To address ongoing threats from human pressures and climate changes, water managers and users require a visual tool that provides accurate information about the health of waterbodies for decision making. However, there is a lack of less sophisticated methods, such as biotic scoring, to assess the health of rivers in West Africa. To bridge this gap, we have developed a macroinvertebrate-based scoring system for monitoring the health of rivers in the Sahelian regions. We adopted a multi-habitat sampling approach to collect macroinvertebrates using hand nets, and these specimens were identified mostly to family taxonomic level using keys. We recorded more than 75 taxa of macroinvertebrates, each assigned relative sensitivity scores to human disturbances ranging from 1 (very tolerant) to 10 (highly sensitive). The Burkina Biotic Score System (BBIOSS) and the Average Score Per Taxa (ASPT) demonstrated a strong and significant correlation with environmental variables, including anthropogenic pressures types (r = 0.6; p < 0.01) making it a robust tool for monitoring rivers. Here, our findings revealed that all taxa scored are expected to be those reported in Western African freshwater. This study has produced an effective tool that can be used or adapted to monitor other riverine ecosystems in West Africa, potentially contributing to the preservation of water and biological resources.

The contribution of citizen scientists to environmental monitoring is notably increasing significantly. Governments worldwide establish Water Users Associations (WUAs) as a good practice model to implement Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) at local levels. These associations target different stakeholders depending on the expected outcome. However, their effectiveness, especially in East Africa, can only be determined case by case. In Kenya, Water Resources Users Associations are registered, voluntary community groups whose members are water users and land owners. Similarly, in Uganda, community-based initiatives exist, especially along degraded rivers, involving cooperation between local communities and regional water authorities. On the contrary, it has been reported that in Tanzania, many community initiatives created become non-functional within 2–3 years of induction. In general, the main responsibility of Water Users Associations or its equivalent is to manage and conserve water resources for sustainable uses. In most cases, water quality monitoring by communities through citizen science is limited to the visual appearance of water in the river channel. While this can indicate the water’s esthetic value, it is insufficient for assessing the ecological status of rivers, which is influenced by a variety of physical, chemical, biological, and socioeconomic factors. The use of bioindicators has been advocated as a feasible method for community-based water quality river monitoring. Therefore, this review explores the commonly used bio-indicators and bio-assessment tools for river health assessment and their complexities when using a biomonitoring community-based approach through citizen science. Tolerance and intolerance macroinvertebrate and fish metric protocols that utilize identification keys have been recommended. These protocols are designed to be user-friendly and require minimal taxonomic expertise, making them easy for community volunteers to use with minimal basic training. The sustainability of these citizen science initiatives relies on the motivation of volunteers, the frequency of monitoring activities, and collaboration with researchers and government agencies. These initiatives not only facilitate environmental monitoring but also foster community engagement and awareness regarding the ecological status of rivers, thereby addressing knowledge and data gaps necessary for effective policy-making. This approach provides a practical model for environmental stewardship and participatory resource management in East Africa.

The sustainable protein transition within a broader food system transition currently lacks a consistent and coherent policy approach. Policies related to protein production are not aligned with consumption-based policies and are embedded in different jurisdictions. Exemplified by the case of Austria, this study aims to assess the current policy mix and explore how it could be designed to support a sustainable protein transition. We apply the six policy intervention points framework to identify gaps and complement it with the analytical characteristics in/coherence, in/consistency. Results show that the lack of regime destabilising measures, such as targeting reduced meat consumption, is a significant gap in the current policy mix. We see the failure to address the repercussions of regime shifts as the root cause blocking further regime destabilisation. Furthermore, we suggest integrating the element of sequences of intervention points to the framework for future research.

The sustainable protein transition requires holistic policymaking across various fields. Measures to shift towards sustainable animal- and plant-based protein production must be linked to consumption-based measures and integrated into coherent policies. We conducted a policy mapping across fields relevant to the protein transition on supranational (European) and national levels, using the case of Austria as an example. Thereby this study provides an overview of policy mixes shaping the national protein regime and furthermore affecting the protein transition. In a subsequent step, we applied the recently conceived transition framework focusing on six policy intervention points in an innovative way. The stimulation and acceleration of niches could be identified within all policy fields. Besides the lack of regime destabilizing measures (such as targeting reduced meat consumption, or alternative production systems), the absence of measures addressing repercussions of regime shifts has been identified as a root cause blocking further implementation of destabilizing measures.

European rivers are disconnected by more than one million man-made barriers that physically limit aquatic species migration and contribute to modification of freshwater habitats. Here, a Conceptual Habitat Alteration Model for Ponding is developed to aid in evaluating the effects of impoundments on fish habitats. Fish communities present in rivers with low human impact and their broad environmental settings enable classification of European rivers into 15 macrohabitat types. These classifications, together with the estimated fish sensitivity to alteration of their habitat are used for assessing the impacts of six main barrier types (dams, weirs, sluices, culverts, fords, and ramps). Our results indicate that over 200,000 km or 10% of previously free-flowing river habitat has been altered due to impoundments. Although they appear less frequently, dams, weirs and sluices cause much more habitat alteration than the other types. Their impact is regionally diverse, which is a function of barrier height, type and density, as well as biogeographical location. This work allows us to foresee what potential environmental gain or loss can be expected with planned barrier management actions in rivers, and to prioritize management actions.

Above-ground biomass cover under Coffea arabica on sloping land is beneficial but difficult to sustain. Interplanting annual and perennial legumes can sustain the above-ground biomass cover, and improve soil fertility, yield, and profitability. This was tested on 26 sloping farms in a four-growing season experiment on undersowing C. arabica with new crop combinations: Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (T1); Millettia dura Dunn (T2); a combination of M. pruriens and M. dura (T3); and the control with a no-cover legume (T4). On each farm, all treatments followed a randomized single-block design. T3 produced 8.7 mt/ha/yr above-ground biomass that was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than other treatments and was increasing with the seasons. Under T3, plant-available nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) increased more than in other treatments. During the fourth season, coffee yield in T3 was 54%, 22%, and 11% higher than in T4, T2, and T1, respectively. The gross profit under T3 was 86% higher than in T4 in the fourth season. This indicates that interplanting a combination of M. pruriens and M. dura under C. arabica on sloping land can sustainably increase above-ground biomass cover, soil’s plant-available N and K, coffee yield, and profitability. Based on the results, the combination of M. pruriens and M. dura is recommended to optimize coffee production under the described conditions.

Reducing meat consumption in high meat-consuming countries is seen as a key lever for achieving global sustainability agreements. However, little attention has been paid to unravel transition dynamics in the socio-technical protein regime. This study addresses this research gap by shedding light on institutional changes within the Austrian protein regime. Media data were used as an empirical data source to reconstruct the Multi-Level-Perspective's transition phases, suggesting a new methodological approach for using media data in transition studies. Results identified elements from three out of four transition phases. While shifts in informal institutions were observed, formal institutions are still pending. The rigidity of the current regime, where the high status of meat is culturally embedded, was identified as a major barrier to transition. Constantly recurring negative discourse with diversifying arguments addresses this rigidity by accentuating its normative intangibility. The overlap of health and environmental concerns criticizing the regime and providing convenient alternatives were identified as drivers for transition.

Abstract We estimate over 200,000 km or 10% of previously free-flowing river habitat length has been lost due to impoundments, an amount equivalent to the entire length of rivers in Italy. This loss strongly depends on the biogeographical location and a type of impounding barrier. European rivers are disconnected by more than one million man-made barriers that physically limit or completely block aquatic species migration and contribute to the loss of freshwater habitats8. One of the pervasive effects of barriers is the one caused by impoundment, which directly modifies lotic (flowing) stretches of river into lentic (lake-like) habitats5. Depending on structure and composition of fish communities expected at the barrier location the biological consequences may vary. EU-wide analysis of fish communities observed at river sections with low human induced alteration resulted in a macrohabitat classification of European rivers into 15 river types with expected fish community structure. This set a baseline for assessing the impacts of six main barrier types (dams, weirs, sluices, culverts, ramps, and fords) on river fish habitats across Europe. The largest habitat losses are caused by dams, weirs and sluices in mountainous areas where fish most sensitive to ponding are expected. Although many impoundments are smaller than in lowlands their individual impacts are the greatest. Hence, regional variation in the magnitude of impoundment impact is not only a function of barrier height and density, but to large extent of biogeographical location and barrier type. Strategies for enhancing European riverine biodiversity should focus on prioritization of most sensitive regions and barrier types causing high degree of habitat fragmentation. This work is based on four novel methodological approaches: fish community grouping into habitat use guilds, continental river reference model for ecological sound river management, landscape scale application of physical habitat models and conceptual model of impoundment impacts on fish habitat.

Integrating a combination of organic matter management (OMM) practices can increase soil fertility, biomass, and nutrient recycling, but evidence of this potential is limited. This study tested the impact of integrating a combination of OMM practices on soil fertility, biomass, and nutrient recycling on smallholder farms. Following a randomised complete block design, a four-season experiment was conducted in 2018-2019 on 10 farms. The treatments (T) included T1: cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation; T2: cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation + farmyard manure; T3: Faidherbia albida alleys + cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation; T4: F. albida alleys + cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation + farmyard manure; and T5 (control): maize monocrop with diammonium phosphate application at 50 kg/ha application rate. T1-T4 are the OMM practices. The maize in T2-T4 was undersown with Mucuna pruriens. Soil fertility parameters (i.e. pH, water holding capacity, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), biomass, and nutrients in the biomass were determined. There were no differences in soil fertility parameters among all treatments (P > 0.05). From the second to the fourth season, biomass was consistently higher under T3 and T4 than in other treatments. Moreover, the nutrients in biomass were higher in T3 and T4 than in other treatments, an indicator that OMM practices with alley crops can increase nutrient recycling.

Small-scale inland fisheries are essential for livelihoods and food security in developing countries such as Burkina Faso. However, there is a gap in research on the ongoing transformation of the sector toward sustainability. This article analyzes the transition in inland fisheries and aquaculture in Burkina Faso and its implications in terms of natural resources management, food security, and livelihoods. We used the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) method as a reference transition framework and sampled using a mixed approach including 63 qualitative interviews, with fisheries experts and stakeholders, as well as quantitative data gathered through a representative survey with 204 fishermen's households. We examined open access, concession, and co-management fisheries systems. Our results show that technical and institutional changes in fisheries over the last decades deeply shaped and transformed fisheries governance. Technological changes improved the sector's productivity and its contribution to households' livelihoods. Fishermen's households consume up to 25% of fishermen's catches. The share of the catches consumed is typically higher when commercial fishing is "not important", but it remains typically low when it is "very important". The income is higher for fishermen who allocate more time to or gain more income from animals breeding. The establishment of state-based management affects the balance between the coexisting traditional and newer "republican" institutions. Concession and co-management niches can contribute to the empowerment of the stakeholders and establishment of more effective management. However, they are still dominated by the traditional and centralized state regimes and governance. The support of the socio-technical landscape is paramount for the scaling-up of the fish farming niche, which has the potential to improve food security and sustain rural livelihoods in the least developed country, Burkina Faso.

Large amounts of cashew apples from Cote d’Ivoire are left over as waste in the plantations after nut separation, while it can be transformed into bioethanol. This study aimed at producing bioethanol from cashew apple juice by Saccharomyces cerevisiae E450 yeast. S. cerevisiae E450 was used as ferment at 107 CFU/mL in anaerobic and aerobic conditions at temperatures of 30 °C and 33 °C. The fermentation was carried out in batch mode with sampling every 24 hours. The determination of ethanol and glycerol was performed by Gas Phase Chromatography and sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) by HPLC. The amounts of ethanol obtained at 30 °C and 33 °C respectively were of 65.10 and 73.17 g/L in anaerobic conditions and 62.05 and 75.79 g/L aerobic conditions. The fermentations carried out at 33 °C gave the highest ethanol concentrations with the maximum in aerobic which was 75.79 g/L. The fermentation carried out at 30 °C in anaerobic yields the lowest value of 62.05 g/L. This study showed the influence of temperature on the growth of cells and the synthesis of ethanol marked by the presence of oxygen which decreases fermentation time and thus improves productivity. It also revealed that cashew apple has great potential as a biofuel feedstock for bioethanol production. Keywords : Cashew apple juice, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, alcoholic fermentation, Bioethanol, Cote d’Ivoire.

Water resources are among the fundamental resources that are the most threatened worldwide by various pressures. This study applied the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework as an innovative tool to better understand the dynamic interlinkages between the different sources of multiple stressors on aquatic ecosystems in Burkina Faso. The triangulation of evidences from interviews, literature reviews, and strategic simulations shows that several human impacts as well as climate change and its effects (such as the decrease of the water level, and the increase of the surface water temperature) are detrimental to fish productivity, abundance, and average size. Furthermore, the ongoing demographic and nutritional transition is driving cumulative pressures on water and fish resources. In this context, the development of aquaculture could offer alternative livelihoods and help fish stocks in natural ecosystems to recover, thereby reducing fishermen’s vulnerability and easing overfishing pressures. Further, the empowerment of the actors and their participation to reinforce fisheries regulation are required to escape the current “regeneration trap” and to achieve a sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems in Burkina Faso.

The insufficiency of information on fish assemblages has limited the ability to carry out effective conservation measures, hence failing to address economic and ecological roles of fish. Therefore, the present study aimed at characterizing the fish community in the upper part of Volta River basin and drawing up their influence on fisheries‟ sustainability. From 2009 to 2014, fish individuals were collected in nine sampling areas belonging to the Volta catchment, mainly in the catchment of Nakanbé and Mouhoun rivers that are the two major tributaries. More than 40,000 fish specimens were collected in over 600 mesohabitats by using several types of fishing gears (gill nets, cast nets, long lines and electric fishing gears). Altogether, 79 fish species belonging to 41 genera grouped in 19 families were identified. The most common species were Enteromius macrops (50.71%), Brycinus nurse (35.32%), Enteromius ablabes, Oreochromis niloticus (47.10%), Sarotherodon galilaeus (47.88%) and Coptodon zillii (42.23%). The fish species richness varied according to the sampling area. The main trend is that the protected area of Nazinga is the most diverse thus would be regarded as an appropriate refuge for fish species.Keywords: Common species, species richness, protected area.

To better understand Conservation Agriculture (CA) adoption in mid-northern Uganda, a successfully tried method, the Qualitative Expert Assessment Tool for CA (QAToCA) was used. QAToCA is an expert-based, qualitative, self-assessment guide for determining the relative likelihood of CA adoption within a site-specific context. The results show that CA adoption in the region is highly probable. The two main reasons farmers adopt CA techniques are the dissemination strategy as well as the provided information about CA. The tool also highlighted that the prevailing volatile climate and market conditions are the main constraints to adopting CA at household level.

Life sciences universities (LSUs) play a specific role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A number of SDGs address topics that have been focal points for LSUs throughout their history of research, teaching and societal mission. Furthermore, LSUs traditionally have strong links to stakeholders central to the transformative process, such as the food sector, forestry and renewable energies. However, life sciences universities and the university system will have to undergo transformations if they want to contribute to a profound shift in societies.

Human pressures and loss of natural fish habitats led to a decline in fish populations in terms of abundances, biodiversity, and average size in sub-Sahelian Burkina Faso. Little knowledge exists about fish assemblages regarding their composition, their habitat preferences, or their sensitivity to or tolerance of human pressures. This research provides the first data-driven basis for sustainably managing fish and associated aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Surveys in four different regions sampled 18,000 specimens from 69 species during the dry season. Fish communities, available abiotic habitat conditions, habitat use, and human pressures were assessed and analyzed. Fish communities cluster into four distinct types, each dominated by either Cichlidae, Clariidae, Cyprinidae, or Alestidae and accompanied by specific other families and genera of fish. Habitat preferences of four key species (Labeo coubie, Bagrus bajad, Chelaethiops bibie, and Lates niloticus) were linked to ecological habitat conditions. Results show that physical parameters influence fish community composition and abundances and, when indexed according to pressure type, are linked to responses in fish metrics. Relative abundance either dropped (Mormyridae) or increased (Cichlidae, Cyprinidae) with rising pressure intensity, and some sentinel taxa (Auchenoglanis, Hydrocynus) were only found in low-pressure sites. The outcomes of this study provide basic knowledge of habitat availability, habitat use by fish, species associations, and human pressures and therefore provide the basis for effective conservation and management of fish populations.

Floods and droughts are key driving forces shaping aquatic ecosystems. Climate change may alter key attributes of these events and consequently health and distribution of aquatic species. Improved knowledge of biological responses to different types of floods and droughts in rivers should allow the better prediction of the ecological consequences of climate change‐induced flow alterations. This review highlights that in unmodified ecosystems, the intensity and direction of biological impacts of floods and droughts vary, but the overall consequence is an increase in biological diversity and ecosystem health. To predict the impact of climate change, metrics that allow the quantitative linking of physical disturbance attributes to the directions and intensities of biological impacts are needed. The link between habitat change and the character of biological response is provided by the frequency of occurrence of the river wave characteristic—that is the event's predictability. The severity of impacts of floods is largely related to the river wave amplitude (flood magnitude), while the impact of droughts is related to river wavelength (drought duration).