Sustainable Land Management Measures Research Articles

Combined artificial intelligence, sustainable land management, and stakeholder engagement for integrated landscape management in Mediterranean watersheds

In the context of water scarcity, soil erosion, and biodiversity decline, the Mediterranean basin urges to manage its nearly hundred coastal watersheds in a coordinated manner. To this end, we propose an integrated approach to model socio-ecologic scenarios with Sustainable Land Management (SLM) options at the watershed scale to strengthen the functioning of multiple Ecosystem Services (ES). This is tested in the Mijares watershed in eastern Spain. As a first step, we propose using integrated modeling technology to quickly assess areas of ecosystem goods and services supply and demand within the case study. To this end, we applied ARIES, an AI-driven online modeling platform widely used in the ES community. Then, we use this information to identify suitable SLM options documented in the WOCAT global database for providing the identified ES. Lastly, to adjust the results to the social-ecological context, we carry out consulting and participatory processes with key stakeholders to incorporate local knowledge of ES and capabilities to adopt SLM measures into the final proposal. As a result of this work, we can model various SLM scenarios, easing decision-making toward more integrated and sustainable land management in the watershed. Given the reproducibility of the used methodologies, our approach can be adopted in other Mediterranean contexts.

English

Soil degradation is increasingly becoming a problem for agricultural production due to poor production practices. The search for solutions to this phenomenon has led producers to adopt sustainable land management (SLM) strategies proposed by projects and programs. This study aims to evaluate the effect of SLM measures on the economic efficiency of maize producers who are beneficiaries of the Projet de Résiliences aux effets des ChangementsClimatiquespar la Gestion Durable des Terres au Nord Bénin (Project of Climate Change Resilience through Sustainable Land Management in Northern Benin PRCC-GDT). Economic efficiency was estimated using stochastic frontier models and dual cost function with the Cobb-Douglas specification, respectively. Socio-economic data were collected through a survey of a random sample of 152 producers, including 73 beneficiaries and 79 non-beneficiaries in the communes of Kouandé and Malanville. The results obtained show that pigeon pea, mucuna, soil fertility management, crop association, crop rotation, direct seeding, perpendicular plowing, the use of improved plants, and the use of drought-tolerant seeds are the measures most applied in maize production. The technical, allocative, and economic efficiencies are respectively on average 0.4419; 0.9887 and 0.4369 for the PRCC-GDT beneficiaries and 0.4110; 0.9887 and 0.4059 for the non-beneficiaries. Pigeon pea, crop rotation, mucuna, and the use of drought-tolerant seeds are the measures that ensure the economic efficiency of beneficiaries. Agricultural policies must be put in place to promote the adoption of SLM measures that are most effective in ensuring sustainable agriculture. Key words: Efficiency, sustainable management, maize production, Benin.

Effect of Sustainable Land Management Practices on the Soil Erodibility at the Plateau of Abomey (Centre of Benin)

The soils of Benin in general and those of the department of Zou, in particular, are highly degraded. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainable land management practices on soil erodibility in two villages in the Plateau of Abomey. Soil samples were collected on plots under Sustainable Land Management (SLM) measures (direct seeding, maize residue management and soybean-cereal rotation) and on their adjacent control. The soil samples were prepared and analyzed in laboratory to determine variables such as soil permeability, organic matter content, and particle size. Soil erodibility was determined as proposed by Wischmeier & Smith. The effect of SLM practices was significant (0.02) on soil permeability. On plots under SLM measurements, soil permeability is higher with an average of 93.97 mm/h at Folly and 82.43 mm/h at Hanagbo. SLM measurements significantly (0.04) added organic matter to the soil. The average organic matter of the plots under SLM measures in Folly varies from 0.73% to 1.39% while it varies from 0.49% to 0.73% in the control plots. In Hanagbo, the average organic matter of the plots under SLM measures varies from 1.86% to 2.48% against 1.41% to 1.66% for the control plots. Regarding soil erodibility, it was found that the influence of SLM measures is significant in both villages. In villages, direct seeding and maize residue management significantly (0.008) reduced soil erodibility compared to their adjacent controls, while the soybean-cereal rotation measure increased soil erodibility compared to plot witnesses. The average soil erodibility of plots under SLM measures varies by 0.21 t⋅h/Mj⋅mm at 0.38 t⋅h/Mj⋅mm in the village of Hanagbo and 0.25 t⋅h/Mj⋅mm at 0.38 t⋅h/Mj⋅mm in the village of Folly. It varies from 0.24 t⋅h/Mj⋅mm at 0.28 t⋅h/Mj⋅mm for the control plots at Hanagbo and 0.31 t⋅h/Mj⋅mm at 0.37 t⋅h/Mj⋅mm in Folly. These practices can therefore be used for the sustainable use of agricultural land.

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<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.

How Communication’s Channels Influence Diffusion of Eco-friendly Technologies? A Case Study of Sustainable Land Management Technologies’ Diffusion in Benin, West Africa

This article analyses the influence of communication channels in Sustainable Land Management (SLM) measures diffusion in Kandi and Savalou in Benin, West Africa. Data were collected among a sample of 18 farmers organizations’ leaders and 301 producers applying implementing these technologies since two years at least. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-2 and t student statistics were used via R.3.5.2 software to analyze data. Results show that formal and informal communication channels are used to disseminate SLM measures. The type of channel does not significantly influence the number of producers reached and those implementing SLM measures. Farmers organizations leaders play an important role in the process of SLM dissemination according to their status within organizations. Take into account both informal and formal communication channels and role played by opinion leaders can better contribute to increase awareness of land management technologies innovations introduced in rural areas and their diffusion at large scale.

ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ МЕХАНИЗМОВ УСТОЙЧИВОГО ЗЕМЛЕПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ СЕВЕРНОГО РЕГИОНА

The study of the problems of sustainable land use is very relevant. Both agricultural development and food security and security depend on the rational use and sustainable management of land resources as the main means of agricultural production. The article examines the measures of sustainable land management, which are not specific methods, but are a set of possible technologies and approaches to land management that can be implemented on a local and regional scale. In addition, these measures involve all stakeholders in the use of land, take into account their needs and are supported by a broader cultural, economic, environmental, legal, political, technical and social framework. Foreign researchers study in depth the problems of sustainable land use and sustainable land management, as well as analyze the practices of their application in different countries. In the Russian Federation, less attention is paid to this issue, experts in the field of agriculture and land use discuss issues of sustainable land use, develop and generalize approaches to its formation, but the mechanisms for implementing and tools for land use policy are not properly generalized and structured. Based on the study of the composition and classification of management measures, an assessment of the availability and sufficiency of sustainable land management measures in the northern region was carried out. Tools for creating a system of sustainable land use in the Komi Republic were proposed. The theoretical significance of the results and the novelty lies in the refinement of the tools for sustainable land use. The practical significance lies in the proposal of mechanisms for sustainable land management that can be used in the development of a regional program.

Ridge and Ditch Technique: A Strategy for Sustainable Land Management in Swampy Land Areas in Southern Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, there is a need for socioeconomic sustainability in land management systems. An exploratory study was conducted in the southern part of Bangladesh (Nesarabad) to evaluate the successful strategy of sustainable land management (SLM), where swampy land is transformed, using ridges and ditches. Approximately 25 agro-based sites were studied to evaluate their relevant land use, management, and economic aspects. We determined that nearly 100% of the cultivated lands adopted this technology, representing a combination of SLM measures. The technology was based mainly on structural measures, combined with other conservation measures. The maintenance and recurring activities increased the efficiency of the technology and improved the land quality, making it more useful for various agricultural practices. Most of the lands were cultivated with fruit trees and vegetables, which provided high net average profits with low effort during cultivation. Land users claimed some weaknesses in establishment cost, marketing, transportation, etc. This study assesses these constraints and recommends some suggestions to generate a more suitable scheme for more SLM measures.

Household- and plot-level impacts of sustainable land management practices in the face of climate variability and change: empirical evidence from Dabus Sub-basin, Blue Nile River, Ethiopia

Smallholder farmers can adapt to climate variability and change through sustainable land management (SLM) practices that help to offset the negative impacts at farm level. However, use of these practices as adaptation strategy remains low in Ethiopia in general and the study sites in particular. This study aimed at examining the factors that determine farmers’ decision to use SLM measures and to quantify the impact of the practices on crop productivity at household and plot level. The study was based on household- and plot-level primary data and employed nearest-neighbor matching technique to quantify the impact of using the practices on value of production at household level and plot level. The results revealed that households that implemented SLM practices within the period (2004–2009) experienced a 24.1% higher value of production over non-users in 2016. Similarly, plots that received SLM measures within the period (2004–2009) experienced a 28.6% increase in value of production in 2016. The study also made further analysis at plot level using continuous treatment effects in order to take into account the number of years a plot has been under the practice. The result showed plots with SLM structure that are maintained for at least 6 years have a positive increase in value of production at the end of the 6th year, while those that received the practices recently or those that lacked continuous maintenance did not experience a statistically significant increase in value of production. The result also showed marginal benefit of sustaining the SLM practices increases over time at an increasing rate. The implication is that use of SLM measures and maintenance of the structures are crucial to reap significant benefits from the practices. Although value of production increases given the SLM practices, implementation is labor intensive and there is trade-off with other agricultural activities. Therefore, policy measures are required to incentivize implementation and maintenance of the SLM structures.

Factors influencing small-scale farmers’ adoption of sustainable land management technologies in north-western Ethiopia

Land degradation is a serious global problem because it leads to losses in food production and thus jeopardizes food security worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Despite numerous efforts to introduce sustainable land management (SLM) strategies and practices, their adoption by the primary target group, small-scale farmers in developing countries, has been [s]low. This study assesses the problem for the case of Ethiopia. The aim was to analyze the underlying factors that affect the adoption of SLM technologies in the Upper Blue Nile Basin. A detailed survey of 300 households and 1010 farm plots was conducted. Data were analyzed by using both descriptive and econometric analyses. Results show that farmers’ adoption of interrelated SLM measures depended on a number of socio-economic and farm-related factors in combination with the characteristics of the technologies themselves. For example, plot size and the availability of labor, as well as the gender of the household head, affected which SLM technologies were adopted by certain types of households. The adoption of SLM measures depended on the adaptive economic capacity of the farmers, which can be quite diverse even within a small region and can differ from the adoption potential in other regions. Our results suggest that SLM policies and programs have to be individually designed for specific target groups within specific regions, which in turn means that “one size fits all” and “across the board” strategies – which are quite common in the field of SLM – should be abandoned by development agencies and policymakers.

Climate Change Perception and Farmers’ Adoption of Sustainable Land Management for Robust Adaptation in Cameroon

The certainty of a changing climate is asserted in the perception of observable changes in rainfall and temperature reported by more than 52% of farm managers in Cameroon’s dry North region and almost 70% in the humid West region. Responding to these observable changes, soil and crop management techniques are adopted to ease climatic stress and insure farms from income shocks and associated vulnerabilities. Farmers were surveyed on their participation in sustainable land management (SLM) programs, and a probit model reveals that the probability of adopting recommended SLM techniques is influenced by land tenure, education, gender, experience and non-farm income. Noting that producers’ adoption of recommended SLM measures is the initial step for medium to long-term adaptation of the productive capacity of their farmland, the Switching Regression Model shows that property rights, access to market, access to extension and adaptation due to farmers’ perception of a changing climate significantly contribute to income security. While this is informative for policy measures required to promote technology adoption, however, participating and employing SLM is a plausible insurance to both current climate variability and long-term climate change.

Effectiveness of sustainable land management measures in West Usambara highlands, Tanzania

Soil erosion is a serious problem that affects food security and social livelihoods in the highlands of East Africa. Sustainable land management (SLM) measures have been widely promoted to reduce erosion and increase crop yield, but the adoption of SLM measures has remained low. In order to understand the contribution of biophysical factors on adoption, this study was carried out to (i) determine the biophysical conditions of fields with SLM measures; (ii) assess the impact of different SLM measures on soil degradation; and (iii) determine the effects of SLM measures on crop productivity. The study was conducted in Lushoto District, north-eastern Tanzania. Sixty fields with five different SLM categories were studied. The five SLM categories ranged from no intervention at all (SLM 5 — control plots), to excellent land and crop management, including well-constructed bench terraces and application of farmyard manure (SLM 1). SLM 2 also has terraces, but the management is not as good as for SLM 1. SLM 3 has some poorly maintained terraces or grass trips, while SLM 4 has only poorly maintained grass strips. The bio-physical properties of the fields were determined, and measurements of meteorology, soil properties, soil erosion and crop yield were carried out during the period October 2009–June 2011. The results showed that the better SLM categories (SLM 1 and SLM 2) are preferentially implemented on less steep slopes, and they do stabilize the slope and reduce soil losses by water erosion significantly. The use of high amounts of farmyard manure (>6.0tonha−1y−1) on the terraces of SLM 1 and SLM 2 category fields resulted in a 3 to 4 times higher yield of maize compared to the control plots (SLM 5), while yield of beans increased 6 to 7 times compared to the control plots. Despite the use of farmyard manure on better managed fields, no significant improvements of soil fertility were found. This is probably because the amounts applied are too small to allow build-up of soil nutrients.