Land tenure and land use dynamics in the context of pastoral and non-pastoral land use coexistence in Mvomero district, Tanzania

Co-governance for green infrastructure preservation: Collaborative strategies in customary land tenure cities of Sub-Saharan Africa

Photovoltaic land occupation pattern analysis and comprehensive assessment of carbon emission reduction

ABSTRACT Urban expansion is an inevitable socioeconomic process that influences land use/land cover change (LULCC) and the surrounding community. Most studies related to urban growth patterns and LULCC address this issue on a single-city basis. This study focused on four intermediate towns located in different farming systems. This study examined the magnitude of urban expansion, its underlying causes and its impact on land use/land cover change and the surrounding communities in the urban fringes of intermediate towns (Debre Markos, Jimma, Hossaena and Jigjiga) in Ethiopia. The study uses Landsat imagery for the four study towns to assess LULCC from 1986 to 2020 supplemented with a cross-sectional survey design to collect data from randomly selected 400 farmers in the urban fringe areas of the study towns. Moreover, interviews were conducted with key informants and persons with better knowledge of towns. The change detection method was used for land use/land cover change, and an accuracy assessment was performed to determine the quality of the images. Annual area expansion and descriptive statistics were used to compute socioeconomic data. The finding showed that all the study towns have undergone rapid urban expansion with a magnitude of nearly 14-fold or greater, between the years 1986−2020. The expansion was very high in Jimma, with 128 ha year−1, and Jigjiga, with 100 ha year−1. The lowest expansion was observed in Debre Markos, with 26 ha year−1 , followed by Hossaena, with 77 ha year−1. The dominant type of urban growth in all the study towns was the extension type, but the leapfrog type was dominant in Jigjiga from 1986 to 2020. Population growth was the main driving force of urban growth in all the study towns. Other local factors, such as public investment, poor land administration and traditional land tenure systems, were also found to underlie urban expansion. The LULCC noted in the study area were a decline in crop land, grass land and forests/plantations and an increase in built-up areas. In terms of livelihood, urban expansion caused a loss of livelihood assets, a shift from farming to non-farming and shifts in cropping patterns and intensification. Nevertheless, urban expansion can also present opportunities as it intensifies access to services, markets and infrastructure. This study provides an extended insight into town growth patterns that could be used in urban management and planning in different cities.

Socio-economic characteristics are a complex interplay of factors that have shown a changing trend and diversities worldwide. In Siaya County, food crop production has negatively been affected by climate change, making households to engage in different disaster risk management approaches to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change for increased food crop production. Socio-economic attributes have potential influence on the choice and adoption of the disaster risk management approaches used to increase food crop production. This study analyzed the socio-economic characteristics influencing disaster risk management approaches for food crop production in Siaya County. The study used descriptive survey and correlation research designs. A sample size of 385 households was determined through sampling techniques comprising multistage and proportionate. Secondary data were obtained from the publications, Journals, internet sources and newspapers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to correlate socio-economic characteristics and the disaster risk management approaches using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) Version 20.0 for percentages, frequencies and level of significance while narrative analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Findings revealed varying strengths of relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and disaster risk management approaches. Age (r = 0.594, P<0.05), Gender (r = 0.610, p < 0.05), Marital status (r = 0.899, p<0.05), Education level (r = 0.072, p > 0.05), Occupation (r = 0.537, p < 0.05), Year of residence (r = 0.880, p < 0.05), Monthly income (r = 0.523, p < 0.05), Family size (r = 0.456, p > 0.05) and land tenure (r = 0.878, p=0.05). The study concludes that all the socio-economic characteristics influenced disaster risk management except education level with a correlation coefficient of 0.072 which was not statistically significant at 0.697, p > 0.05. There is therefore need for concerted efforts by various stakeholders in food crop production and disaster risk reduction to consider socio-economic factors when planning for interventions and advocate for application of the disaster risk management approaches to mitigate agricultural risks from the changing climate for sustainable food crop production.

ABSTRACT Despite extensive research on climate‐related vulnerabilities in Bangladesh's wetland ecosystems, there remains limited empirical evidence on the drivers of combined harvester adoption in rice cultivation, particularly in flash flood‐prone regions. This study examines the determinants of combined harvester adoption and its subsequent effects on market participation and household welfare among smallholder farmers in the wetland areas of Sunamganj district in Bangladesh. Leveraging a multistage random sampling technique, we collected household‐level data from 200 boro rice growers. The empirical strategy employs a Probit model to identify the determinants of combined harvester adoption and a Heckman two stage selection model to account for potential selection bias in estimating the effects on market participation and welfare outcomes. Our findings indicate that combined harvester adoption is significantly influenced by farm size, household income, land tenure arrangement, and access to agricultural information. Landowners exhibit an 11.4% higher likelihood of adoption, while access to information increases adoption probability by 16.1%, underscoring the salience of information asymmetries in technology diffusion. Moreover, combined harvester adoption significantly enhances market participation, leading to higher per capita income and expenditure among smallholders. Additionally, Heckman two stage estimates indicate that adopters benefit from increased productivity and reduced labor constraints than non‐adopters. These findings highlight the importance of improving information access, strengthening extension services, and enabling land consolidation to promote combined harvester adoption in the clmate vulnerable wetland areas. Overall, expanding information access, strengthening extension services, and supporting larger farm operations can significantly boost combined harvester adoption and market participation, ultimately improving smallholder resilience and livelihoods.

Peri-urban agroforestry can provide affordable, fresh, and nutritious food and a departure from conventional forms of cropping. Indigenous foods are well-adapted to local conditions, and may hold cultural and economic value for peri-urban residents. Social, ecological, and economic variables influence the feasibility of indigenous agroforestry in peri-urban areas. This study uses participatory mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) to assess these variables and to map suitable spaces and species for peri-urban indigenous agroforestry at three peri-urban sites in Durban, South Africa. We find that: land tenure, livelihood opportunities, and indigenous food perceptions factor into socioeconomic preferences; topography and soil quality influence ecological feasibility; access to water and roads influences perceived economic viability. Although GIS techniques can identify land suitability, participatory mapping adds local fine-scale context to enhance decision-making. Based on the social-ecological conditions at the three sites, we suggest specific configurations of locally adapted foods and farm designs for peri-urban agroforestry. Our study demonstrates how agroforestry is more feasible in places where basic living conditions are fulfilled, and how co-design can improve recognition of local needs, accessibility to services, and balancing urban green equity.

Understanding how land tenure and socio-economic pressures shape landscape transformation is critical for sustainable management in biodiversity-rich regions. This study examines three decades (1987–2017) of land use and land cover (LU&LC) change in the Ngerenyi area of the Taita Hills, Kenya, by integrating multispectral Landsat analysis with household survey data. Harmonized pre-processing and supervised classification of four LU&LC classes, agriculture, built-up areas, high-canopy vegetation, and low-canopy vegetation, achieved overall accuracies above 80% and Kappa values exceeding 0.75. Transition modeling using the Minimum Information Loss Transition Estimation (MILTE) approach, combined with net-versus-swap metrics, revealed persistent decline and fragmentation of high-canopy vegetation, cyclical transitions between agriculture and low-canopy vegetation, and the near-irreversible expansion of built-up areas. Low-canopy vegetation exhibited the highest dynamism, reflecting both degradation from canopy loss and natural regeneration from fallowed cropland. Household surveys (n = 141) identified agricultural expansion, charcoal production, fuelwood extraction, and population growth as the dominant perceived drivers, with significant variation across tenure categories. The population in Taita Taveta County increased from 205,334 in 2009 to 340,671 in 2019, reinforcing documented pressures on land resources and woody biomass. As part of the Eastern Arc biodiversity hotspot, the landscape’s diminishing high-canopy patches underscore the importance of conserving undisturbed vegetation remnants as ecological baselines and biodiversity refuges. The findings highlight the need for tenure-sensitive, landscape-scale planning that integrates private landowners, regulates subdivision, promotes agroforestry and alternative energy options, and safeguards remaining high-canopy vegetation to enhance ecological resilience while supporting local livelihoods.

Abstract With the majority of terrestrial land privately owned and the Earth in a biodiversity extinction crisis, it is vital to improve our understanding of biodiversity on private lands. However, documenting biodiversity on private lands is challenging due to the time and financial constraints in gaining access, hindering our understanding of the value of private lands for conservation. In recent decades, citizen science has offered a unique opportunity to obtain biodiversity data on private lands through engaging landholders and encouraging participation in biodiversity documentation. To determine the value of citizen science for biodiversity sampling on private lands and enhance our understanding of the importance of private lands, we leveraged nearly 500,000 frog occurrence records from across New South Wales, Australia, from the Australian citizen science project, FrogID. Pairing this data with land tenure data, we found that private land was relatively better sampled than public land by citizen science data, with 86% of records from private lands. Private and public lands supported moderately different biodiversity, and frog species richness was predicted to likely be higher on private land once aridity and sampling density were accounted for. Citizen science offers a novel technique to supplement biodiversity data collection by rapidly amassing occurrence data on broad scales. Private lands are essential for global biodiversity conservation, encompassing the majority of land and providing vital habitat for both threatened and non‐threatened taxa.

Abstract Climate-smart agriculture is heralded for enhancing productivity and combating climate change. It has been purported that the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies (CSAPT) remains limited, with various reasons. A key challenge in the existing literature is conflating traditional CSAPT, such as intercropping, with innovative CSAPT, like improved seeds, obscuring critical distinctions. Recognizing that CSAPT adoption is highly context-specific, especially in regions like Northern Togo with unique agro-ecological and socio-economic challenges, this study analyzed farm production efficiency under traditional and innovative CSAPT. Using data from over 500 households in Togo’s Kozah prefecture, farmers were categorized into those who adopted only traditional CSAPT and those combining traditional and innovative CSAPT. A binary probit model identified adoption determinants, while stochastic frontier analysis evaluated farmers’ technical efficiency. The findings indicate that most farmers continue to rely only on traditional CSAPT. Probit analysis indicates that factors like gender, land tenure, farm size, organization membership, and dry spell exposure influence the likelihood of adopting traditional and innovative CSAPT. Farmers combining traditional and innovative CSAPT had higher efficiency than those using only traditional methods. These findings have important policy implications. They emphasize the need for agricultural policies that reduce barriers to adopting innovative CSAPT. Policies should ensure land access for women, empower farmer organizations to spread technology, and develop localized climate-resilience strategies. These initiatives can increase the adoption of efficiency practices, boosting agricultural productivity and food security amid climate change.

With global population growth and rising consumption levels, the demand for meat has increased dramatically. Traditional animal husbandry, due to its high resource consumption and significant environmental pressures—such as substantial greenhouse gas emissions, land occupation, and water resource waste, has become difficult to sustainably meet future demands. As an emerging alternative protein source, plant-based meat substitutes can significantly reduce resource consumption and alleviate environmental pollution by extracting protein from plants and simulating the taste of meat. Based on the life cycle assessment method, this paper systematically compares the environmental impacts of plant-based meat substitutes and traditional pork on greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water consumption, and land use during the production process. The results indicate that plant-based meat substitutes exhibit superior environmental performance in all dimensions. Furthermore, this article explores the current challenges in the industry, such as insufficient consumer acceptance, and proposes corresponding promotion strategies, providing both a theoretical foundation and practical references for the development of plant-based meat substitutes.

ABSTRACT Africa's ‘blue carbon ecosystems’ are increasingly recognised for their role in climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods, with existing carbon offset projects showcasing their potential to sequester carbon and support community livelihoods. Despite this promise, blue carbon (BC) projects remain scarce across Africa. Understanding the barriers to BC implementation is therefore critical for unlocking their potential across the continent. Through a horizon scan and expert solicitation involving 41 participants from 20 countries, this study identified 13 major barriers spanning social, technical, economic, environmental, and policy domains. Governance obstacles, such as weak law enforcement, complex land tenure, and unclear carbon rights, emerged as the most significant reflecting Africa's diverse regulatory landscapes and often unstable political contexts. Socio‐economic challenges, such as few sustainable livelihood options for those involved in/impacted by BC projects, further constrain progress. Economic barriers, particularly limited funding for project design, monitoring, and delivery, also featured prominently. Technical and environmental factors, including low scientific capacity, fragmented ecosystem distribution, and climate‐driven impacts, further complicate project design and scalability. The barriers identified varied significantly across regions and ecosystem types. To overcome them, we propose targeted policy reforms, innovative financing, capacity building, and integrated management approaches that align local priorities with national climate goals. Collectively, these strategies can unlock Africa's BC potential, delivering substantial climate, biodiversity and socio‐economic benefits.

This paper explores the extent to which Rwanda’s post-genocide development model can be adapted to Sierra Leone, paying particular attention to women’s empowerment as both a developmental goal and a mechanism for wider participation. The two countries were marked by catastrophic violence—the genocide of 1994 in Rwanda and Sierra Leone’s decade-long civil war, that left governance systems fragile, economic activity paralyzed, and interpersonal trust largely destroyed. Although both faced devastation, Rwanda is celebrated for its rapid transformation, but Sierra Leone remains challenged by ineffective governance and systemic discrimination against women. Using a comparative analysis, this study identifies three pillars of Rwanda’s reconstruction model: embedding gender equality in legal frameworks, political reforms expanding women’s participation, and socio-economic programs integrating women into development agendas. In contrast, Sierra Leone’s gains are minimal, women suffer from political exclusion, land tenure discrimination, and exposed to poverty, violence, and practices such as female genital cutting. The study highlights several lessons that could be adapted elsewhere, including enshrined constitutional protections, mechanisms for overseeing gender equity, grassroots accountability frameworks modeled like Rwanda’s Imihigo contracts, and the proactive inclusion of women in both fiscal decision-making and reform processes. Despite the lessons, straightforward transfer is restricted, Sierra Leone struggles with weaker governance capacity, a politically diverse particularly due to its reduced institutional capability, plural political order, and deeply rooted gender hierarchies. The study emphasizes that in post-war Sierra Leone, cannot afford to see gender empowerment only through the lens of rights; and becomes a core instrument for advancing meaningful, post-conflict change. The article suggests that meaningful integration of women in governance, law, and economic structures is the most effective route to building sustainable peace, societal cohesion, and equitable development.

Few studies have explored individual diet-related environmental pressure changes, beyond greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and land occupation (LO). This study evaluates the trajectories in several environmental impacts of diets among 8,905 French adults from the NutriNet-Santé cohort, who completed food frequency questionnaires (distinguishing organic vs. conventional foods) in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Six environmental indicators-GHGe, LO, energy demand, ecological infrastructure use, water use, and pesticide use-were estimated at the farm perimeter using a multi-source approach. Latent class models identified trajectories for a composite environmental pressure index (EPI) and each indicator, and mixed models adjusted for energy intake and sex modeled the trajectories. On average, most environmental pressures decreased over time (e.g., GHGe by -12%, water use by -1%), indicating a general improvement. However, ecological infrastructure also declined (-9%), which represents a negative outcome as it is linked to biodiversity. Two to four trajectory profiles were identified per indicator, with most individuals showing stable or modestly decreasing trends. Four EPI trajectories emerged: increasing EPI profiles were associated with higher meat consumption, whereas decreasing EPI reflected shifts toward more plant-based diets. Despite potential awareness of the importance of sustainable diets, this study reveals that most individuals show moderate improvements in their diet-related environmental pressures, with only a very small fraction showing important decreases.

ABSTRACT Different theories of the principal–agent problem indicate that land tenancy arrangement has an impact on land management. This study empirically analyzes the effects of agricultural land tenancy market on sustainable land management in the Amhara region. The study used both probability and nonprobability sampling techniques to select sample respondents. Household survey and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were conducted to gather primary data. Both descriptive statistics and econometric methods were employed for analysis. The chi-square test indicates that there is significant difference in the use of compost between own land and sharecropped land. The difference in terrace maintenance between own land and sharecropped land is also significant at 10% level of significance. To control the effect of sampling bias, the study used Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method. The PSM result indicates that the application of compost on sharecropped land is on average about 17% less compared to plots of land cultivated by the own owner, and the difference is statistically significant. However, there is no significant impact on terrace maintenance. The logistic regression result also indicates that ownership-status has significant negative effect on the probability of applying compost on sharecropped plots compared to owner operated plots. The finding indicates the existence of the principal–agent problem in the land tenancy market, and the importance of considering the impact of land tenancy arrangement on sustainable land management in the land policy of the region, particularly and the county at large.

The traditional Iberian pig production system in the dehesa ecosystem of southwestern Spain and Portugal represents a significant cultural and ecological model of extensive livestock farming currently facing sustainability challenges. This study aimed to identify eco-efficiency indicators by integrating economic and environmental dimensions across traditional Iberian pig farms. Structured surveys were conducted across 68 farms, complemented by life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts including climate change, acidification, eutrophication, energy demand and land occupation. Multivariate statistical analysis identified two distinct farm types: Mixed-orientation Farms (MF, 45.59% of farms), characterised by diversified production phases and greater reliance on external inputs, and Acorn-Fed Farms (AF, 54.41% of farms), specialised in acorn-based fattening with greater dehesa ecosystem integration. AF demonstrated significantly lower environmental impacts across all categories except land occupation, with reductions ranging from 9% to 18% compared to MF. Furthermore, AF achieved superior eco-efficiency with gross margins 15% higher than MF and economic returns per unit of environmental impact 32% to 59% higher across all indicators. These findings demonstrate that farrow-to-finish farms specialised in montanera systems can simultaneously achieve greater profitability and reduced environmental impacts, providing a replicable model for sustainable livestock production in Mediterranean agroecosystems.

Abstract Land degradation neutrality (LDN), introduced by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, seeks to balance ongoing land degradation with restoration efforts to maintain ecosystem function and productivity. However, achieving LDN targets remains challenging without responsible land tenure governance. Secure and equitable tenure is fundamental to incentivizing sustainable land management, yet governance gaps remain a major barrier. The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT), which provide internationally recognized principles for secure and equitable land tenure, support the realization of LDN by promoting tenure security, especially for marginalized groups, and directly support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.3, which aspires to a land degradation‐neutral world by 2030. Despite these synergies, the relationship between tenure security and sustainable land management for achieving LDN is still underexplored. This study addresses the gap by synthesizing global and regional literature and developing a holistic conceptual framework linking land governance and LDN. A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, covering publications from 2006 to 2024 and with the literature search carried out from the beginning of March to mid‐April 2025, primarily sourced from Wiley Online Library, Taylor & Francis, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, FAO, and other sources. From 98 identified publications, 31 were selected as relevant. Trend analysis shows an increasing focus on tenure security for LDN, particularly from 2017 to 2022, reflecting growing recognition of governance as a critical factor. However, weak institutional capacity and lack of context‐specific policy adaptation continue to undermine progress, especially in developing countries. The proposed framework is structured around three interlinked pillars: legal clarity, institutional capacity, and participatory frameworks that collectively strengthen tenure security and support LDN outcomes. This study contributes to international discourse by linking land governance and environmental sustainability and underscores the need for locally grounded, interdisciplinary approaches to achieve LDN.

The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of institutional governance in mitigating conflicts between farmer and herder in Kilosa and Kilindi Districts. The findings from the study revealed that there was poor effectiveness with respect to power interaction and sharing during the mitigating conflicts between farmer and herder at the study area. The qualitative and quantitative researches were used. The study adopted the Cross-Sectional Research Design.The methods of data collections used were household survey, questionnaire, documentary, key informant interview, focus group discussion and non- participant observation during the data collection. The respondents used to get the information were 88 people in the study. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 21) was used to analyze the data. The factors which contributed the conflicts between the parts such as: population growth, insecure land tenure, policies deficiencies and contradictions. The negative impacts of conflicts between the parts include: loss of lives of people, lack of peace and security and decreased productivity. The study concludes that there were poor effectiveness of institutional governance in mitigating the conflicts between farmer and herder at study area. The study recommends that the effectiveness of the institutional governance should be improved through the power interaction and sharing from the experts, experienced and proper involvements of the disputing parts in conflict mitigating between the parts at the study area.

Abstract: Land use dynamics represent an inevitable phenomenon in the process of urban development. The large-scale conversion of land in Depok City, West Java, has triggered various issues, particularly concerning land tenure, land use practices, and the emergence of land disputes—especially on particuliere lands, whose legal status remains ambiguous due to historical and administrative complexities. This phenomenon has significant implications for spatial and environmental sustainability and also exacerbates social tensions and conflicts related to land ownership. This study seeks to analyze the correlation between land use transformation and the rising frequency of land disputes in Depok City, while also identifying effective and equitable mechanisms for conflict resolution. This study employs a qualitative case study approach that integrates secondary data analysis and in-depth interviews to understand the dynamics of land tenure conflicts. The primary issue identified lies in the structural imbalance between escalating land demand and the limited supply of available land parcels within the urban landscape. Land disputes may be addressed through two primary pathways: litigation processes within judicial institutions and alternative non-litigation mechanisms that emphasize cooperative approaches outside formal legal proceedings. With the increasing complexity of land-related conflicts, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms—such as consultation, negotiation, mediation, conciliation, and expert evaluation—have become increasingly pertinent and contextually appropriate. The findings of this study indicate that land disputes in Depok City are driven by land imbalance and weak governance, with non-litigation settlements offering a more efficient and equitable approach that serves as the basis for adaptive land policy recommendations. Keywords: Land Use Dynamics, Land Disputes, Depok City.

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is promoted as a tool for ecological sustainability, yet the ecological effects of AI itself remain poorly understood. Existing studies document aspects of AI’s footprint, including energy demand, water withdrawals, mineral extraction, and land occupation, but treat these impacts in isolation. This article develops an integrated resource nexus framework that situates AI within global environmental systems’ energy–water–material–land metabolism. Drawing on recent evidence, we synthesize quantitative estimates of AI’s resource intensity, from thousands of megawatt-hours and millions of liters required to train frontier models, to embodied mineral and land footprints embedded in semiconductor production and hyperscale data centers. We show that these demands are systemic, entangled, and spatially uneven, with benefits concentrated in the Global North and ecological costs externalized to resource frontiers in the Global South. The contribution of this article is twofold. First, it presents a novel conceptual model of AI as a socio-metabolic infrastructure, highlighting the entropic trade-offs associated with digital expansion. Second, it derives governance pathways, including AI-specific environmental impact assessments, multi-dimensional ecological metrics, and spatially responsible siting strategies that embed AI within planetary boundary frameworks. By reframing AI as an ecological actor with biophysical limits, we advance environmental systems research beyond narrow carbon accounting toward a holistic understanding of digital infrastructures in the Anthropocene.