Soil Organic Carbon in Mainland Southeast Asia: Threats, Strategies, and Research Priorities for Sustainable Land Management
Pascal Jouquet
*
Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (UMR iEES-Paris), IRD, SU, UPEC, CNRS, INRAe, Paris, France and Research and Innovation Center, Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Nicolas Bottinelli
Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (UMR iEES-Paris), IRD, SU, UPEC, CNRS, INRAe, Paris, France and Soils and Fertilizers Institute (SFI), Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), Hanoi, Vietnam.
Soulikone Chaivanhna
Department of Land Administration and Management (DLAM), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Phai Do Duy
Soils and Fertilizers Institute (SFI), Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), Hanoi, Vietnam.
Kim Fooyontphanich
Livelihood Venture, Paris, France.
Netnapa Kaswiset
Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ratha Muon
Research and Innovation Center, Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Sochan Sao
Research and Innovation Center, Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Saysongkham Sayavong
Department of Land Administration and Management (DLAM), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Sreymom Sieng
Department of Agricultural Land Resources Management, General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Nivong Sipaseuth
Department of Land Administration and Management (DLAM), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Thu Tran Thi Minh
Soils and Fertilizers Institute (SFI), Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), Hanoi, Vietnam.
Tien Tran Minh
Soils and Fertilizers Institute (SFI), Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), Hanoi, Vietnam.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper investigates the critical role of soil organic carbon (SOC) in sustaining agricultural and environmental systems across Southeast Asia, with a focus on Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Thailand. SOC is fundamental to soil fertility, agricultural productivity, and climate change mitigation, yet its stocks are increasingly threatened by deforestation, unsustainable land-use practices, soil erosion, and the intensifying impacts of climate change. Through a literature-based review, we assess both the direct and indirect pressures on SOC and evaluate the different national strategies aimed at soil protection and the enhancement of carbon sequestration. By systematically comparing global and national soil carbon datasets, we reveal significant discrepancies and data gaps between global SOC maps provided by FAO platform with national datasets, underscoring the necessity for improved regional coordination. Our review also demonstrates a need for strengthened collaboration in monitoring, reporting, validation, and data sharing to better understand the spatial and temporal variability of soil carbon stocks. Finally, a targeted survey among scientists was conducted in the region, and allowed identifying key research priorities and barriers to effective SOC management. Based on these findings, we propose a collaborative framework designed to foster knowledge exchange and joint action to promote sustainable land management and climate resilience in the region.
Keywords: Southeast-Asia, regional coordination, international research consortium, carbon, policy, soil organic carbon map, ORCASA, MRV