By depleting soil nutrients, soil degradation (SD) threatens agricultural production and population growth in the Guinea savanna of Ghana. Awoonor et al., 2024 used multivariate statistical techniques on samples collected by using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) to identify key SD processes, assess soil properties, and propose monitoring strategies. The authors highlight the need for integrated soil fertility management strategies, such as applying organic and inorganic fertilizers, to increase soil nutrient availability and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Elsevier,
Hydroclimatic Extremes in the Middle East and North Africa Assessment, Attribution and Socioeconomic Impacts, 2024, Pages 343-366
This chapter ties into Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action by emphasizing the need for adaptation strategies in response to significant climate changes.
This Article supports SDG 3 by demonstrating the effectiveness of assisted partner services in Kenya to test the partners of people who inject drugs for HIV and hepatitis C, and support linkage to and engagement in care among those who are positive for either infection.
This article describes the development and pilot testing of a mobile health-delivered storytelling intervention to increase cervical cancer screening among Malawian women living with HIV. The intervention was found to be feasible, acceptable, and more effective than printed materials alone in encouraging women to undergo screening.
This study has provided a spatial view of the temporal trends in gregarization in the CLCPRO countries since 1985.
"Women Supporting Women in the Sciences (WS2)—ws2global.org—is an international initiative unifying and supporting graduate- and professional-level women and allies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while providing outreach to elementary- and secondary-level students. WS2 has been involved in the development of professional development workshops intended to empower university women and promote STEM careers. In their most recent venture, WS2 distributed low-cost physics and materials science lab kits that were designed virtually by international teams. These kits are relevant to elementary and secondary school students across the world, with initial focus on local schools in eastern Africa. In this Backstory, part of the WS2 leadership team (Dr. Joyce Elisadiki, Dr. Cecilia Rolence China, and Dr. Jill Wenderott) discusses how the Lab Kit Initiative came together and highlights outcomes and lessons learned from this project.
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A study by Snoussi et al., 2024 proposes a methodology for evaluating excavated material's environmental, geotechnical, and agronomical properties to determine its ecological reuse potential, particularly for constructing soil in urban green infrastructure. Through the SWOFI framework (Safety, Workability, Fertility, Infiltrability), the authors characterised a non-cohesive sedimentary parent rock with a sandy loam texture from Bou Argoub in Tunisia. The method successfully assessed the material’s pollution hazard, compaction sensitivity, and fertility showcasing a novel integrated approach for sustainable soil construction in urban landscapes.
Mulwafua and Kamchedzera 2024 found that Malawi's soil laws lack strong priorities for Avoid, Reduce, and Reverse strategies regarding land degradation neutrality, contrasting with Uganda and Germany which incorporate these strategies in their soil-dedicated legal frameworks. By using Roscoe Pound's theory of social engineering, the authors suggest that Malawi's human-centred approach to soil conservation neglects eco-centric and deep ecology perspectives.
Grazing pressure in savannah rangelands increases the possibility of desertification and woody plant encroachment under different land management. As such, early warning shift indicators of degraded rangelands are required. Zimmer et al., 2024 conducted a study on the arid savanna rangelands on Arenosols in Namibia and focussed on soil organic carbon (SOC) and carbon isotopes (δ13C) as indicators. Results show lower SOC stocks on communal rangelands compared to freehold farms, with correlations between SOC stocks and vegetation cover types. The findings emphasize the importance of considering soil properties such as SOC in land management practices to assess and mitigate soil degradation risks in savanna ecosystems
This study examines the impact of home-to-school distance on student dropout rates in Adi-Keyih sub-zone, Eritrea, analysing data from almost 2,500 students. Findings indicate that greater distances between home and school significantly increase the likelihood of dropout.
