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A framework for facilitating the success of family business intergenerational leadership succession planning in sub-Saharan Africa
Dzvairo, AbrahamTaft, Trevor; Taft, Trevor (Sage, 2025-11)
Most family business theories and models used in sub-Saharan Africa are anchored on the Western worldview. However, various researchers acknowledge the flaws of these theories when applied in cultures outside the Western world. A dearth of studies that infuse Western-developed leadership and management theories with indigenous African knowledge exists. This study aims to develop a strategy that solves the problem of family business failure in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings revealed that family business leaders must prepare for succession, develop and select successors, and infuse both Ubuntu philosophy and the Western worldview during succession planning. The study developed a leadership succession planning framework for family businesses in sub-Saharan Africa to close the gap. Using systems theory and thinking and intercultural management thinking, this study shows how infusing the indigenous African knowledge anchored on Ubuntu philosophy can lead to successful succession that may translate into intergenerational family business survival in sub-Saharan Africa.
African contributions are missing from cryosphere research in Africa and worldwide
Asante, Christian K.; Hansen, Christel D.; Hardy, Douglas R.; Hotaling, Scott (Frontiers Media, 2026-01-08)
No abstract available.
Perspectives on wildlife agency mange management in black bears and other carnivores
Francisco, Raquel; Pienaar, Elizabeth Frances; Yabsley, Michael J. (Wiley, 2026-02)
Sarcoptic mange is an emerging parasitic disease affecting North American black bears (Ursus americanus) and has been increasingly reported since the early 1990s. As mange spreads into naive bear populations, wildlife managers face challenges related to surveillance, interagency coordination, and stakeholder expectations. In 2023, we surveyed 35 state and federal wildlife agency personnel and academic partners to assess management practices for mange, barriers to effective interventions, and how agencies engage with the public and key stakeholders. Respondents represented 17 states, 7 with and 10 without reports of sarcoptic mange in black bears, with over half (51.4%) working in their current institution for more than 10 years. Respondents generally agreed on dispatching severely affected wildlife (97.1%) and monitoring mild to moderate cases. Although respondents supported stakeholder and public reporting of mange cases (71.4%), they opposed stakeholder and public intervention in mange management (e.g., treatment, handling, relocation). Fewer than half of respondents (45.7%) indicated that mange reports are entered into a formal dataset, limiting long-term surveillance and decision-making. Our study highlights the need for a unified multi-state communication framework to increase public support for agency management actions, and the importance of implementing a centralized mange data repository to enhance long-term surveillance of mange and improve response efforts.
Macrofauna-environment interactions and their potential in restoring degraded landscapes in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa : a review of current knowledge
Kasimbo, Mukanzala; Johnson, Todd; Mwamba, Theodore M.; Uwimbabazi, Agnes; Syampungani, Stephen (Elsevier, 2025-12)
Restoring degraded landscapes, such as those induced by mining activity, is essential for recovering lost ecosystem services. This requires innovative nature-based solutions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This review summarizes current knowledge on soil macrofauna in degraded SSA landscapes, an otherwise overlooked component of ecological restoration. A systematic literature review was conducted, yielding 31 relevant publications that were analyzed to identify patterns in macrofauna assemblages across land-use types in SSA including agricultural, forest, bushland, grassland, savannah, dumpsite and reclaimed mine site landscapes. Bibliometric analysis showed minimal studies before 2014, with research increasing after 2017, mostly in southern and eastern Africa. West Africa remains underrepresented. We found more studies on agricultural systems type (28 of the 32 reviewed studies), reporting seven classes, while less studies were conducted on mining wasteland (3 of 31 reviewed studies) reporting only one class. This highlights the urgent need for more macrofauna research in mine wastelands to pursue restoration. Variations in macrofauna composition (at both class and order level) are also viewed in relation to their physiological and environmental plasticity adaptations. In addition, potential macrofauna functional roles, such as bioturbation, organic matter breakdown, nutrient cycling, as well as other attributes such as tolerance to harsh environments and bioindication of biodiversity recovery, that may support landscape restoration were considered as well. Macrofauna groups with potential in future bioaugmentation strategies (the deliberate introduction of beneficial soil organisms to enhance ecological functions) include earthworms (Oligochaeta), termites (Isoptera) and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Opportunities and challenges of their integration into restoration planning are also discussed, especially in the context of SSA mining landscapes, which are often characterized by severe ecological degradation such as surface water contamination and heavy metal pollution. Although there is a gradual increase in publications on macrofauna in Southern Africa, their practical inclusion in ecological restoration efforts across SSA remains limited. The lack of a better understanding of macrofauna tolerance mechanisms, particularly to environmental stressors such as temperature fluctuations, chemical pollution, and habitat alterations, and the precise nature of their interactions with both biotic and abiotic environmental factors is identified as an avenue for future investigations. HIGHLIGHTS • Macrofauna-environment interactions towards eco-restoration in SSA are reviewed. • Profiles of reported macrofauna groups and key environmental factors are discussed. • West Africa is the least represented sub-region in reviewed papers. • Macrofauna profile in mine wastelands is scantily documented. • Macrofauna bioremediation potential is underexplored, hampered by limited knowledge.
Land use/land cover (LULC) change and irrigated area monitoring in Eritrea : insights into horticultural production and sustainability
Haile, Bereket T.; Ramoelo, Abel; Dougill, Andrew J.; Qabaqaba, Mcebisi (Springer, 2025-12)
In arid and semi-arid regions, where water is scarce and climatic variability is high, monitoring changes in irrigated land is essential for ensuring food security and building resilience. However, few studies have assessed irrigation dynamics in the Horn of Africa using remote sensing, and empirical data from Eritrea remain limited. This study investigates the spatio-temporal dynamics of irrigated agriculture in two contrasting regions of Eritrea, Dighe and Gala Nefhi, using multi-temporal Sentinel-2 imagery and Supporting climatic and agricultural datasets from 2015 to 2024. It aims to map the spatial distribution of irrigated fields, assess their changes over time, and examine relationships with rainfall variability, horticultural crop production, and market fluctuations by comparing trends throughout the study period. A supervised Random Forest classification approach was implemented in Google Earth Engine, incorporating spectral indices and post-classification comparison to quantify the Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) transitions. The classification was based on dry-season imagery to distinguish irrigated from rainfed areas, with seven LULC classes identified. Overall classification accuracy ranged from 0.82–0.86 in Dighe and 0.87–0.89 in Gala Nefhi, with Kappa coefficients of 0.70–0.81 and 0.85–0.86, respectively. Results show a 115.5% increase in irrigated area in Dighe and 65.6% in Gala Nefhi. While Gala Nefhi showed synchronized growth in irrigation and horticultural crop production, Dighe exhibited inconsistent yields despite expanded irrigation. The study shows that expanding irrigation alone cannot increase production without reliable water sources, favorable climate conditions, and institutional support.