Every year in Africa, nearly 3 million hectares of forests are lost and sixty five percent (65%)
of the land is affected by degradation. An estimated 3 percent of GDP is lost annually from
soil and nutrient depletion on cropland. This places forest loss and land degradation among
the key challenges facing Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). Exacerbated by climate change and
poor management of agricultural lands, forest degradation threatens the water supplies and
ecological functions vital to all SSA economies. Rural smallholder farmers and households

The IUCN data base lists several plant species whose existence is currently threatened by human activities and climatic extremes. Here we report a methodology that monitors threat status of these species in near real time, by deriving data from multiple open data sources, by linking them via a machine learning analytical framework, with interpretations facilitated by a web based geospatial visualization framework.

This policy brief aims to give an overview of land degradation hotspots in Burkina Faso and the policy options for land restoration. In this assessment, land degradation is referred to as the persistent loss of ecosystem function and productivity caused by disturbances from which the land cannot recover without human intervention (unaided). Hotspots are defined as places that experience high land degradation and if left unattended, will negatively affect both human wellbeing and the environment.

The climate-smart agriculture (CSA) concept reflects an ambition
to improve the integration of agriculture development and climate
responsiveness. It aims to achieve food security and broader
development goals under a changing climate and increasing food
demand. CSA initiatives sustainably increase productivity, enhance
resilience, and reduce/remove greenhouse gases (GHGs), and
require planning to address trade-offs and synergies between
these three pillars: productivity, adaptation, and mitigation [1].

Land degradation is a major challenge limiting crop production in Ethiopia. Integrated soil and water conservation is widely applied as a means to reverse the trend and increase productivity. This study investigated the effects of such integrated approaches at two sites, Jeldu and Diga, in Western Ethiopia. A split plot design with physical soil and water conservation in the main plots and agronomic practices in the sub plots was employed.

Bush encroachment is a matter of growing concern in the semi-arid regions of Namibia. Locally adapted, long-term solutions for land restoration must be elaborated. It is crucial that local scientists are empowered to map and monitor the degradation process themselves, our authors maintain.