Suggestion to explicitly include "biological indicators" | CBCGDF- BCON's Advice on Beijing Local Standard "Guidelines for the Preparation of Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Programs in Industrial Parks" (Draft for Comments)

 

In late July 2023, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment issued a letter on public solicitation of opinions on the Beijing local standard "Guidelines for the Preparation of Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Plans in Industrial Parks" (Draft for Comments), soliciting opinions from all walks of life. 


The "Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood" Working Group of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF-BCON Working Group) responded positively to the call and, after careful study and discussion, put forward five recommendations for reference. The following is [Recommendation 4].



[Recommendation] 6.4 "Biological Indicators" is missing from the monitoring indicators. It is suggested that "biological indicators" should be explicitly added.



[Reason] The monitoring indicators of "biological indicators" need to be included in the soil pollution prevention and control program of industrial parks mainly because biological indicators can provide important information about the health of soil ecosystems, which can help to formulate targeted pollution prevention and control measures to protect soil quality and ecological environment. Specifically speaking,


(1) Bio-indicators can reflect the overall health of soil ecosystems because they involve the interaction of multiple biological species in the soil. By monitoring indicators such as biodiversity, biomass and bioactivity in the soil, soil quality can be comprehensively assessed and potential ecosystem problems can be revealed.


(2) Biological indicators can serve as early warning. Because some biological indicators are very sensitive to early detection of soil pollution problems. When pollutants are present in the soil, the biological community may be affected, with phenomena such as reduction in number, loss of species or changes in ecological niche. By monitoring these changes, warnings can be given and early pollution control measures can be taken before the problem intensifies.


(3) In addition, bio-indicators are able to assess whether the functioning of soil ecosystems has been jeopardized. For example, organisms such as worms, bacteria and fungi in the soil are involved in important functions such as decomposing organic matter, maintaining soil aeration and water retention. By monitoring the presence and abundance of these organisms, it is possible to determine whether the ecosystem is functioning properly.


(4) Biological indicators can help to understand the bioeffectiveness of pollutants in soil ecosystems, i.e. their toxic effects on organisms. The effects of different pollutants on different organisms may vary, and monitoring these effects can help assess the extent of the pollutant's harm.



Generally speaking, earthworms and nematodes are good common bioindicators. For example, the abundance and diversity of nematode communities in the soil can reflect the overall health of the soil ecosystem. Healthy soils usually support abundant nematode communities, and different types of nematodes have different ecological functions in the soil. In turn, nematodes are sensitive to changes in the soil environment, and specific species of nematodes may increase or decrease under different environmental conditions. Thus, changes in nematode composition and abundance can reveal soil quality and environmental changes. Nematodes are organisms relatively easy to sample and monitor, with simple collection methods, and they can be analyzed in the laboratory.


Original Chinese Article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/xQzDG7Ue_g4YDa3X7_c1HQ

Translator: Samantha

Editor: Samantha  

Contact: V10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

 


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