Land degradation and sustainable land management in Ghana: evidence from systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Land degradation threatens ecosystem services, agricultural productivity, and livelihoods across Sub-Saharan Africa, with Ghana experiencing increasing pressure from deforestation, soil erosion, mining activities, and unsustainable land-use practices. This study provides a policy-oriented synthesis of evidence on progress toward land degradation neutrality in Ghana, supported by comparative insights from Sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review and quantitative synthesis were conducted following established systematic review guidelines, drawing on peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025. The analysis integrates biophysical outcomes, socio-economic factors, and governance constraints influencing sustainable land management implementation. The results indicate that sustainable land management practices, including agroforestry, soil and water conservation, and conservation agriculture, are generally associated with improvements in soil condition, land productivity, and vegetation cover. Meta-analytical evidence shows a moderate positive relationship between sustainable land management practices and land health, although substantial variability exists across ecological zones and institutional contexts. Ghana-specific studies highlight persistent barriers to implementation, notably insecure land tenure, high adoption costs, limited extension services, and weak monitoring systems. While Ghana has demonstrated strong policy commitment through national strategies and international restoration initiatives, uneven implementation and data limitations constrain progress toward land degradation neutrality. The study concludes that advancing land degradation neutrality in Ghana requires strengthened monitoring frameworks, improved policy coherence, and the scaling up of context-specific and socially inclusive land management practices. The findings are intended to support national planning, reporting, and future empirical research rather than to provide a definitive country-level meta-analysis.