Biodiversity Beneath Our Feet: How Earthworms Help Combat Climate Change

When it comes to fighting climate change, the first things that come to mind are solar panels, wind turbines, and reducing carbon emissions. However, one of the most effective and underrated forces of nature lives right beneath our feet. We’re talking about earthworms — the invisible heroes of the soil, playing a crucial role in the carbon cycle, microclimate regulation, and ecosystem restoration. In the context of global climate change, their contribution is of particular importance to the Czech Republic, where preserving soil health is becoming an essential part of sustainable agriculture and environmental security.

The Role of Earthworms in Ecosystems
Earthworms are not just soil dwellers. They are known as “ecosystem engineers,” as they create and maintain soil structure, support the decomposition of organic matter, and improve aeration. Their constant activity in processing plant residues and forming humus plays a fundamental role in creating a fertile soil layer. Earthworms pass large amounts of soil through their bodies, transforming it into a structure rich in nutrients and capable of retaining moisture.
This is especially important for Czech soils, where agricultural lands often suffer from erosion, compaction, and nutrient depletion. Earthworms improve water permeability, which reduces the risk of floods and droughts — natural events that are becoming increasingly common in Central Europe due to climate change.

The Secret of Carbon Balance: How Earthworms Fight CO₂
One of the key aspects of combating climate change is the soil’s ability to store carbon. Earthworms play an indispensable role here. When they consume plant residues, the carbon from these materials is partially preserved in the form of stable humus — a substance that can store carbon in the soil for decades. This form of “locked-in” carbon reduces the overall concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Modern studies show that in conditions where soil is rich in earthworms, carbon sequestration rates can be 20–30% higher compared to degraded or pesticide-treated soils. This is particularly important for agricultural regions of the Czech Republic — such as South Moravia and the Central Bohemian Region — where intensive farming can be both a source of emissions and a means of reducing them with the right approach.
Moreover, earthworms actively participate in the process of denitrification — the conversion of nitrates into nitrogen released into the atmosphere. Although this process can also be a source of greenhouse gases, studies show that earthworms contribute to a more efficient nitrogen cycle, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers, whose production and use are associated with significant emissions.

Agroecology and Earthworms: A Partnership for the Future
Agriculture in the Czech Republic increasingly faces challenges: declining crop yields, droughts, and soil degradation. All this requires a shift toward sustainable farming practices. One such approach is agroecology, which places natural processes — and, surprisingly, earthworms — at its core.
Farmers who adopt minimal tillage, cover crops (plants grown specifically to improve soil), and organic fertilizers achieve higher soil quality that “works” on its own. In such conditions, earthworm populations thrive, and their climate-related functions are amplified. In the Czech Republic, pilot projects are already being implemented to restore earthworm populations on degraded lands, especially in areas affected by intensive chemical use during the 20th century.
Scientific institutions like the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague (ČZU) actively research the potential of soil biota, including earthworms, in the context of climate adaptation. These studies are forming the basis for new agricultural strategies and government support for sustainable farming.

Why It’s Important Not to Interfere With Nature’s Work
Modern soil treatment methods, including deep plowing, herbicide use, and mineral fertilizers, destroy the very ecosystem that can protect us. Earthworms are extremely sensitive to changes in their habitat. If their environment is destroyed, it can take years to restore. But if we let the soil rest and adopt conservation practices, the worms return — and with them, a healthy ecosystem.
For the Czech Republic, as for all of Europe, maintaining soil biodiversity is not a matter of choice, but a necessity. According to estimates from the European Environment Agency, over 60% of Europe’s soils are in unhealthy condition. Without a comprehensive approach that includes the protection of soil organisms like earthworms, efforts to meet climate targets may prove futile.

Conclusion: Small Creatures, Big Changes
Earthworms are not just residents of the soil. They are unseen allies in the fight against climate change, the protection of agriculture, and the preservation of natural resources. In the face of the climate challenges the Czech Republic faces, it is especially important to reconsider our relationship with these creatures. Supporting natural processes of soil recovery is a step not only toward an ecological future but also toward food security and sustainable national development.
When we think of biodiversity, we often imagine exotic animals and endangered species. But true wealth and biological power lie where we least expect it — beneath our feet, in the soil. And earthworms are one of the clearest proofs of that.