Solutions to land degradation

Fuel-efficient stoves

Stoves like the Jiko use half the wood of open fires, reducing deforestation; cheap and suitable for poor communities.

Reduced herd size

Lower numbers of grazing animals reduce trampling and soil compaction, but faces cultural resistance in pastoral societies.

Agroforestry

Planting trees (e.g. Kad tree) provides food, shade, reduces erosion, fixes nitrogen, and offers animal fodder.

Managed grazing areas

Rotating grazing with short fallow periods; cost of fencing and the management of the grazing areas is expensive.

Education

Teaching farmers about degradation and solutions (e.g. US AID in Niger); supported by World Food Programme with incentives.

Stone lines / diguettes

Placing stone rows (e.g. in Burkina Faso) traps soil and water, cheap to build, boosts yields, and encourages community action.

Great Green Wall

Pan-African initiative to plant a wall of trees across the Sahel to prevent desertification and restore degraded land.