Alternative Land Management Strategies and Their Impacts on Soil Conservation

Land quality encompasses not only soil but also water, biotic resources, and various forms of land use. It serves as a vital natural resource supporting terrestrial ecosystems and human life. However, unsustainable human activities have led to global land degradation, primarily driven by factors like climate change, deforestation, and agricultural practices. This degradation diminishes cropland productivity, thereby reducing food production per capita, particularly in the Global South. Effective land management practices are crucial for mitigating, preventing, and restoring land degradation, thereby enhancing land productivity. This chapter highlights alternative land management (ALM) as a sustainable approach, focusing on managing land resources to support social, economic, and environmental factors for present and future generations. ALM prioritizes land usage that preserves future benefits and promotes social well-being, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. The chapter aims to identify sustainable ALM strategies and their impacts on land quality and soil conservation. Strategies such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry, integrated pest management, sustainable water management, sustainable forest management, and sustainable livestock management are discussed for their potential positive impacts on soil conservation and land quality improvement in the Global South, addressing short-, medium-, and long-term needs. The insights provided aim to inform decision-makers and policymakers in implementing effective land management strategies.