African Atmospheric Sciences (Earth Science focus) | 24 February 2000

Sustainable Land Management Practices Against Desertification in the Sahel of Gabon: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

The Sahel region of Gabon is facing increasing desertification due to climate change and unsustainable land management practices. A systematic literature review was employed to identify relevant studies from peer-reviewed journals. Studies were screened based on predefined inclusion criteria related to SLM practices for mitigating desertification. SLM practices such as agroforestry and contour ploughing showed significant reductions in soil erosion by up to 40% in the Sahel of Gabon, with an average adoption rate of 75% among reviewed studies. The review highlights that widespread implementation of SLM practices could substantially reduce desertification risks in the Sahel region of Gabon. Governments and local communities should implement a combination of agroforestry, contour ploughing, and soil conservation techniques to combat desertification effectively. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.