{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,6]],"date-time":"2026-06-06T19:05:50Z","timestamp":1780772750945,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,31]],"date-time":"2024-08-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1725062400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Research Foundation","award":["TS64"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TS64"]}]},{"name":"National Research Foundation","award":["99787"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["99787"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Land"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Land degradation is a major threat to sub-Saharan Africa rangelands, which are crucial for livestock farming and the livelihood of millions of people in the region. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes and effects of land degradation, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we identified, screened, and analyzed 25 peer-reviewed articles published before 30 June 2024 using Scopus. The review highlights key factors that drive land degradation, such as soil erosion, drought, deforestation, and climate change, as well as socio-economic factors like poverty, land tenure issues, population pressure, and economic instability. These factors have serious implications, as land degradation can lead to poor quality of forage, an increased incidence of diseases, higher mortality rates among livestock, and a significant decline in livestock productivity. The socio-economic consequences of this degradation are significant, leading to reduced household income, increased poverty, and heightened food insecurity. Furthermore, the review assesses various mitigation strategies and concludes that practices such as rotational grazing and soil conservation techniques demonstrate high effectiveness, while agroforestry practices show only moderate success. An integrated approach that combines environmental, economic, and policy measures is crucial to addressing the complex challenge of land degradation in sub-Saharan Africa. Strengthening land tenure, improving economic stability, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices are essential steps toward improving the health of rangelands, increasing livestock productivity, and supporting the resilience and well-being of rural communities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/land13091402","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,2]],"date-time":"2024-09-02T03:45:21Z","timestamp":1725248721000},"page":"1402","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":40,"title":["Drivers and Consequences of Land Degradation on Livestock Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1276-7789","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mhlangabezi","family":"Slayi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Global Change (CGC), Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leocadia","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Global Change (CGC), Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Admire Rukudzo","family":"Dzvene","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Global Change (CGC), Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zolisanani","family":"Mpanyaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rama.2023.05.001","article-title":"Balanced Functional Herbivore Composition Stabilizes Tree-Grass Coexistence and Productivity in a Simulated Savanna Rangeland Ecosystem","volume":"90","author":"Szangolies","year":"2023","journal-title":"Rangel. Ecol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1017\/S001447971000092X","article-title":"Understanding community perceptions of land use changes in the rangelands, Zimbabwe","volume":"47","author":"Sibanda","year":"2011","journal-title":"Exp. Agric."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.1007\/s00267-014-0386-8","article-title":"Identifying potential recommendation domains for conservation agriculture in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi","volume":"55","author":"Tesfaye","year":"2015","journal-title":"Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.2989\/10220119.2018.1516237","article-title":"Long-term changes in land use, land cover and vegetation in the Karoo drylands of South Africa: Implications for degradation monitoring","volume":"35","author":"Hoffman","year":"2018","journal-title":"Afr. J. Range Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"217","article-title":"Farmers\u2019 perceptions of vegetation change, rangeland condition and degradation in three communal grasslands of South Africa","volume":"58","author":"Gxasheka","year":"2017","journal-title":"Trop. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105009","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaridenv.2023.105009","article-title":"Pastoralists\u2019 indigenous knowledge and perceptions of rangeland degradation in three communal rangelands of central northern Namibia","volume":"216","author":"Kahumba","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Arid. Environ."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1007\/s11258-016-0644-3","article-title":"Assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of rangeland restoration in Namaqualand, South Africa","volume":"218","author":"Bourne","year":"2017","journal-title":"Plant Ecol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105767","DOI":"10.1016\/j.agwat.2019.105767","article-title":"Water resource assessment, gaps, and constraints of vegetable production in Robit and Dangishta watersheds, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia","volume":"226","author":"Worqlul","year":"2019","journal-title":"Agric. Water Manag."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.2989\/10220119.2012.750628","article-title":"Development and sustainable management of rangeland commons\u2013aligning policy with the realities of South Africa\u2019s rural landscape","volume":"30","author":"Vetter","year":"2013","journal-title":"Afr. J. Range Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1016\/0143-6228(96)00005-7","article-title":"The use of integrated remotely sensed and GIS data to determine causes of vegetation cover change in southern Botswana","volume":"16","author":"Ringrose","year":"1996","journal-title":"Appl. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"815","DOI":"10.1890\/06-1109","article-title":"Relevance of rangeland degradation in semiarid northeastern South Africa to the nonequilibrium theory","volume":"17","author":"Wessels","year":"2007","journal-title":"Ecol. Appl."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1051\/agro:2007003","article-title":"Ecological and agro-economic study of small farms in sub-Saharan Africa","volume":"27","author":"Onduru","year":"2007","journal-title":"Agron. Sustain. Dev."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Munthali, M.G., Davis, N., Adeola, A.M., Botai, J.O., Kamwi, J.M., Chisale, H.L., and Orimoogunje, O.O. (2019). Local perception of drivers of land-use and land-cover change dynamics across Dedza District, Central Malawi Region. Sustainability, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/su11030832"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.2178","article-title":"Range degradation and land tenure change: Insights from a \u2018released\u2019 communal area of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa","volume":"23","author":"Bennett","year":"2012","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1853","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.2341","article-title":"Benefits derived from rehabilitating a degraded semi-arid rangeland in communal enclosures, Kenya","volume":"27","author":"Mureithi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2996","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.3688","article-title":"Current vegetation structure and composition of woody species in community-derived categories of land degradation in a semiarid rangeland in Kunene region, Namibia","volume":"31","author":"Inman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1006\/jare.2000.0647","article-title":"Perceptions and realities of land degradation in arid Otjimbingwe, Namibia","volume":"45","author":"Ward","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Arid. Environ."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"94","article-title":"Rangeland degradation and restoration in semi-arid areas of southern Ethiopia: The case of Borana rangeland","volume":"3","author":"Bekele","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"777","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.3756","article-title":"Large-scale land investments, household displacement, and the effect on land degradation in semiarid agro-pastoral areas of Ethiopia","volume":"32","author":"Bekele","year":"2021","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1080\/03736245.2020.1717588","article-title":"Landscape scale land degradation mapping in the semi-arid areas of the save catchment, Zimbabwe","volume":"103","author":"Matarira","year":"2021","journal-title":"S. Afr. Geogr. J."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1080\/09709274.2013.11906638","article-title":"Rangeland management and drought coping strategies for livestock farmers in the semi-arid savanna communal areas of Zimbabwe","volume":"44","author":"Moyo","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Hum. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"1183","article-title":"Assessment of the effects of emerging grazing policies on land degradation in Nigeria","volume":"21","author":"Taiye","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"129","article-title":"Effect of grazing pressure on plant species composition and rangeland condition in the southern Kenya rangelands","volume":"27","author":"Mganga","year":"2010","journal-title":"Afr. J. Range Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joi.2010.10.002","article-title":"An approach for detecting, quantifying, and visualizing the evolution of a research feld: A practical application to the Fuzzy Sets Theory feld","volume":"5","author":"Cobo","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Informetr."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"791","DOI":"10.1080\/13504622.2017.1360842","article-title":"Identifying Effective Climate Change Education Strategies: A Systematic Review of the Research","volume":"25","author":"Monroe","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Edu. Res."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.7748\/ns.24.51.47.s50","article-title":"Learning how to undertake a systematic review: Part 2","volume":"24","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nurs. Stand. (Through 2013)"},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"R Core Team (2021). R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing, R Foundation for Statistical Computing. Available online: https:\/\/www.R-project.org\/."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1186\/2046-4053-2-74","article-title":"Bibliometrics of systematic reviews: Analysis of citation rates and journal impact factors","volume":"2","author":"Royle","year":"2013","journal-title":"Syst. Rev."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1177\/0312896219877678","article-title":"Conducting systematic literature reviews and bibliometric analyses","volume":"45","author":"Linnenluecke","year":"2020","journal-title":"Aust. J. Manag."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"802","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joi.2014.07.006","article-title":"CitNetExplorer: A new software tool for analyzing and visualizing citation networks","volume":"8","author":"Waltman","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Informetr."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"494","article-title":"Livelihoods on the edge without a safety net: The case of smallholder crop farming in north-central Namibia","volume":"77","author":"Spear","year":"2018","journal-title":"Land Use Policy"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pimentel, D. (1993). Land degradation, famine, and land resource scenarios in Ethiopia. World Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511735394"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.5751\/ES-03336-150217","article-title":"Anticipating vulnerability to climate change in dryland pastoral systems: Using dynamic systems models for the Kalahari","volume":"15","author":"Dougill","year":"2010","journal-title":"Ecol. Soc."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"255","article-title":"Deforestation and land degradation in the Nigerian savanna: Implications for sustainable rural livelihoods","volume":"8","author":"Adedoyin","year":"2001","journal-title":"Int. J. Sustain. Dev. World Ecol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"240","DOI":"10.1016\/j.landusepol.2007.07.002","article-title":"Securing access to drylands resources for multiple users in Africa: A review of recent research","volume":"25","author":"Mwangi","year":"2008","journal-title":"Land Use Policy"},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"251","article-title":"Degradation of rangelands in Zimbabwe: Are smallholder farmers responsible?","volume":"43","author":"Murwira","year":"2005","journal-title":"Afr. J. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8416410","DOI":"10.1155\/2021\/8416410","article-title":"Harnessing of social capital as a determinant for climate change adaptation in Mazungunye communal lands in Bikita, Zimbabwe","volume":"2021","author":"Nyahunda","year":"2021","journal-title":"Scientifica"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2006.01.008","article-title":"Cattle-rangeland management practices and perceptions of pastoralists towards rangeland degradation in the Borana zone of southern Ethiopia","volume":"82","author":"Solomon","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1016\/S0921-8009(97)00048-7","article-title":"Mis-measurement of the productivity and sustainability of African communal rangelands: A case study and some principles from Botswana","volume":"23","author":"Abel","year":"1997","journal-title":"Ecol. Econ."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1538","DOI":"10.1007\/s00267-015-0579-9","article-title":"Combining sustainable land management technologies to combat land degradation and improve rural livelihoods in semi-arid lands in Kenya","volume":"56","author":"Mganga","year":"2015","journal-title":"Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaridenv.2005.10.020","article-title":"Herder knowledge of landscape assessments in arid rangelands in northern Tanzania","volume":"66","author":"Oba","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Arid. Environ."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1080\/153249802317304422","article-title":"Land degradation in the drylands","volume":"16","author":"Dregne","year":"2002","journal-title":"Arid. Land Res. Manag."},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"103","article-title":"Drivers of grassland ecosystems\u2019 deterioration in Uganda","volume":"2","author":"Mugerwa","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appl. Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"32","article-title":"Land use intensification and implications on land degradation in the Boteti area: Botswana","volume":"38","author":"Sebego","year":"2019","journal-title":"Afr. Geogr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3897\/natureconservation.6.5407","article-title":"Emerging issues and challenges in conservation of biodiversity in the rangelands of Tanzania","volume":"6","author":"Kideghesho","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nat. Conserv."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2016.11.029","article-title":"Memories of environmental change and local adaptations among molapo farming communities in the Okavango Delta, Botswana\u2014A gender perspective","volume":"175","author":"Ngwenya","year":"2017","journal-title":"Acta Trop."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.3400040307","article-title":"Spreading deserts or spatially confined environmental impacts? Land degradation and cattle ranching in the Kalahari desert of Botswana","volume":"4","author":"Perkins","year":"1993","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1017\/S0376892900030629","article-title":"Land-use changes and resource degradation in south\u2013west Masailand, Tanzania","volume":"19","author":"Mwalyosi","year":"1992","journal-title":"Environ. Conserv."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.2203","article-title":"Rangeland Degradation in a Semi-Arid Communal Savannah of Swaziland: Long\u2013Term DIP-Tank Use Effects on Woody Plant Structure, Cover and their Indigenous Use in Three Soil Types","volume":"26","author":"Beyene","year":"2015","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.3400030204","article-title":"Land degradation and livestock production in Zimbabwe\u2019s communal areas","volume":"3","author":"Scoones","year":"1992","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaridenv.2009.06.016","article-title":"Linking degradation assessment to sustainable land management: A decision support system for Kalahari pastoralists","volume":"74","author":"Reed","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Arid. Environ."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.2989\/10220119.2018.1546229","article-title":"Forage seed value chain analysis in a subhumid region of Zimbabwe: Perspectives of smallholder producers","volume":"36","author":"Chakoma","year":"2019","journal-title":"Afr. J. Range Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nkonya, E., Mirzabaev, A., and von Braun, J. (2016). Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement\u2014A Global Assessment for Sustainable Development, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-19168-3"}],"container-title":["Land"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-445X\/13\/9\/1402\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T15:46:14Z","timestamp":1760111174000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-445X\/13\/9\/1402"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,31]]},"references-count":53,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9]]}},"alternative-id":["land13091402"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/land13091402","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-445X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-445X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,31]]}}}