2024-03-29T15:11:38Zhttp://digital.csic.es/dspace-oai/requestoai:digital.csic.es:10261/1752412019-02-07T08:13:24Zcom_10261_75com_10261_6col_10261_328
Blake, William H.
Rabinovich, Anna
Wunants, Maarten
Kelly, Claire
Nasseri, Mona
Ngondya, Issakwisa
Patrick, Aloyce
Mtei, Kelvin
Munishi, Linus
Boeckx, Pascal
Navas Izquierdo, Ana
Smith, Hugh G.
Gilvear, David
Wilson, Geoff
Roberts, Neil
Ndakidemi, Patrick
2019-02-05T08:57:50Z
2019-02-05T08:57:50Z
2018-12
Blake WH... [et al.] Soil erosion in East Africa: an interdisciplinary approach to realising pastoral land management change. Environmental Research Letters 13 (12): 124014 (2018)
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/175241
10.1088/1748-9326/aaea8b
1748-9326
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000690
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000270
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780
Implementation of socially acceptable and environmentally desirable solutions to soil erosion
challenges is often limited by (1)fundamental gaps between the evidence bases of different disciplines
and (2) an implementation gap between science-based recommendations, policy makers and
practitioners. We present an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to support co-design of land
management policy tailored to the needs of specific communities and places in degraded pastoral land
in the East African Rift System. In a northern Tanzanian case study site, hydrological and sedimentary
evidence shows that, over the past two decades, severe drought and increased livestock have reduced
grass cover, leading to surface crusting, loss of soil aggregate stability, and lower infiltration capacity.
Infiltration excess overland flow has driven (a)sheet wash erosion, (b)incision along convergence
pathways and livestock tracks, and (c) gully development, leading to increased hydrological
connectivity. Stakeholder interviews in associated sedenterising Maasai communities identified
significant barriers to adoption of soil conservation measures, despite local awareness of problems.
Barriers were rooted in specific pathways of vulnerability, such as a strong cattle-based cultural
identity, weak governance structures, and a lack of resources and motivation for community action to
protect shared land. At the same time, opportunities for overcoming such barriers exist, through
openness to change and appetite for education and participatory decision-making. Guided by
specialist knowledge from natural and social sciences, we used a participatory approach that enabled
practitioners to start co-designing potential solutions, increasing their sense of efficacy and willingness
to change practice. This approach, tested in East Africa, provides a valuable conceptual model around
which other soil erosion challenges in the Global South might be addressed.
eng
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
openAccess
global challenges
land degradation
Co-design
sustainable land management
water-food-energy nexus
resilience
Jali Ardhi
Soil erosion in East Africa: an interdisciplinary approach to realising pastoral land management change
artÃculo