Abstract
With the increased importance of collective action in many phases of natural resource management, it is necessary to focus on farmers' cognitive abilities, such as intellect, social capital (social relationships), and orientation (symmetric information), which enhance group or team ability to solve problems through collective action, not missing physical abilities. Due to low land efficiency as a result of land degradation, the regime is reliant on continuing watershed management collective activity. Participating in a large-scale collective activity could be facilitated by different populations' cognitive abilities. As a result, this review article examined cognitive collective action in campaign-based watershed management in Ethiopia's highlands, as well as how cognition is linked to physical practices and what factors influence farmers' decisions to participate in collective action. Then, through strategic and expanded kinds of cooperative games, experimental games were taken. This has been done using both conceptual and analytical frameworks. Web Science Page Googled and reviewed a total of eighty-one articles and published books. Then, at the end, their connections and gaps in the literature were highlighted. As a result, it is plausible to conclude that investing in farmers' collective action cognition can result in beneficial changes in land degradation. As a result, future academics and policymakers should concentrate on: 1) integrating social capital and collective orientation with watershed management to support collective action. 2) The interplay between cognitive (mental) and physical abilities. 3) Amending property rights and strengthening institutions. As a result, researchers can use the findings to develop policy and extension efforts that prioritize future farmer cognition.
Highlights
The visible type of land degradation affecting farms was moderate to severe soil erosion, which affected around 80% of its area [78]
The effects of cognitive abilities on watershed management should be evaluated at each peasant association using their linguistic and numerical abilities; abstract reasoning, problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic thinking in intellect, social relations and orientation
Farmers in Ethiopia's highlands are fighting over land degradation, which has resulted in the drying up of wells and springs and a decrease in farmland productivity
Summary
The visible type of land degradation affecting farms was moderate to severe soil erosion, which affected around 80% of its area [78]. Excessive population pressure, and deforestation all contributed to soil degradation, resulting in lower crop land production [9, 21]. According to Tesfaye [69] and Million et al [44], the Hararghe highlands, for example, were characterized by heavy population pressure, steep slopes, severe soil erosion, and low productivity. Land in the South Gondar Zone was extensively deteriorated as a result of significant population pressure, and resource competition between crops and stocks resulted in low farming efficiency [35, 81]
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