Citation: Kissi, A.E.; Villamor, G.B.; Abbey, G.A. Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Practices of Smallholder Farmers in the Oti Basin, Togo: Probing Their Effectiveness and Co-Benefits. Ecologies 2023, 4, 535–551. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ecologies4030035 Academic Editors: Qianqian Zhang, Jinman Wang, Nisha Bao, Yang Wang and Salim Lamine Received: 6 July 2023 Revised: 2 August 2023 Accepted: 4 August 2023 Published: 8 August 2023 Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). ecologies Article Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Practices of Smallholder Farmers in the Oti Basin, Togo: Probing Their Effectiveness and Co-Benefits Abravi Essenam Kissi 1 , Grace B. Villamor 2,3, * and Georges Abbevi Abbey 4 1 West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use, University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, Togo; abravie.kissi@gmail.com 2 Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute), Rotorua 3046, New Zealand 3 Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany 4 School of Agriculture, University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, Togo; george_abbey@yahoo.fr * Correspondence: grace.villamor@scionresearch.com; Tel.: +64-7-343-5799 Abstract: The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategy is considered an effective approach to address the impact of climate change while ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services on which farming depends. However, understanding the EbA’s effectiveness for smallholder farmers in the Savannah region remains limited. The focus of this study is to explore the EbA practices that have been implemented by farming communities in the Savannah region of Togo. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these practices and the perceived co-benefits reported by 425 smallholder farmers who participated in the survey. Our findings show that five practices, namely agroforestry, crop rotation, grass hedge/stone bunds, in-field water drainage channel, and intercropping, were practiced mainly by smallholder farmers and perceived as effective in reducing their vulnerability to climate risks. In addition, the benefits observed were linked to all five EbA practices. As a result, we can determine the suitable combination of EbA practices that fulfil the requirements of smallholder farmers, including co-benefits such as food security, adaptation advantages, and ecosystem service provisions. Such findings provide insights for developing integrated agriculture and climate change policies suitable for weather-induced disaster-prone areas such as the Savannah region. Keywords: agroecosystems; agroforestry; climate change adaptation; ecosystem services; effectiveness; perception; Savannah 1. Introduction Most farming communities in developing economies rely on rain-fed agriculture [1]. They account for a sizable proportion of the global farming population, with an estimated 450–500 million worldwide, accounting for 85% of all farms [2]. In addition, they are vulnerable to climate change because changes in temperature, rainfall, and higher frequency of extreme weather events affect crop and animal productivity, food security, income, and overall well-being [3,4]. Crop and livestock productivity in developing countries is expected to decline significantly over the next few decades because of increased climate variability and climate change, among others [5,6], posing major risks to smallholder farmers in poor communities who lack the financial, institutional, and technical capacity to adapt [7]. Smallholder agriculture’s productivity and contribution to the economy, food security, and poverty reduction depend on ecosystem services such as soil fertility, freshwater delivery, pollination, and pest control [8]. The worsening weather conditions and extreme climate events seriously threaten the ecosystem, impacting the many services and benefits communities derive from. This puts small-scale farmers at risk of food and water shortages, especially in Africa, where the effects are most severe [4,9,10]. Enhancing agricultural productivity is critical for ensuring food and nutritional security for all, particularly for Ecologies 2023, 4, 535–551. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030035 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ecologies