Review of Case Studies on Successful Measures to Manage Land Use, Protect Land, and Mitigate Land Degradation

Land degradation is a major concern on matters relating to sustainable agricultural development and long-term food productivity in Africa. Not withstanding other factors, land degradation in most African countries has been driven by disparities in land distribution. This has led to a concentration of people on limited portions of land and the need to address their development needs and issues of food security. The degradation of soil has been further exacerbated by the subsequent increase in population on marginal lands. Agriculture continues to play an important role in sustaining the livelihoods of most African communities. It is often affected by climatic variations, which contributes to land degradation. Some efforts have been undertaken to reverse the process of land degradation and to promote sustainable land practices. These efforts vary at different communities depending on the nature and cause of degradation. It is a joint effort of governments, communities, research institutions, academia and non-governmental organizations. This paper reviews case studies on successful measures to manage land use, protect land, and mitigate land degradation in selected African countries.