dc.description.abstract | The effective implementation of sustainable land management (SLM) practices is
vital for achieving land degradation neutrality. However, the sustainability of these
practices depends on the continuous decisions made by land users to adopt and
implement them. Unlike studies on other forms of degradation like desertification
and soil erosion, there is a lack of focus on Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
management in studies related to SLM uptake and implementation. Consequently,
applying the findings of SLM studies to invasion management remains uncertain due
to the complex nature of the invasion process. This study aimed at: 1) analyzing the
potential of stakeholder-led participation in contributing to the effective selection and
sustained use of SLM practices to manage P. juliflora, 2) analyzing spatio-temporal
invasion trajectories of P. juliflora cover and relating their spatial occurrence to
relevant landscape features, 3) evaluating drivers influencing land users’ decisions
for SLM implementation, and 4) assessing land tenure right barriers that impact land
users’ implementation of SLM practices. Conducted in Marigat Sub-County, land
cover data collected from 1988 to 2016 were analyzed to generate spatio-temporal
trajectories related to landscape features, while 150 respondents from both the
heavily and sparsely invaded areas were interviewed. The study observed that
participation in a structured decision-making process enhances stakeholders’
knowledge of the significance of invasion, prompting them to prioritize the need to
manage IAS. A notable distinction (p<0.05) in perceptions emerged between
engaged local implementation groups (LIG) and non-LIG members regarding the
imperative need to manage the invasion. Further, 89% of LIG members either agreed
or strongly agreed on the necessity to control the proliferation of P. juliflora. The
spatio-temporal analysis of P. juliflora trajectories revealed that the trends of
invasion is correlated (p<0.01) with underlying land management decisions and
drivers, rather than a random occurrence. The ongoing management of P. juliflora
dominates on few, small parcels where land users anticipate a substantial threat of
invasion to their income or potential costs if left unmanaged. Consistently cleared
parcels accounted for a mere 110 hectares (2% of the study area), with only 7
hectares (Ha) experiencing long-term clearance. This low and declining cover of
cleared areas indicates the unsustainability of existing management options for longterm
invasion control. In contrast, the consistently invaded parcels were highly
prevalent, and with an increasing trend covering 6,329 hectares (94% of all trajectory
categories), mainly distributed within 800 meters from roads. Further, communally
shared parcels such as pasturelands and roadsides are the most vulnerable, yet the
most neglected in terms of invasion management. This is because there's a perception
that no one is held accountable, especially when economic benefits aren't guaranteed
for land users. Additionally, the study identified critical tenure right barriers within
the customary tenure system, namely the partriarchal system, dysfunctional
enforcement institutions, unresponsiveness of tenure rights to livelihood changes,
and limited land transactions that leaves vulnerable parcels under the ownership of
the elderly community members who lack capacity to manage invasion. The study
underscores the importance of economic benefits as an incentive to land users’ their
collective participation in invasion management at the landscape level. Trajectory
IAS mapping was also found to be important planning tool to enhance the
prioritization of context-specific and timely response mechanisms. As a key
recommendation, the study advocates for the national IAS management strategy to
focus on empowering grassroots-level actors in addressing challenges to Sustainable
Land Management (SLM) implementation, especially concerning IAS management
at the landscape scale.
. | en_US |