The coastal zone of The Gambia, which contributes 36% to the country’s GDP, has experienced considerable transformation due to increased socioeconomic development and urbanisation. This growth has significantly altered the coastal landscape, intensifying pressure on the environment and increasing vulnerability to climate hazards. A study used cloud-free Landsat imagery from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 for assessing land use and land cover (LULC) changes and population growth. The analysis classified LULC into five categories: barren land, built-up areas, vegetation cover, water bodies, and wetlands. The findings highlighted dramatic changes in LULC over the past three decades. Barren land increased by 46%, and built-up areas surged by 680%. In contrast, vegetation cover decreased by 35%, water bodies by 31%, and wetlands by 14%. These transformations correlate with rising population densities along the coastline, particularly within 10–25 km of the shore. The substantial growth in built-up areas and reduction in vegetation are directly linked to urbanisation and population pressure. This rapid change exacerbates the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme weather events such as flooding and tropical windstorms. To address these challenges, it is crucial for the government and stakeholders to implement policies that manage coastal congestion and encourage development in inland regions. Such measures should consider the impacts of population growth on coastal environments and aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of The Gambia’s coastal ecosystems by mitigating risks associated with climate change.

Agricultural systems face increasing challenges due to climate change, necessitating effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study investigates smallholder farmers’ perceptions of the efficacy of these strategies in The Gambia, employing a mixed-method approach that includes a perception index (PI), effectiveness score (ES), importance–performance analysis (IPA), and statistical analysis. A structured survey was conducted among 420 smallholder farmers across three agricultural regions. Farmers rated adaptation and mitigation strategies using a Likert scale, and a PI was developed to quantify their responses. The index was 0.66, indicating a moderate level of perceived effectiveness. Additionally, ES was calculated to assess the performance of various strategies, while IPA categorized strategies based on their adoption and perceived impact. Chi-square tests and factor analysis were applied to explore differences in perceptions. The findings reveal that strategies such as crop diversification, pesticide application, irrigation, and the use of inorganic fertilizers are widely adopted and perceived as effective. The IPA matrix identified key strategies needing improvement, particularly those with high importance but low performance. Barriers to adoption include limited financial resources (77%), lack of government support (64%), and insufficient knowledge (52%), with no significant gender-based differences in perceptions. This study underscores the need for policy interventions that integrate farmers’ perceptions to enhance climate resilience. Targeted investments in adaptive technologies, financial support, and knowledge-sharing platforms can improve adoption and effectiveness. This research provides valuable insights into the interplay between farmer perceptions, adaptation strategies, and agricultural sustainability in The Gambia.

The coastal zone of The Gambia, which contributes 36% to the country’s GDP, has experienced considerable transformation due to increased socioeconomic development and urbanization. This growth has significantly altered the coastal landscape, intensifying pressure on the environment and increasing vulnerability to climate hazards. A study assessing land cover changes and population growth used cloud-free Landsat imagery from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. The analysis classified land cover into five categories: barren land, built-up areas, vegetation cover, water bodies, and wetlands. The findings highlighted dramatic changes in land cover over the past three decades. Barren land increased by 46%, and built-up areas surged by 680%. In contrast, vegetation cover decreased by 35%, water bodies by 31%, and wetlands by 14%. These transformations correlate with rising population densities along the coastline, particularly within 10-25 km of the shore. The substantial growth in built-up areas and reduction in vegetation are directly linked to urbanization and population pressure. This rapid change exacerbates the vulnerability of coastal communities to climate-related hazards such as flooding and tropical windstorms. To address these challenges, it is crucial for the government and stakeholders to implement policies that manage coastal congestion and encourage development in inland regions. Such measures should consider the impacts of population growth on coastal environments and aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of The Gambia’s coastal ecosystems by mitigating risks associated with climate change.

Agricultural systems face increasing challenges due to climate change, necessitating effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study investigates smallholder farmers' perceptions of the efficacy of these strategies in The Gambia, employing a mixed-method approach that includes a Perception Index (PI), Effectiveness Score (ES), Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) and statistical analysis. A structured survey was conducted among 420 smallholder farmers across three agricultural regions. Farmers rated adaptation and mitigation strategies using a Likert scale, and a PI was developed to quantify their responses. The index was 0.66, indicating a moderate level of perceived effectiveness. Additionally, ES was calculated to assess the performance of various strategies, while IPA categorized strategies based on their adoption and perceived impact. Chi-square tests and factor analysis were applied to explore differences in perceptions. Findings reveal that strategies such as crop diversification, pesticide application, irrigation, and use of inorganic fertilizers are widely adopted and perceived as effective. The IPA matrix identified key strategies needing improvement, particularly those with high importance but low performance. Barriers to adoption include limited financial resources (77%), lack of government support (64%), and insufficient knowledge (52%), with no significant gender-based differences in perceptions. The study underscores the need for policy interventions that integrate farmers' perceptions to enhance climate resilience. Targeted investments in adaptive technologies, financial support, and knowledge-sharing platforms can improve adoption and effectiveness. This research provides valuable insights into the interplay between farmer perceptions, adaptation strategies, and agricultural sustainability in The Gambia.