Re-assembling land degradation: toward a nature-society-inclusive soil erosion management strategy. A case of the Rwenzori region, Uganda

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

Sustainable Food Systems

Francis Jumba¹  Phillipp Dietrich²  Bernard Freyer²  Thaddeo Kahigwa Tibasiima³  Deous Mary Ekyaligonza³  John Patrick Kanahe Kagorora⁴  Bosco Bwambale⁴ 

[1]Department of Agriculture, King Ceasor University, Kampala, Uganda

[2]Division of Organic Farming, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria

[3]Division of Organic Farming, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria

[4]Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mountains of the Moon University (MMU), Fort Portal, Uganda

[5]Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mountains of the Moon University (MMU), Fort Portal, Uganda

关键词: land degradation;    land use;    natural hazards;    soil management;    sloping land;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fsufs.2023.1146222

 received in 2023-01-17, accepted in 2023-03-28,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Tackling land degradation, particularly soil erosion, remains a challenge due to the gap between science, policy, and practice which hampers the adoption of control measures by farmers. Bridging this gap requires understanding land degradation as an assemblage of the natural/biophysical and anthropogenic aspects; but also, rethinking epistemologies that level the grounds between scientists, policymakers, and farmers whose farm livelihoods are at-risk due to soil erosion. This study aimed to clarify how these requirements can be met through the lens of the recently proposed hylomorphic framework. This framework structures, in three steps, the procedure of bridging real-life experiences of farmers at risk of soil erosion with the knowledge of scientists and policymakers through the embracement of diversity in ontological realities and values, self-critiques, and coalescing overlaps in theorizations. We selected a qualitative design as most appropriate using one of the cases—the Rwenzori region—where soil erosion is high. We conducted nine focus group discussions with participants selected purposefully from three stakeholder groups including scientists, policymakers, and farmers. Following the hylomorphic framework procedure, we carried out the content analysis. Drawing on insights from this study, we elaborate on how the hylomorphic framework supports deconstructing land degradation and soil erosion, and also further offers insights into a more nature-society-inclusive soil erosion management strategy.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Tibasiima, Bwambale, Ekyaligonza, Dietrich, Jumba, Kagorora and Freyer.