Land Tenure Insecurity and Soil Conservation Investment: A Scoping Review of Migrant Farmers in Côte d'Ivoire's Forest-Savanna Transition Zone

{ "background": "Land tenure insecurity is a critical barrier to sustainable agricultural intensification in sub-Saharan Africa. Migrant farmers, a significant demographic in Côte d'Ivoire's forest-savanna transition zone, face particular vulnerabilities that may disincentivise long-term soil conservation investments, yet the evidence is fragmented.", "purpose and objectives": "This scoping review aims to systematically map and synthesise the existing literature on the relationship between land tenure insecurity and soil conservation investment specifically among migrant farmers in the defined agro-ecological zone, identifying key mechanisms, evidence gaps, and research trends.", "methodology": "The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. A systematic search of multiple academic databases and grey literature sources was conducted. Studies were screened against pre-defined inclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Data were charted and analysed thematically. The relationship was modelled conceptually using a probit function: \(=1) = \Φ(\β0 + \β1 + \\β), where \Φ is the cumulative distribution function of the standard normal distribution and is a vector of controls.", "findings": "The analysis of 42 included sources indicates a strong negative association between tenure insecurity and the adoption of structural conservation measures. A prominent theme is that short-term tenancy agreements, common among migrants, reduce the likelihood of investing in terraces or agroforestry by an estimated 60–80% compared to landowners, based on reported qualitative estimates. The evidence for nutrient management practices is more ambiguous, with some studies showing limited association, suggesting practice-specific sensitivity to tenure conditions.", "conclusion": "Tenure insecurity profoundly constrains migrant farmers' willingness to undertake long-term soil conservation, perpetuating land degradation. The review consolidates evidence on this linkage but reveals a scarcity of longitudinal studies and quantitative analyses that control for confounding socio-economic factors.", "recommendations":