Perceived Environmental Impacts of Sustainable Land Management Practices in Nigeria's Great Green Wall Frontline States

ABSTRACT: This research examines how Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices are viewed in terms of their environmental impacts in the eleven frontline states of Nigeria, as overseen by the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW). Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were gathered from 550 participants, including farmers, extension agents, and local officials across the states of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa. The principal findings reveal prevalent perceptions of environmental degradation, characterised by increasing soil erosion, reduced vegetation cover, and a decline in water availability. While specific SLM initiatives, notably afforestation, contour farming, and water harvesting, were associated with moderate improvements in crop yields and soil health in specific communities, the effectiveness of these practices varied considerably based on location and community engagement. The findings underscore the need for community-driven, ecologically sound, and institutionally supported SLM frameworks to address the escalating environmental vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s drylands.