

For example, on June 06, 2023, an environmental disaster caused by the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant occurred, which led to huge environmental, social and economic losses. The flooding of large areas of the Kherson region not only physically destroyed the soil, but also caused the spread of pesticides and other pollutants, seriously degrading the quality of water and soil in the region. The absence of water intakes that fed irrigation systems caused a significant decrease in yields and increased the risk of drought. The processes of dry winds and desertification have already begun, especially near Oleshky Sands, where the risk of desertification is increasing. These changes pose additional climate threats to the region, including dry winds and sudden changes in pressure. This situation requires immediate intervention and the development of comprehensive measures to minimize the consequences of the disaster, as well as long-term strategies to restore ecological balance and prevent similar events in the future.

Measures are now urgently needed to reclaim and rehabilitate the affected areas. Comprehensive measures need to be organized, including the treatment of contaminated water and soil, the restoration of irrigation systems, and the introduction of sustainable agricultural practices that can adapt to changing climate conditions. The key task is to restore soil fertility and create conditions for the restoration of vegetation cover, which can help curb desertification. It is also important to ensure long-term monitoring of the region’s ecosystem to identify and neutralize potential environmental risks in the future. Given the scale of the disaster, these actions require coordinated efforts by local and regional authorities, environmental organizations, scientific institutions, and the international community.

Military aggression also leads to air pollution, as fires occur as a result of hostilities, which lead to the release of polluting gases into the air. The explosions of warheads create dust and other harmful substances that negatively affect human health and, above all, the health of the soil where agricultural products are grown.

All of this, combined with precipitation and atmospheric phenomena, settles on the soils of the Ukrainian land, leading to a significant loss of fertility. The question arises: what can be done to restore the fertility of soils damaged by the war? There are several steps to be taken to restore fertility:

• Determine the extent of soil damage. If the soil contains harmful substances, such as heavy metals, it is necessary to clean up the contaminated soil. Use natural sorbents, such as Diatomite, Trepel and Glauconite, which have a complex effect and act as a building material for microorganisms.
• Conduct a chemical analysis of the soil to determine its pH, macro- and microelements, organic ingredients, and other parameters. This will help you understand what nutrients are missing from the soil and what fertilizers should be added. Use organic fertilizers such as Peat, Leonardite, and Compost to fertilize the soil and improve its structure.
• Add plant material by using it as green manure, which will improve soil structure and add nutrients.
• Use natural bacteria that can decompose organic material in the soil and restore its fertility. Special attention should be paid to agronomically useful bacteria, such as nitrogen-fixing, potassium- and phosphorus-mobilizing bacteria.

A universal solution that covers the above steps is the use of complex fertilizers, ameliorants and reclamation products by AVELIFE TM. These products consist of: a) natural minerals (silicon compounds and carbonates) that act as effective sorbents and deoxidizers; b) natural organic matter (peat and leonardite); c) natural acidic components of different pH for different soil types and plants; d) microorganisms with agrochemical benefits.

AVELIFE organic fertilizers can be applied at different stages of soil cultivation. The best time to apply organic fertilizers is in the spring, before sowing, directly during sowing, including green manure sowing when rehabilitating damaged soils, or in the fall, after harvesting. Here are a few steps to take when using AVELIFE organic fertilizers for soil treatment:

• Clean the soil of plant residues, debris, and other waste.
• Spread AVELIFE fertilizer over the soil surface in several layers.
• To improve the effect of the fertilizer, it is recommended to water the soil after treatment.

The process of renewing or enhancing soil fertility has begun. AVELIFE complex fertilizers, ameliorants and reclamation products have a number of advantages over mineral chemical fertilizers and ameliorants. They not only restore and enhance soil fertility, but also promote the development of beneficial microorganisms that improve the quality of soil, plants and crops, based on the principle of an ecosystem where each element has a complementary function.

Soil protection and restoration initiatives play a key role in combating today’s environmental challenges, such as climate change, pollution and biodiversity conservation. Strategies that include the use of organic fertilizers and reclamation products, such as AVELIFE, demonstrate that modern technology and scientific approaches can have a significant impact on soil health and the overall health of ecosystems.

In the future, it is important to continue researching and developing new methods of soil restoration and conservation, as well as raising public awareness of the importance of soil to our common well-being and sustainable future.

Given the global environmental challenges, including climate change and biodiversity loss, soil restoration and conservation is crucial. These efforts require international cooperation as well as support from governments, scientific institutions, the private sector and the public. Only through joint efforts can significant progress be made in this important endeavor.

Scientific research and innovation, such as the developments of the AVELIF Institute of Nanotechnology and Organic Products, play a key role in identifying effective methods of soil restoration and conservation. These methods not only help to restore soil fertility, but also reduce the risks of environmental disasters in the future, thereby ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.

In conclusion, soil protection and restoration is not only an environmental necessity, but also a critical step to ensure food security, sustainable development, and preserve the quality of life on the planet. Each of us can contribute to this process, whether through scientific research, support for environmental education, or simply by being responsible in our use of natural resources.