Environmental Responsiveness towards Desertification and Land Degradation: A Review of Literature on Restoration Strategies in Dryland Communities in Africa

Desertification and land degradation have remained a huge challenge to the actualization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 in Africa. Given the proposed "Decade on Ecosystem Restoration" (2021-2030), this study examines the restoration approaches and strategies employed to tackle desertification and land degradation, determine the impacts of the strategies employed, examine the factors responsible for unsustainable land restoration, and identify sustainable land restoration approaches in dryland communities in Africa. The study adopted a semi-systematic review of extant literature on land restoration from academic journals, reports, and newsletters from 2000 to 2023. The results show a preponderance of participatory approaches, and use of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) for land restoration activities in dryland communities in Africa, whereas science-based methods are scarce. Most restoration practices involved biological, surveillance, mechanical, water conservation, climate-smart agriculture, soil fertility restoration strategies and income-generating techniques, but advocacy measures were low. Various restoration projects in Africa, have yielded substantial benefits, including regeneration of vegetation, improved nutrition and income generation among community groups, and benefits vary according to the strategy adopted and the context of project implementation. However, lack of funding, an insecure land tenure system, as well as poor coordination and monitoring of projects constitute huge barriers to land restoration efforts in Africa. We conclude that people-centered projects, social incentives, and income generating ventures are drivers of sustainable land restoration practices in Africa, and more policies and programme implementation are required in the aspect of land restoration advocacy campaigns.