Sustainable Land Management Interventions Research Articles

Returns of sustainable land management interventions: Evidence from Southern Ethiopia

Returns of sustainable land management interventions: Evidence from Southern Ethiopia

Impacts of land-use and topography on soil physicochemical properties in the Wamancho watershed, Southern Ethiopia

For sustainable land management, clear information that accounts for changes in land-use types and landscapes is essential. The purpose of this study was to examine how land-use patterns and topographic variation affect selected soil property indicators in the Wamancho watershed of the Damot Pulasa district in southern Ethiopia. Soil samples were obtained from the topography of three types of land use (agroforestry, cultivated land, and grazing area). At a depth of 20 cm, 27 soil samples were collected (three land use categories × three topographies × three replications). The collected soil samples were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The results showed that soil texture classes, such as sand and clay, bulk density, pH, SOC, Av. P, total N, CEC, and exchangeable bases, changed considerably (p < 0.05) with land use type, whereas total N, sand, and silt did not vary significantly with slope. Soil pH, SOC, Av. P, CEC, percentage of silt, and exchangeable cations (Na+, Mg2+, and K+) were found to be highest in agroforestry, while sand concentration was highest in cultivated land. Exchangeable Mg and K were found to be lower on cultivated ground, while Ca+ was found to be lower on agroforestry land. Finally, most soil quality indicators revealed a significant (p < 0.05) difference between agroforestry and grazing land use. Despite the fact that soil quality varies based on topography and land use type, local-level planning has not been conducted on a priority basis or in specific locations. As a result, all involved parties, including local governments, stakeholders, and planners, should develop effective site-based sustainable land management interventions, as they need to be addressed quickly, particularly on cultivated land, grazing land, and upper topography.

Analysis of land cover land use change in the greater Gaborone area of South Eastern Botswana

Changes in land cover land use (LCLU) have long been considered to be among the many factors responsible for global environmental challenges. This study focused on assessing LCLU changes in the Greater Gaborone area of South Eastern Botswana between 1988 and 2022. The study employed remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) tools for analyzing LCLU changes in the study area during the study period. Landsat images of 1988 and 2002 and Sentinel-2A images of 2022 were used to detect LCLU changes. Image classification was done using a Supervised classification approach based on a Maximum Likelihood Classifier. Six LCLU types such as water body, trees dominated, cropland, shrubland, bare land, and built-up, were identified in the area. Post Classification Comparison (PCC) approach was used to detect LCLU change during the study period. Shrubland class was found to be the dominant LCLU type in the study area. A significant gain was observed in the built-up class (75.12 km2), while significant losses were observed in shrubland (24.16 km2) and trees dominated (33.32 km2) classes in the entire study period. Given the rapid increase in built-up areas, this recommends that land managers and policymakers should invest in implementing sustainable land management interventions to prevent undesirable LCLU changes.

Evaluating the impacts of sustainable land management practices on water quality in an agricultural catchment in Lower Austria using SWAT

Managing agricultural watersheds in an environmentally friendly manner necessitate the strategic implementation of well-targeted sustainable land management (SLM) practices that limit soil and nonpoint source pollution losses and translocation. Watershed-scale SLM-scenario modeling has the potential to identify efficient and effective management strategies from the field to the integrated landscape level. In a case study targeting a 66-hectare watershed in Petzenkirchen, Lower Austria, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was utilized to evaluate a variety of locally adoptable SLM practices. SWAT was calibrated and validated (monthly) at the catchment outlet for flow, sediment, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3–N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4–N), and mineralized phosphorus (PO4–P) using SWATplusR. Considering the locally existing agricultural practices and socioeconomic and environmental factors of the research area, four conservation practices were evaluated: baseline scenario, contour farming (CF), winter cover crops (CC), and a combination of no-till and cover crops (NT + CC). The NT + CC SLM practice was found to be the most effective soil conservation practice in reducing soil loss by around 80%, whereas CF obtained the best results for decreasing the nutrient loads of NO3–N and PO4–P by 11% and 35%, respectively. The findings of this study imply that the setup SWAT model can serve the context-specific performance assessment and eventual promotion of SLM interventions that mitigate on-site land degradation and the consequential off-site environmental pollution resulting from agricultural nonpoint sources.

Apportioning Human-Induced and Climate-Induced Land Degradation: A Case of the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality

Land degradation (LD) is a global issue that affects sustainability and livelihoods of approximately 1.5 billion people, especially in arid/semi-arid regions. Hence, identifying and assessing LD and its driving forces (natural and anthropogenic) is important in order to design and adopt appropriate sustainable land management interventions. Therefore, using vegetation as a proxy for LD, this study aimed to distinguish anthropogenic from rainfall-driven LD in the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality from 1990 to 2019. It is widely established that rainfall highly correlates with vegetation productivity. A linear regression was performed between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and rainfall. The human-induced LD was then distinguished from that of rainfall using the spatial residual trend (RESTREND) method and the Mann–Kendall (MK) trend. RESTREND results showed that 11.59% of the district was degraded due to human activities such as overgrazing and injudicious rangeland management. While about 41.41% was degraded due to seasonal rainfall variability and an increasing frequency of droughts. Climate variability affected vegetation cover and contributed to different forms of soil erosion and gully formation. These findings provide relevant spatial information on rainfall or human-induced LD, which is useful for policy formulation and the design of LD mitigation measures in semi-arid regions.

Drivers of Degradation of Croplands and Abandoned Lands: A Case Study of Macubeni Communal Land in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Soil erosion is a global environmental problem and a pervasive form of land degradation that threatens land productivity and food and water security. Some of the biggest sources of sediment in catchments are cultivated and abandoned lands. However, the abandonment of cultivated fields is not well-researched. Our study assesses the level of degradation in cultivated and abandoned lands using a case study in South Africa. We answer three main questions: (1) What is the extent of crop field degradation on used, partly used, and abandoned fields? (2) What are the drivers of field abandonment in relation to land degradation? (3) Can proposed sustainable land management interventions tackle the dynamics of land abandonment and associated degradation? To answer these questions, cultivated and abandoned lands were mapped in a pilot catchment with ArcGIS tools and assigned severity codes and classified according to status, degradation, and encroachment. Systems diagrams were developed to show the interactions between agricultural land use and the level of degradation and leverage points in the system, with interventions assessed via a multi-criteria analysis. The results revealed that 37% of the total mapped area of croplands in the pilot site was abandoned and 20% of those lands were highly degraded. We argue that the innovative application of systems thinking through causal loop diagrams (CLDs) and leverage point analysis, combined with spatial and multi-criteria analyses, can assist with planning SLM interventions in similar contexts in the developing world.

Modeling runoff-sediment influx responses to alternative BMP interventions in the Gojeb watershed, Ethiopia, using the SWAT hydrological model.

The Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been calibrated over a 33-year period to evaluate the Gojeb watershed's hydrological processes, sediment yield with downstream loading to the Gibe III dam, and erosion hotspot locations. Best management practices (BMPs) were run through the model to simulate the effects of watershed intervention scenarios on sediment yield and runoff. Simulation results of BMP intervention were compared with the reference and worst-case scenarios. The simulation of sediment production indicates a clear growing trend. Temporally, the maximum amount of sediment transported out of the watershed is experiential from June to September, and the minimum is in February. A plainly defined similar orientation is observed between precipitation, surface runoff, and sediment load in the landscape. Spatially, the maximum sediment transported out of the watershed is from agricultural landscape units with a slope of over 50%, annual precipitation above 1592mm, and surface runoff over 151mm. This signifies that the watershed is under serious threat from erosion due to vegetation loss, steep slope farming, and high surface runoff. Gibe III is a 243-m high roller compacted gravity dam built on the Omo-Gibe River basin in Ethiopia for hydroelectric power and downstream flood control. It is one of Africa's tallest dams, with an annual electric output of 1870MW that began operation in 2016. Thus, Gibe III could see a loss of storage capacity due to higher-than-expected sedimentation resulting from worsening environmental degradation, which implies that the beneficial uses that depend on this dam - electricity production, regulated irrigation water supply, and flood control - will decline with significant economic losses. Despite that, selected sustainable land management interventions and the application of BMPs to critical erosion-prone hotspot areas can support the overall reduction in total sediment yield and surface runoff.

Soils, Science and Community ActioN (SoilSCAN): a citizen science tool to empower community-led land management change in East Africa

Pastoralist communities worldwide face complex challenges regarding food and feed productivity. Primary production systems are under stress, nutritional choices are changing and the relationship between development and agriculture is undergoing profound transformation. Under increasing pressure from climate and land use change, East African agro-pastoral systems are approaching a tipping point in terms of land degradation. There is an urgent need for evidence-led sustainable land management interventions to reverse degradation of natural resources that support food and water security. A key barrier, however, is a lack of high spatial resolution soil health data wherein collecting such information for each individual community is beyond their means. In this context, we tested whether bridging such data gaps could be achieved through a coordinated programme at the boundary between participation and citizen science. Key outputs included a community-led trial of a hand-held soil scanner, which highlighted a range of positive benefits and practical challenges in using this technology in this context, with identification of some potential solutions; and a targeted soil organic matter and nutrient status dataset in a small catchment-based community setting. The results show that if the practical challenges can be resolved, use of portable soil scanner technology has the potential to fill key knowledge gaps and thereby improve resilience to the threat of land degradation through locally responsive farmer and community decision-making.

Land use change and its effect on selected soil properties in the northwest highlands of Ethiopia

Evidence on land use/land cover (LULC) change and its effect on soil properties are important for sustainable land management interventions. Hence, this study was conducted to analyze LULC change over a period of 31 years and to evaluate the effects of land use on soil properties in the Ganzer watershed, northwest Ethiopia. Landsat satellite images (1988, 2002 and 2019) were used as a source of information image analysis and LULC classification were done using ERDAS imagine 2010 software. About 24 composite soil samples were collected from four land use types (natural forest, plantation forest, cultivated and grazing lands) at two soil depths (0–20 and 20–40 cm) to determine soil properties. Standard soil analytical methods were used in carrying out soil analysis. The result revealed that the study site has undergone extensive land use changes where cultivated and grazing lands declined by 5.4% and 22.6%, respectively. However, the settlement and forest lands increased by 7.9% and 20%, respectively (1988–2019). The soil physicochemical properties differed significantly (p < 0.05) across the land use types and with soil depth. Higher contents of clay, pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na) and CEC were recorded in the natural forest than in the other land use types. Similarly, pH, clay, BD and exchangeable bases increased with an increase in soil depth across all land use types. Generally, LULC change in the study area showed a significant increase in settlement and forest lands due to population pressure and expansion of eucalyptus plantation forests. These inappropriate land use changes have a negative effect on soil properties. Therefore, an appropriate and effective intervention in the land use systems should be implemented to amend soil properties.

Impact of Sustainable Land Management Interventions on Soil Moisture Content and Base Flow at Geda Watershed, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Soil erosion by water caused severe land degradation in the highlands of Ethiopia; due to declined soil fertility and water availability both crop and livestock productivity has been negatively affected in the area. To tackle the problem, watershed based sustainable land management interventions have been implemented at Geda watershed since 2012; however, the contribution of the interventions on soil water retention capacities and base flow improvements were not studied. Therefore, this study explored the impact of the interventions on soil moisture content and the dry period base flows by comparing untreated and treated sub watersheds found adjacent each other. Data for soil moisture was collected from crop and grazing plots at 0-20cm and 20-40cm depths during the beginning of the dry season (October) and at mid dry season (January) from both subwatersheds and landscape positions. Discharges of rivers and springs were measured using graduated bucket at the outlets of the sub watersheds and the values were weighted to the area of the respective sub watersheds. Water productivity was explored by interviewing farmers who practiced irrigation at the lower part of each subwatershed. Data were analyzed based on standard procedures and statistical soft wares.ANOVA showed highly significant differences between untreated and treated subwatersheds for soil moisture contents at the beginning of the dry season (P ≤ 0.001) and at the most dry season (P ≤ 0.001). Statistically higher mean values of 25.92% and 27.35% were observed at 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm soil depths respectively in the treated subwatershed compared to 21.70% and 23.82% in the untreated subwatershed during the beginning of the dry season; and higher mean value of 10.16% was recorded at the treated subwatershed compared to 9.50% in the untreated subwatershed during the dry season (January) at 0-20 cm soil depth. Soil moisture content was not affected by landscape positions and land use types at the study area. In addition soil moisture was positively correlated with plant species diversity, plant biomass production, and soil organic carbon. Furthermore, highly significant difference was observed for dry season base flow with a mean value of 1.99 Ls -1 at the treated subwatershed compared to the man value of 0.27 Ls -1 in the untreated subwatershed. Due to increased base flow, irrigable land increased and crop production shifted from less water demanding and less productive pulses to higher water demanding and higher productive vegetables at the treated subwatershed. Thus, it can be concluded that sustainable land management interventions at Geda watershed brought positive impacts on improving soil moisture content and base flows; therefore, we recommend sustaining and expanding the practices to other watersheds as well. Keywords: Discharge, landscape position, land use, soil moisture content, subwatershed DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-5-03 Publication date: May 31 st 2022

The Social Impacts of Sustainable Land Management in Great Green Wall Countries: An Evaluative Framework Based on the Capability Approach

The Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) is a pan-African program launched in 2007 to combat land degradation and bring about both ecological and socio-economic benefits in the Sahel. With projects in place on only one-fifth of the targeted land and uncertainty about the extent of positive impacts, there is a need for improved monitoring and evaluation of current projects to inform the design of future projects. In this paper, we focus on the evaluation of socio-economic impacts, drawing on development theory, to relate investments in sustainable land management (SLM) to outcomes in terms of human well-being. We deploy a conceptual model, which draws on both the capability approach to human development and the sustainable livelihood framework. To contextualize the framework to the Sahel, we undertook a literature review of scientific studies of the facilitative social conditions and socio-economic impacts of SLM interventions in four countries: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ethiopia. We further refined the framework by examining project evaluation reports of Global Environmental Facility (GEF)-funded SLM projects. Our analysis of GEF projects shows that current monitoring and evaluation pays only limited attention to achieved outcomes in terms of well-being. We briefly discuss the application of the framework to SLM interventions and make recommendations for how it should be operationalized, including recommending more comprehensive measurement of the well-being impacts of these projects.

Assessment of homegarden agroforestry for sustainable land management intervention in a degraded landscape in South Africa

AbstractAgroforestry‐based sustainable land management (SLM) interventions provide opportunities for tackling land degradation and its associated socio‐economic issues. Agroforestry is not a guaranteed SLM fix as every agroforestry practice is not automatically relevant to each context. It is critical to identify key considerations for ensuring a good fit between agroforestry and the receiving environment. This study identifies and analyses key factors for assessing the context‐specific suitability of an agroforestry practice for SLM using a case‐study of homegarden agroforestry in a degraded catchment. An analysis of biophysical and socio‐economic characteristics of the catchment covering land degradation, SLM aspirations of residents, agriculture and agroforestry activities was conducted through literature review, field observations, GIS and remote sensing, stakeholder engagement and a questionnaire survey. Considerations in agroforestry practice assessment for SLM include agricultural and SLM objectives, which at our study site were increased crop production and arresting soil erosion. Availability of requisite resources, namely land, water and fencing; stakeholder interest in the tree and/or crop planting, species of interest and suitability of the species for the biophysical conditions should also be assessed. We propose a framework for systematically working through the relevant factors and assessing the suitability of an agroforestry practice for SLM intervention in a specific context. Based on the framework, homegarden agroforestry is an appropriate SLM intervention as it could meet stakeholders' SLM and agricultural objectives. Identification and systematic assessment of relevant factors are critical for ensuring the acceptability of agroforestry practice in a locality and the sustainability of associated SLM interventions.

FARMERS’ PERCEPTION ON SOIL EROSION, ITS CAUSES AND ADOPTION OF ITS MITIGATION MEASURES IN TWO GEWOGS OF EASTERN BHUTAN

This study was conducted in two gewogs (blocks) of Jarey and Thangrong under Lhuentse and Mongar districts in Eastern Bhutan to assess the farmer’s perception on the soil erosion, its causes, and adoption of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices. A total of 47 and 90 respondents from Jarey and Thangrong respectively who participated in the implementation of SLM measures were interviewed. Field observations were made where necessary. Data was analyzed using descriptive and chi-square test at significance level of p&lt;0.05 and presented in tabular or graphical representations. The study revealed that farmers have a good knowledge on identifying the indicators, causes, severity of soil erosion including positive impact from implementation of SLM measures. A significantly high proportion of farmers in Jarey (97.87%) and Thangrong (92.22%) perceived washing down of soil during rainy season as main indicator of soil erosion. Similarly, significant proportion of the respondents (95.74% and 93.33%) from two gewogs indicated heavy rain as main cause of soil erosion besides cultivation on the steep slope (91.49% and 90%). Further, 76% and 56% of the respondents in Jarey and Thangrong respectively perceived high soil erosion, whereas only 15.89% and 15.56% have witnessed low rate of soil erosion. Significantly higher proportion of respondents in Jarey (85.11%) and Thangrong (90%) observed reduced soil erosion after implementing the SLM measures. About 29.79% of farmers in Jarey faced labor shortage while 38.89% of farmers in Thangrong perceived no immediate benefit from SLM measures. High proportion of farmers in Jarey (96.25%) indicated the need of financial support from government and 95.64% of respondents in Thangrong expressed the financial and short-term interventions (seed and seedlings) assistance for scaling out SLM in future. This study recommends community consultation through participatory approach to raise awareness and design appropriate SLM interventions based on local context and also taking into account incentive package to address short term livelihood needs of the farmers, which otherwise is difficult to achieve due to long gestation period of SLM interventions.

Impact of sustainable land management on vegetation cover using remote sensing in Magera micro Watershed, Omo Gibe Basin, Ethiopia

The hydrological impact of many expensive investments on watershed interventions remains unquantified due to lack of time series data. In this study, remote sensing imagery is utilized to quantify and detect vegetation cover change in Magera micro-watershed, Ethiopia, where sustainable land management interventions have been implemented. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values were retrieved for the period 2010 to 2019, which encompasses before, during and after the interventions. Mann-Kendal trend test was used to detect temporal trends in the monthly NDVI values. In addition, multiple change-point analyses were carried out using Pettitt’s, Buishand’s and Standard Normal Homogeneity (SNH) tests to detect any abrupt changes due to the watershed interventions. The possible influence of rainfall on changes in vegetation cover was investigated. A significant increasing trend (from 1.5% to 33%) was detected for dense vegetation at the expense of a significant reduction in bare land from 40.9% to 0.6% over the analysis period. An abrupt change in vegetation cover was detected in 2015 in response to the interventions. A weak and decreasing correlation was obtained between monthly rainfall magnitude and NDVI values, which indicates that the increase in vegetation cover is not from rainfall influences. The study shows that the sustainable land management has an overall positive impact on the study area. The findings of this research support the applicability of remote sensing approaches to provide useful information on the impacts of watershed intervention investments.

Sustainable land management interventions lead to carbon sequestration in plant biomass and soil in a mixed crop-livestock system: the case of Geda watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia

BackgroundSustainable land management interventions were introduced in Geda watershed in 2012 to reduce soil erosion, improve water infiltration, and increase plant-carbon inputs into the soil. This study explored the impact of the interventions on biomass production, carbon stock, and carbon sequestration. Stratified sampling was employed in the main and the dry seasons in the treated and untreated sub-watersheds that are found adjacent to each other. Above- and below-ground plant biomass, soil bulk density and organic carbon in 0–15- and 15–30-cm depths, and soil moisture content in 0–20- and 20–40-cm depths were collected from the crop, grazing, and tree lucerne plots. All analyses were performed based on standard procedures.ResultsPlant biomass production, carbon stock, and carbon sequestration varied highly significantly (P ≤ 0.001) among sub-watersheds, landscape positions, and land uses. Higher mean values were observed for treated sub-watershed, lower landscape position, and tree lucerne plot. The higher mean values in the lower landscape position of the treated sub-watershed were due to tree lucerne plantation. Similarly, topsoil (0–15 cm) carbon stock was statistically higher (P ≤ 0.001) in the treated sub-watershed and at tree lucerne plot (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, carbon stock by sub-surface soil (15–30 cm) was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.001) in the treated sub-watershed under crop and grazing lands but the higher value was in cropland and in the upper position. This could be due to the decomposition of organic materials from biomasses of crops and biological supporting measures (tree lucerne and Phalaris) facilitated by tillage. Six years of sustainable land management interventions led to the sequestration of 12.25, 7.77, and 13.5 Mg C ha−1 under cropland, tree lucerne, and grazing plots, respectively.ConclusionSustainable land management interventions revealed auspicious ecological impacts in Geda watershed in terms of improving plant biomass production, carbon stock, and correspondingly capturing higher carbon dioxide equivalent taking untreated sub-watershed as a baseline. Prohibition of free grazing was the key element of the intervention to reduce biomass export and increase carbon sequestration in the treated sub-watershed. Thus, sustaining tree lucerne plants as a conservation measure and the prohibition of free grazing practices are principally essential.

Effects of sustainable land management interventions on selected soil properties in Geda watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia

BackgroundLand degradation through soil erosion by water is severe in the highlands of Ethiopia. In order to curb this problem, the government initiated sustainable land management interventions in different parts of the country since 2008, and in Geda watershed since 2012. However, the impacts of the interventions on soil properties were not assessed so far. Thus, this study investigated the impacts of sustainable land management interventions on selected soil properties in Geda watershed. Soil samples were collected from treated and untreated sub-watersheds at the upper and lower landscape positions, from cropland and grazing lands at two soil depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm). Selected soil physicochemical properties were assessed with respect to landscape position, land-use type, and soil depth in both treated and untreated sub-watersheds.ResultsGenerally, most of the soil physicochemical properties differed greatly across sub-watersheds, land-use types, and soil depths. Clay, electrical conductivity, total N, available P, exchangeable K, and organic carbon were higher in the treated sub-watershed, whereas sand, silt, bulk density, and pH were higher in the untreated sub-watershed. The higher sand, silt, and bulk density could be attributed to erosion, while the higher pH could be due to the higher exchangeable Na in the untreated sub-watershed. Most of the selected soil chemical properties were not affected by landscape position, but land-use type affected available P and organic carbon with higher mean values at croplands than at grazing lands, which could be ascribed to the conservation structure and tillage of the soils in that conservation structures trap and accumulate transported organic materials from the upper slope, while tillage facilitates aeration and decomposition processes.ConclusionSustainable land management interventions improved soil physicochemical properties and brought a positive restoration of the soil ecosystem. Maintaining the soil conservation measures and enhancing community awareness about the benefits, coupled with management of livestock grazing are required to sustain best practices.

Questioning the link between tenure security and sustainable land management in cocoa landscapes in Ghana

Abstract Sustainable land management (SLM) is increasingly recognized as viable pathway to accelerate poverty reduction and achieving sustainable development, particularly in the global South. Despite efforts to promote SLM practices, their adoption has been extremely limited with debates revolving around the role of land tenure in farmer’s decision-making. Drawing on a tripartite conception of tenure security, we distinguish between three categories of tenure security: 1) legal security; 2) contextual/defacto security, and 3) perceived tenure security to examine factors affecting smallholders’ investment in SLM in Ghana. The paper draws on 380 surveys covering 796 plots and a series of key informant interview to investigate how land tenure shapes farmers’ investment decisions regarding SLM adoption at the plot level. The findings of the study demonstrate that different types of SLM investments (including soil improvements, on-farm tree planting and conservation of naturally-occurring tree species) were undertaken by farmers, even those who perceived their tenure rights as insecure. However, the results demonstrate that different components of tenure security influence adoption of SLM practices in ways which are not consistent across the different components of tenure security or specific SLM practices. Furthermore, the relationship between tenure security and SLM investments is also mediated by other important non-tenurial factors (including access to credit, modernised agricultural inputs and targeted extension service support). The findings suggest that land tenure policies will deliver a range of outcomes (both positive and negative) pertaining to land conservation investments. This means thinking more deeply about priorities with respect to SLM interventions, particularly in emerging contexts like Ghana and SSA generally. Overall, these findings are important for redesigning context- specific and appropriate land-use policy interventions that address barriers to SLM adoption.

A Climate-Smart Approach to the Implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality within a Water Catchment Area in Kenya

At the sub-national level, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) proposes the analysis and contextualization of land degradation-neutrality (LDN) at a water catchment scale to provide decision support for the formulation of policies and programmes towards transformative LDN interventions. Building on a number of national LDN studies in Kenya, an approach for the implementation of LDN that is based on the spatial and temporal characterization of key land degradation and climate change variables was defined. For a selected water catchment area, the LDN baseline was computed, the drivers that affect land degradation and regeneration trends within the main land cover types were identified and described, the trends of key climate change variables were described, and appropriate sustainable land management interventions for the main land cover types were identified. A climate-smart landscape approach that delineated the catchment area into zones focused on adaptation, and both adaptation and mitigation objectives was then proposed. The operationalization of a climate-smart landscape will require significant investment to not only provide an understanding of the bio-physical processes and interactions occurring at the catchment level but also to develop the institutional and technical capacities of relevant actors. The landscape approach proposed for the catchment area has the potential to improve livelihoods and the productivity of ecosystems while concurrently facilitating synergies between land degradation, climate change, and other development objectives.

An insight into land-cover changes and their impacts on ecosystem services before and after the implementation of a comprehensive experimental zone plan in Pingtan island, China

Pingtan Island has undergone changes in socio-economic and policy environment with significant effect on land cover change (LCC) and ecosystem service values (ESV). The most notable changes in both land cover and ESV were linked to Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone (PCEZ) plan, economic development plan with the aim of making Pingtan an international tourism island and free trade zone. However, evaluation of LCC and its impact on ESV is not yet attempted in the area. Using multispectral Landsat images, value transfer method and socioeconomic data, this study aims to quantify and track LCC, landscape pattern and ESV (2003–2017). The results showed that farmland, forest land and urban land covered >74% of the total area in the years considered. The class-to-class transition was also substantial among them. During the period 2003–2010, LCC was slow with stable areas of 73.52%. In the second period (2010–2017), it showed remarkable differences with the highest change in water bodies (9.76% less than its initial proportion), urban land (9.47% higher), farmland (8.67% less) and the stable areas reduced to 63.87%. Regardless of class-level variations, landscape fragmentation generally increased but shape irregularity among patches decreased during the study period. The total ESV was 32 million US$ in 2003. It changed slowly in the first period (1.61%/year) and rapidly in the second period (–2.869%/year) that caused the overall net loss of 4.35 million US$ (13.594%). Partial least square regression model also showed the highest variance of ESV (85%) due to the variance of LCC (92%), whereas it exhibited less variance owing to the variance of landscape pattern. Following PCEZ plan, the policy reforms accelerated construction land and economic development that negatively affected ecosystem services. Our results could help understand the relationship between LCC and ESV along with socioeconomic and policy factors to make sustainable land management interventions.

Rethinking sustainable land management planning: Understanding the social and economic drivers of farmer decision-making in Africa

Land degradation is a critical challenge to sustainable development. This paper examines factors that shape farmer decision-making around sustainable land management (SLM) practices in Tanzania and Malawi. It seeks to understand the contradictions that often exist between what research recommends, projects promote and donors invest in and what SLM options farmers actually choose to implement. It focuses on the costs, benefits and economic drivers that shape farmer’s willingness and ability to invest in SLM (or that force them into situations that result in land degradation). The SLM techniques most commonly practiced, and which farmers express the greatest preference for, are often not those that yield the highest production gains, generate the greatest income, or involve the lowest costs. Meanwhile, other apparently profitable SLM techniques show relatively low rates of adoption. Farmers highlighted a wide range of non-monetary attributes and characteristics that determine whether they consider an SLM option to be economically attractive, viable and sustainable. These findings underscore the need to think beyond simple benefit/cost-based measures when prioritizing SLM interventions. Farmers’ needs, aspirations and preferences extend far beyond efforts to maximize short-term income and production gains or to minimize direct outlays and cash expenditures. We also found that significant gaps often exist between the SLM decisions farmers would like to make and those that they are actually able to undertake, given their economic circumstances and the resources available to them. If these broader economic factors and drivers of farmers’ land management decisions are not considered in SLM policy, research, planning and implementation, there is a risk that proposed interventions will do little either to address the root causes of land degradation or to meet farmers’ needs and aspirations.