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Understanding nature's contributions to people (NCP) can improve people's ability to manage earth systems effectively, equitably, and sustainably (Chaplin-Kramer et al. 2019; Brauman et al., 2020). NCP can be perceived as a benefit or detriment depending on the cultural, temporal, or spatial context (Diaz et al. 2018). According to IPBES (2019)...

Background In this study, we present the current situation and the role of agricultural extension services for farmers and indicates the potential solutions for the optimum effectiveness of these services. Thus, we investigate the vital determinants influencing the farmers’ attitudes toward using agricultural extension services in Ghana and Zambia...

Land-use change is a crucial driver for achieving a sustainable future. However, the uncertainties of socioeconomic development could lead to different changes in the future land-use patterns. Using a spatial downscaling framework, this study aims to explore possible land-use patterns that can help achieve sustainable development in the Guangdong...

Agricultural land accounts for 37% of the world’s terrestrial area, and the multiple functions of agroecosystems—providing food, soil and water retention, and various cultural services—are of great importance for sustainable land management. To ensure that multifunctionality, payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes have been developed for...

Population ageing and shrinking are demographic phenomena with far-reaching implications for sustainability in the current context of extensive and rapid urbanization. This Perspective rationalizes their interface by (a) identifying the challenges and opportunities that ageing and shrinking urban populations will have for implementing the...

Zoning is an important tool to regulate the use of land and to characterize built form over land, and thus to facilitate urban sustainability. Availability of reliable data is crucial for monitoring land use zoning, which contributes directly to the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in general, and SDG Goal 11 for sustainable...

Various industrial crops have been promoted across sub-Saharan African (SSA) to meet very diverse socioeconomic objectives linked to economic growth, rural development, agricultural modernization and energy security. Even though industrial crop production and food security have received extensive policy attention, we lack a comprehensive...

Despite significant progress over the past decades, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains the poorest and least developed region in the world. High levels of poverty, food insecurity and environmental degradation, as well as low access to infrastructure and low institutional capacity characterize many areas across the continent. There is a consensus...

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have recently framed sustainable development priorities in both developed and developing countries. External funding in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA) is necessary for achieving practically all of the SDGs and their underlying targets. However, it is not...

Droughts and floods are some of the major climatic hazards in the semi-arid areas of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Climate change affects the periodicity and severity of such hazards, and eventually the well-being of many rural communities in the region, including semi-arid Ghana. Enhancing the resilience of local communities to droughts and floods...