Nexus between environmental development and agricultural productivity: A study of inclusive sustainable development for Brazil.

Forest area is a key indicator of Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land), yet rapid deforestation, especially in tropical regions, poses a major environmental challenge. In Nigeria, increasing land use and land cover changes (LULCC) are encroaching on protected areas, leading to widespread forest degradation. This study assessed LULC changes in Cross River National Park (CRNP) using remotely sensed data and GIS techniques to monitor forest loss over time. Landsat satellite images from 2003 and 2013, as well as Nigerian Sat-X data from 2023, were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.1 and ERDAS Imagine 2014 for image pre-processing, classification, and accuracy assessment. Five LULC classes were identified within and around CRNP: forest cover, mixed grassland, farmland, built-up areas, and water bodies. Results showed a significant increase in mixed grassland and built-up areas between 2003 and 2013 in both the Oban and Okwangwo divisions. Mixed grassland expanded from 16.71% to 41.51% in Oban and from 15.67% to 38.87% in Okwangwo. Built-up areas also increased steadily, reflecting growing human settlements and activities. Conversely, forest cover declined drastically in both divisions. In Okwangwo, forest area decreased from 823.54 km² (78.48%) in 2003 to 437.10 km² (41.66%) in 2023, while Oban Division experienced a reduction from 1,992.30 km² (56.27%) to 1,069.22 km² (30.16%). The study concludes that population growth and increased dependence on park resources are major drivers of forest loss. It recommends sustainable land management practices, stronger conservation strategies, and strict enforcement of forest protection policies to curb deforestation in Cross River National Park.

Abstract. Estimating latent heat fluxes in semi-arid environments remains challenging due to the strong spatial heterogeneity of soils and plants, land management practices, and limited observational data. In particular, accurately predicting the partition of evapotranspiration into evaporation and transpiration from observations remains very challenging. Land surface models (LSMs) can be used as a tool in this regard, when their validation is possible, but recent studies have indicated that LSMs generally overestimate soil evaporation. This study evaluates the performance of the land surface model ISBA within the SURFEX platform using data from two contrasting sites during the Land surface Interactions with the Atmosphere over the Iberian Semi-arid Environment (LIAISE) field experiment: an alfalfa field subjected to flood irrigation, and a natural grassland which is nearly senescent during the study period. It was found that the ISBA model tended to overestimate the evapotranspiration. Therefore, a dry surface layer (DSL) resistance was implemented in the ISBA model to improve the simulation of evaporation, which has proved successful in other models. The implementation of a DSL resistance led to an improvement in the simulated latent heat flux by reducing bare soil evaporation compared to simulations without a soil resistance. This approach reduced the daily RMSE of the latent heat flux by 29 % and 32 % at the alfalfa and natural grass sites respectively, while marginally increasing the correlation at both sites. Sensible heat flux and net radiation have improved on the order of 10 W m−2, whereas the ground heat flux has deteriorated within the same order. The resulting DSL simulations reduced the overall global error compared to a simulation without a DSL resistance. A sensitivity test of the parameters that drive a DSL resistance in ISBA further improved the simulations, reducing excessive diminution of LE after rain events. The new DSL parameterization helps overcome current problems of ET modeling by reducing bare soil evaporation within LSMs.

ABSTRACT Climate change is a potent driver of land degradation, intensifying soil erosion and nutrient depletion, underscoring the urgent need for the adoption of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices. However, while the biophysical techniques for SLM are well established, a critical gap remains in understanding the financial and institutional frameworks required to scale these adaptation strategies. Existing literature often focuses on theoretical proposals or small‐scale community engagement, lacking empirical evidence on how macro‐level financial policies influence micro‐level land‐use behavior. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the efficacy of market‐based financial instruments, specifically the 2017 Green Finance Pilot Zone policy, in driving the transition toward climate‐resilient land management. Conceptualizing green finance as a strategic management intervention, this research utilizes a balanced panel dataset of 31 provinces from 2015 to 2023, sourced from official national statistics. We employ a quasi‐experimental Two‐Way Fixed Effects (TWFE) model to isolate the causal impact of green finance policies on fertilizer intensity, a robust proxy for chemical land degradation pressure. The empirical results demonstrate that the implementation of market‐based financial instruments led to a statistically significant reduction in fertilizer intensity by approximately 2.51 units in pilot zones compared to non‐pilot regions. Furthermore, the analysis provides novel evidence of Green Decoupling, where pilot zones successfully maintained economic growth (GDP) while curbing environmental stressors. The study further explores the socioeconomic impacts of these instruments, revealing that their effectiveness is moderated by regional economic development and population density. These findings suggest that cross‐sectoral policy frameworks that align the financial sector's incentives with agricultural land management are essential for overcoming barriers to adaptation. We conclude that technological innovations in monitoring and market‐based incentives are not merely supplementary but are foundational for enforcing climate resilience. This paper offers actionable insights for policymakers seeking to design financial instruments that mitigate the off‐site consequences of land degradation while ensuring economic viability.

ABSTRACT Soil health (SH) quantification is the key to understanding the impact of land management practices and providing decisions for the improvement of SH. In this study, two SH quantification frameworks, the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) and the Haney Soil Health Tool (HSHT), were used to identify the SH variations among eight fields under different management practices, and a comparison between the two frameworks was examined. Results from this study indicated that the two frameworks agreed that the pasture site was associated with the greatest SH condition. Ultimately, the comparison of the two frameworks indicated that SMAF provides a more comprehensive assessment of SH and distinguishes the land management practices via soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, while HSHT scores solely rely on Solvita CO2-C, resulting in greater variability in the overall SH scores. Compared to SMAF, which serves as a robust scientific tool for SH research, HSHT requires further refinement to adopt a more holistic approach to soil health assessment.

Gully erosion remains one of the most serious environmental challenges affecting semi-arid regions by causing widespread damage to land, ecosystems, and livelihoods. These areas marked by low and irregular rainfall, fragile soils, and intense human pressure are particularly vulnerable to rapid land degradation. This review paper explores the environmental impacts of gully erosion, with a special focus on its implications for Nigeria. Drawing from a wide range of studies, it discusses the underlying causes and dynamics of gully formation and emphasizing on how human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable farming practices have worsened natural vulnerabilities. The paper highlights the far-reaching consequences of gully erosion, including the loss of fertile agricultural land, decline in soil health, destruction of critical infrastructure, sedimentation of water bodies, and disruption of local ecosystems. In Nigeria, particularly in northern states like Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno, the problem has intensified due to increasing population pressures and shifting climatic conditions. Although various control measures from vegetation restoration to engineering solutions have been introduced, efforts are often hampered by limited resources, lack of awareness, and weak policy enforcement.This review calls for a more integrated and proactive approach to managing gully erosion by combining scientific knowledge, community participation, and effective governance. It also underscores the importance of promoting climate-resilient land management practices to protect vulnerable landscapes. By synthesizing existing research, the paper offers insights that can guide future studies, inform policy interventions, and support practical solutions aimed at mitigating the growing threat of gully erosion in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions and beyond.

Abstract This study assessed changes in soil properties and pedon layers as a result of long‐term ecosystem exclosure at the Botanical and Ecotourism Garden (BEG) of Dilla University, South Ethiopia. The site holds significant geographical, archaeological, and ecological value, hosting over 408 plant species. Long‐term exclosure is a common land management practice mainly used for biodiversity conservation. However, its effects on soil properties and pedon development vary based on land topography and land use type. The study aimed to examine how long‐term ecosystem exclosure influences soil morphological, physical, and chemical properties across varying topographic positions, providing insights for sustainable land management. Field surveys and laboratory analyses were conducted on eight soil profiles (pedons) representing upper, middle, and lower slope positions. Soil samples were analyzed for texture, bulk density, pH, organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and exchangeable bases following standard methods. Key findings revealed variations in soil properties with topography: upper slopes had deeper, clay‐rich soils (Vertisols and Nitisols) with higher OC (1.2%–3.5%) and CEC (18–33 cmol kg −1 ), while middle slopes had shallow, gravelly Leptosols. Lower slopes featured sandy Fluvisols with alluvial deposits. Soil pH was slightly acidic (5.9–6.7), and available P was low (5.5–11.8 mg kg −1 ), indicating potential nutrient limitations. The study concludes that soil properties in the BEG are highly influenced by topography and land use, necessitating site‐specific conservation and fertility management to sustain its ecological and agricultural value.

Changes in land use and land management can have significant effects on the global emissions budget, influencing the climate through biogeochemical processes. However, their impacts on major soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in West Africa remain poorly documented and understood. This study provides the assessment of soil GHG emissions in the Sudanian savanna region of West Africa using a chamber-based experimental setup. The measurements are taken at four sites with contrasting land use and land management practices: pristine savanna forest, cropland, degraded grassland, and a rainfed rice field. Over two consecutive years (2023-2024) of weekly chamber measurements during the rainy season (corresponding to the rice-growing period), our results reveal significant variation in methane (CH4) fluxes across the sites. However, nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes did not vary significantly, likely due to uniformly low nitrogen input across all systems. The highest seasonal CH4 emissions were recorded in the rainfed rice field (0.69 ± 0.17 and 0.82 ± 0.22kg C ha- 1 season- 1, on average), while the forest reserve acted as a net CH4 sink (- 0.019 ± 0.20 and - 0.42 ± 0.13kg C ha- 1 season- 1). In contrast, soils across all sites, both managed and natural, were sources of N2O, with fluxes ranging from 0.01kg N ha- 1 season- 1 in the forest reserve to 0.16kg N ha- 1 season- 1 in the rice field. This study also analyzed the environmental drivers of GHG fluxes and found that CH4 variability was significantly influenced by soil water content and soil temperature (partial R² between 0.21 and 0.42). No significant relationship was observed between these variables and N2O emissions. These results highlight that land cover degradation in the Sudanian savanna can substantially increase CH4 emissions, while its impact on N2O fluxes is marginal but leads to higher CO2-equivalent.

Abstract Farm size is a key characteristic of agricultural systems, closely linked to farming and land management practices. However, data on farm size are often difficult to obtain, especially in smallholder-dominated regions, and where available, they are rarely spatially explicit. This study examines the use of field size as a proxy for farm size, aiming to identify field size thresholds that can distinguish farms of different sizes. Using household-level data from Zambia’s Crop Forecast Survey (CFS), we applied both continuous and categorical methods to quantify the field-to-farm size relationship (FFR). Non-parametric Theil–Sen regression revealed a generally linear relationship between log-transformed field and farm sizes, particularly at the survey enumeration area (SEA) scale, where farm size is proportional to field size (slope ≈ 1) and field size alone predicts farm size with a median bias of 0.016 ha. A Gaussian Naive Bayes classifier was also developed to assign fields to three categories: very small (A: <2 ha), small (B: 2–5 ha), and medium (C: 5–20 ha), and a simplified two-class scheme (S: <5 ha; M: 5–20 ha). The Gaussian model identified field size thresholds at 0.58–0.6 ha (A–B) and 1.18–1.69 ha (B–C), depending on the prior farm size distribution. For the S–M scheme, thresholds ranged from 0.96–1.4 ha. Using these thresholds, national classification achieved F1 scores of 0.78, 0.59, and 0.77 for A, B, and C, respectively, with B more prone to misclassification. The two-class model achieved 0.87 and 0.88 for S and M. Kernel density analysis revealed regional variation, with clearer separability in northern Zambia and weaker in central and Lusaka provinces. These results demonstrate the potential of field size as a spatial proxy for farm size to support remote sensing based farming system classification in data-scarce regions.

This study examines the nexus between environmental drivers and anthropogenic mitigating measures in shaping the contemporary landscape of soil degradation in Southern Kebbi, Nigeria. Soil erosion has emerged as a critical environmental challenge in the region, driven by a combination of natural factors particularly high-intensity rainfall, soil texture, topography, and climate variability and human-induced pressures such as deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing, mining, and rapid land-use transformation. Using respondents’ perceptions, field measurements, and spatial evidence, the study establishes rainfall as the dominant natural driver of erosion, while deforestation and inappropriate land management practices constitute the most significant anthropogenic contributors. The consequences include loss of fertile topsoil, declining soil productivity, landscape instability, and increased vulnerability of rural livelihoods that depend largely on rain-fed agriculture. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative techniques. Primary data were obtained through interviews, focus group discussions, structured questionnaires, and field observations, while soil sampling, GIS and remote sensing analyses, and land use/land cover (LULC) change detection for a 20-year period (2004–2024) provided quantitative and spatial evidence. Findings reveal that rainfall is the dominant natural driver of soil erosion (75%), while deforestation (45%), unsustainable agricultural practices (25%), and overgrazing (15%) are the leading anthropogenic causes. Gully erosion is the most prevalent form (38.57%), followed by rill (33.10%) and sheet erosion (28.33%). The area is dominated by sandy loam and loamy sand soils, with a mean soil pH of 5.90 and mean drainage of 36.2 mm/hr, conditions that increase erosion susceptibility. Vegetation cover declined from 409,274.22 ha in 2004 to 252,315.07 ha in 2024, while agricultural land expanded to 875,797.34 ha. The study recommends integrating indigenous management practices—such as agroforestry, contour farming, crop rotation, mulching, and controlled grazing with modern soil conservation measures and effective land-use policies to curb erosion, restore degraded landscapes, and promote sustainable agricultural livelihoods in Southern Kebbi, Nigeria.

Agricultural carbon projects are increasingly promoted as instruments to address climate change while supporting sustainable agriculture. These projects combine sustainable land management (SLM) practices with a carbon credit component, creating complex governance structures involving diverse actors with unequal power. Understanding the governance challenges that may impede their effective implementation is therefore essential. Despite growing evidence on the potential of digital tools in agriculture, their role in agricultural carbon projects remains underexplored. This study employs a qualitative case study of two pioneering carbon projects in Kenya, alongside a participatory and visual mapping tool (Process Net-Map), to engage with stakeholders. It combines concepts of principal-agent and bargaining power theory to analyse the governance challenges of agricultural carbon projects, and the potential role of digital tools in addressing them. The findings reveal layered principal-agent relationships in the carbon credit component, characterized by strict monitoring and external accountability, exacerbating information asymmetries and shifting performance risks to actors with limited bargaining power. While women play a pivotal role in implementation and monitoring, intra-household power relations constrain their control over assets and benefits, thereby reinforcing gender inequities. Digital tools currently support data collection and reporting, with potential to reduce transaction costs and improve accountability, but their use remains largely confined to the SLM component. Expanding digital tools beyond monitoring to support participation, transparency, and feedback could strengthen smallholder bargaining power. The current study contributes to literature by highlighting how the carbon credit component reshapes and intensifies existing SLM governance challenges and offers insights for project developers and policymakers seeking to promote more equitable and effective agricultural carbon initiatives.

Robust monitoring of wildlife populations to guide interventions is fundamental to conservation and wildlife management. Understanding how landscape characteristics are influencing predator population dynamics is often vital to inform recovery strategies, management, and policy. The pine marten Martes martes is recovering in the UK; however, population spread has occurred at different rates across the country. We investigated how spatial variation in density of recovering pine marten populations is influenced by key habitat and human‐related factors. We genotyped non‐invasively collected pine marten hair samples collected through standardised surveys covering four landscapes in Scotland over three seasons. We applied a multi‐session, sex‐structured, spatial capture–recapture model to estimate within‐ and between‐landscapes spatial variation in density. We identify larger areas being used by individuals in recently recolonised areas compared to more established populations. We find significant differences in the spatial variation of density across landscapes ranging from 0.05 marten km − 2 (95% CI: 0.03–0.07) in the recently colonised Borders region of southern Scotland to 0.21 marten km − 2 (95% CI: 0.10–032) in the Trossachs region of central Scotland. There was substantial variation in pine marten density within landscapes. The amount of forest had a positive effect on population density, but not in the most recently recolonised population. Closer proximity to large gamebird shoots had a significant negative effect on pine marten density in one landscape suggesting that, despite being protected in law, pine martens suffer sufficiently elevated mortality close to some pheasant pens to locally depress their density. We did not find an effect of distance to nearest major road on spatial variation in population density in any landscape. While the mechanistic processes driving these patterns are not clear, our work highlights the importance of elucidating the processes underlying these effects of forest and land management.

This study examines the role of agents of change (AoCs) in promoting environmentally sustainable land management in Aotearoa New Zealand's (AoNZ's) agricultural system. Survey responses from 196 individuals across five organisational types highlighted significant sustainability challenges in nine agricultural sectors. Dairy was perceived as the least sustainable; mixed farming as the most sustainable, albeit still facing moderate environmental challenges. Respondents generally agreed that substantial or transformative changes in land management are necessary. The study assessed the perceived relevance and perceived organisational support for 12 human and 10 non‐human AoC types. While overall alignment between perceived relevance and perceived support was strong, inconsistencies and weaker alignment at the individual AoC level suggest additional factors influence support. Based on systems theory, AoCs were categorised by intervention depth using a leverage points framework, from shallow (e.g., policy parameters, feedbacks) to deep (e.g., system design, intent). Findings weakly supported hypothesis: shallow AoCs receive more recognition ( rho = –.16, p < 0.001) and support ( rho = –.12, p < 0.001) than deeper ones. This study underscores the importance of understanding AoCs within a systems framework and highlights the opportunity to strengthen support for AoCs driving transformative, system‐level change in AoNZ's land management practices.

Smallholders are central to global food security but remain highly exposed to climate change. The adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) offers a proven path to resilience, but progress is constrained by persistent information gaps and weak extension systems, which have slowed down adoption. Strengthening extension delivery through digital advisory services (DAS) can bridge these gaps by ensuring timely, context-specific guidance, thereby accelerating SLMP adoption and enhancing climate resilience among smallholders. Here, we report findings from a large-scale randomised controlled trial with 1760 households across 160 villages in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India and evaluate three models of DASs: agent-based, self-service and hybrid model approaches. In this study, we applied a difference-in-differences (DiD) method to estimate causal impacts on smallholders' awareness and adoption of SLMPs by using baseline and endline surveys conducted in 2023 and 2025, respectively. The results show that the farmers who used a digital advisory app, directly or indirectly, significantly outperformed the control villages. While widely known practices like earth bunds, organic manure, drainage ditches, minimum tillage, crop rotation and green manuring showed little additional improvement, digital advisory services were particularly effective in promoting the uptake of less familiar or under utilised practices like erosion control bunds, water harvesting bunds, tree belts and intercropping. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that a digital advisory system with an in-person agent can accelerate smallholder transitions toward adoption of climate-resilient farming practices specific to SLMP. Scaling such approaches globally would reinforce food security andsupport progress towards the Unites Nations Sustainable Development Goals particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

The study characterised soil and mapped agricultural lands in north-central Nigeria to address the lack of detailed, geospatial soil data and classification within the agricultural environment of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, as it has been identified as obstructing sustainable land management, agricultural productivity, educational support, and research development. This process systematically involved field surveys, examinations, and laboratory analyses. This comprehensive study evaluated the soil quality, drainage, morphology, and physicochemical properties across the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT) Main Campus Teaching and Research Farm. By advanced techniques like gridding, soil examination, profile pit excavation, and laboratory analysis, the study delineated the farm into five distinct mapping units (FUT1, FUT2, FUT3, FUT4, and FUT5). It evaluated various soil attributes such as effective soil depth, texture, colour, drainage conditions, erosion evidence, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and soil organic carbon content. Results showed notable variations among these units. FUT2, FUT3, and FUT5, characterised by higher slope gradients, exhibited the most susceptibility to erosion due to their soil properties and evident erosion features, whereas FUT1 and FUT4 displayed lower erosion potential with relatively stable soil properties. Soil conservation and proper land management practices should have been prioritised in the past and continue to be prioritised at present. Therefore, the soil mapping units are produced to achieve these targets and serve as a basis for further research at the study site. Ridging across the slopes at intervals will minimise soil erosion by water, and conservation tillage is encouraged.

Indonesia possesses vast land resources, offering significant potential for agricultural development. Among high-value commodities, durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is widely cultivated. Bumiaji District in Batu City, characterized by hilly topography and extensive agricultural land, serves as a prominent durian production center. Optimizing durian productivity, however, requires a thorough understanding of land suitability based on soil characteristics. This study evaluated land suitability for durian cultivation in Bumiaji District, focusing on key soil chemical properties, including soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), and organic carbon (C-organic) content. The research was conducted using a survey method with purposive random sampling based on land mapping units (LMUs). Results indicated that most areas were classified as highly suitable (S1) based on CEC and organic carbon parameters, with CEC values ranging from 18.89 to 35.97 cmol/kg and C-organic levels above 1.2%. However, limitations were noted for pH and base saturation, with some areas classified as moderately (S2) or marginally suitable (S3). Improving land suitability can be achieved through targeted soil management strategies, such as liming with dolomite to enhance pH and base saturation. The findings of this study are expected to serve as a reference for implementing sustainable land management practices aimed at boosting durian productivity in Bumiaji District.

Peatland farmers in Pontianak have traditionally applied combustion ash and organic matter to increase soil pH and nutrient availability, thereby enhancing crop productivity. Poultry manure is essential for providing essential macro- and micronutrients. Although changes in peat soil properties due to agricultural use are known, the specific attributes affected and the magnitude of these changes remain poorly documented. This study aimed to: (1) determine changes in the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio in peat soils cultivated under different land management practices, and (2) assess temporal changes in the C/N ratio associated with different cultivation durations. The study employed a direct survey method. Results showed that differences in peat soil characteristics between managed and unmanaged land were primarily evident in the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm layers. Changes in the C/N ratio were caused by intensive management practices involving large amounts of combustion ash, fish waste, shrimp shells, lime, urea, and KCl. In general, management duration did not significantly affect the C/N ratio or other chemical properties, except for KED and base saturation. At depths of 40–80 cm, the management effect is negligible, indicating that topsoil interventions have only limited impact on deeper layers. The relative stability of nutrient status in Pontianak's peatlands, despite prolonged intensive inputs, demonstrates the resilience of peat soil fertility. Changes in land suitability characteristics are primarily driven by management practices rather than cultivation duration.

Abstract Soil erosion is a significant environmental concern in Ethiopia, particularly in agricultural landscapes. This study assesses soil erosion risk and sediment yield using GIS-based Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) modeling in the Hamassa Watershed, Southern Ethiopia. The region receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 1,293.5 mm, with rainfall erosivity (R-factor) values ranging from 668.98 to 763.15 MJ mm ha −1 h −1 yr −1 . Soil erodibility (K-factor) varies between 0.13 and 0.30 t ha h ha −1 MJ −1 mm −1 , with Chromic Vertisols covering 76.3% of the watershed. The slope length and steepness (LS-factor) range from 0.072 to 148.37, highlighting high erosion risks in steeper areas. Land cover and management (C-factor) values range from 0.023 to 0.05. The model estimates an average annual soil loss of 14.75 t ha −1 yr −1 , with severity levels classified as very slight (47.8%), slight (29.4%), moderate (11.3%), severe (5.5%), and very severe (6.0%). The sediment delivery ratio (SDR) is calculated at 0.28, resulting in a sediment yield of 3.25 t ha −1 yr −1 . Five sub-watersheds (SWS3, SWS6, SWS8, SWS10, and SWS1) were identified as erosion hotspot areas, accounting for 73.8% of the total erosion in the watershed. These findings provide valuable insights for prioritizing conservation efforts and managing soil and water resources in the Hamassa Watershed, offering actionable recommendations for sustainable land management practices. Furthermore, this finding is crucial for advancing key sustainable development goals (SDGs) by supporting efforts to ensure clean water and sanitation, life on land, and climate action.

The utilization of biopore infiltration holes has become one of the simple and effective innovations in environmental management and soil resource conservation, with great potential to support a healthy environment. This community service activity aims to enhance farmers' understanding of the use of biopore infiltration holes as an effort for soil and water conservation as well as sustainable organic waste management. The outreach was conducted on September 7, 2024, at the Kesambi Village Hall, Pucuk District, Lamongan Regency, targeting 12 members of the farmer group. The implementation method of the activity included preparation stages, conducting a pretest, delivering material along with interactive discussions, and concluding with a posttest as an evaluation of the participants' understanding improvement. The results of the activity indicate an increase in the average knowledge score of participants from 81.25 in the pretest to 97.92 in the posttest. This demonstrates that the socialization method applied was effective in enhancing farmers' understanding of the functions, production techniques, and benefits of biopores. This activity is expected to encourage the independent implementation of biopores by farmer groups, both at the household and agricultural levels, as part of environmentally friendly and sustainable land management practices.

ABSTRACT Droughts are a major hydroclimatic hazard in central India and are projected to intensify under climate change. This study evaluates the effectiveness of land management practices (LMPs) in mitigating drought impacts on watershed hydrology in the Seonath Basin, a key tributary of the Mahanadi River, using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The model was calibrated (1985–2003) and validated (2004–2017) with satisfactory performance (NSE = 0.86–0.90 during calibration and 0.35–0.87 during validation). Baseline simulations show that evapotranspiration (ET) dominates the water balance, consuming ∼70% of annual rainfall and limiting streamflow and groundwater recharge during drought years. Climate projections under SSP245 and SSP585 indicate a ∼5% increase in precipitation, with runoff and recharge increasing by ∼50% and >300%, respectively, while ET declines by ∼38%. Although total water yield is projected to rise, altered water partitioning increases the risk of both flash floods and seasonal droughts. Simulated LMPs--including conservation agriculture, agroforestry, rice -fallow intensification, and watershed interventions--enhanced hydrological resilience by reducing surface runoff (5–20%), increasing baseflow (4–18%), soil moisture (10–20%), and recharge (5–15%). Without LMPs, future hydrological droughts reduce streamflow by 25–30%, whereas LMPs offset this deficit by 12–18%.