Ecosystem services provided by lowlands as affected by water management in the Guinean and Sudano-Guinean zones of Benin, West Africa

Inland valleys are critical wetlands providing a wide range of ecosystem services. However, inadequate water management has limited their agricultural potential in sub-Saharan Africa. This study used a mixed-method approach, drawing on data from 298 farmers across 41 inland valleys, to assess how water management techniques affect ecosystem services provided by inland valleys and to their sustainability. Three key management approaches were identified: undeveloped valleys (without management), bund valleys (using small dikes), and smart valleys (integrating bunds with irrigation and drainage canals). The results indicate that provisioning, regulating, and supporting services in smart valleys are, respectively, 1.23, 1.20, and 1.06 times higher than in undeveloped valleys, and 1.20, 1.19, and 1.03 times higher than in bund valleys. In contrast, cultural services were most prevalent in undeveloped valleys, at 1.21 times that in bund valleys and 1.45 times that in smart valleys. Smart-valley also demonstrated fewer sustainability threats, including excessive chemical use and sedimentation risk. Socio-economic factors (gender, age, education, and income) significantly influenced the importance that farmers attributed to ecosystem services. Integrating cultural services into the design of smart valleys could improve agricultural productivity and conserve ecosystem services, offering a more holistic approach to sustainable management.