PESHAWAR: The Environment Society of the University of Peshawar organised a seminar here on Thursday to mark the World Soil Day.

More than 300 participants, mostly students of various departments, attended the event.

The day’s theme for the year was ‘stop soil erosion, save our future’.

Organiser Dr Asif Khan Khattak of the EnvSoc highlighted the importance of the World Soil Day and said climate change was a major cause of soil erosion.

He informed participants about the importance of sustainable soil management as a big step for the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG2 ‘Zero Hunger’, said a news release issued by the society.

Prof M Nafees of the university said soil contamination by chemicals was a major problem, which needed to be addressed.

“Greater concentrations of copper from fungicides are severely contaminating soils in the peach orchids and the wheat crops that are grown there,” he said.

Dr Ishaq Ahmad of the University of Agriculture highlighted different ways in which soil erosion was prevented in various districts of KP.

“We have constructed mini-dams, water reservoirs and spillways to conserve soil in many areas of KP,” he said.

Abid Sarwar of the Soil Survey of KP showed the province’s areas hit by soil erosion.

He said long-term planning for land use was essential to prevent soil erosion.

Research students of the Department of Environmental Sciences, including Ziaullah and Tasneem Sarwar, presented the findings of their respective research projects on soil contamination and plant soil interactions respectively.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2019