leveled mountain terraces
(Yemen)
المدرجات الجبلية المستوية
Description
organized collective action at a high pace for building agricultural terraces to improve livelihoods in resource-scarce regions in the ground
Aims / objectives: A lot of agricultural land in mountain plains are mountain terraces were established in Yemen a long time ago and which constitute a method agriculturally traditionally unique since 2000 BC where it was built in steep slope places more than 60%, which works to change the shape of the slope (angle and length of the slope), which in turn leads to reduced Speed runoff, which helps to harvest water and protect the land from erosion.
The main objective of the establishment of the stands is to create a suitable environment for the growth of crops for the purpose of self-sufficiency due to a limited of arable land where invoked farmers veterans to create these terraces on the hillsides steep in order to increase the agricultural area and benefit from the runoff water to meet the crop water requirements and thereby increase productivity , in addition to the tower the terraces is working to change the shape of the slope and mitigate the damage resulting from the runoff, on the one hand.
Other works on the terraces to give a special character of beauty and greenery on the slopes and planted joy and hope in the hearts of the people and enhance their adherence to this tradition as long as shares in the stability and meet the needs of the population.
Terraces were built by the community in which concerted action all classes for the construction of terraced disease extraction of soil and collect stones and the end of the settlement of the soil and planting
Location
Location: Kahlan Afar, Hajah Governorate, Yemen
Geo-reference of selected sites
Initiation date: n.a.
Year of termination: n.a.
Type of Approach
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traditional/ indigenous
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recent local initiative/ innovative
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project/ programme based
implementation of the approach area, which shows the distribution of agricultural terraces
shows the deterioration in the stands terraces that are returned back by land users themselves.
Approach aims and enabling environment
Main aims / objectives of the approach
The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (Increase the agricultural area, water harvesting, increasing the productivity of the crop)
Creating a suitable environment for the growth of crops, prevent soil loss, minimize the risk resulting from the rapid runoff, water harvesting and increase soil moisture
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: the lack of arable land, the soil water erosion, poverty
Conditions enabling the implementation of the Technology/ ies applied under the Approach
-
Legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights): The existing land ownership, land use rights / water rights greatly helped the approach implementation: did not occurs raised to the implementation process because the bleachers at the foundation and found out of nowhere and work on community-created en masse, however, has been the work of legislation to regulate the process and maintenance of irrigation terraces
Conditions hindering the implementation of the Technology/ ies applied under the Approach
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Availability/ access to financial resources and services: lack of money
Treatment through the SLM Approach: use of available resources in the region
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Legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights): Water Rights
Treatment through the SLM Approach: Documentation of an agreement between the land users on the method of water distribution and irrigation priority so that it is the first former regime from top to bottom
-
Workload, availability of manpower: Lack of labor
Treatment through the SLM Approach: work collectively at all stages of the implementation of the technology
Participation and roles of stakeholders involved
Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles
What stakeholders / implementing bodies were involved in the Approach? |
Specify stakeholders |
Describe roles of stakeholders |
local land users/ local communities |
All local community. Approach includes all parts of society, because the person who created the stands is all members of society without exception |
Men have more experience and ability to work. Women do works that are commensurate with their ability |
Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
none
passive
external support
interactive
self-mobilization
Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology
Decisions were taken by
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land users alone (self-initiative)
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mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists
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all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach
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mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users
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SLM specialists alone
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politicians/ leaders
Decisions were made based on
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evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
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research findings
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personal experience and opinions (undocumented)
Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management
The following activities or services have been part of the approach
-
Capacity building/ training
-
Advisory service
-
Institution strengthening (organizational development)
-
Monitoring and evaluation
-
Research
Monitoring and evaluation
bio-physical aspects were ad hoc monitored by land users through observations; indicators: wise and dignitaries with the correct mind.
technical aspects were ad hoc monitored by land users through measurements; indicators: wise and dignitaries with the correct mind.
socio-cultural aspects were regular monitored by land users through measurements
economic / production aspects were ad hoc monitored by land users through observations
no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by other through measurements
management of Approach aspects were regular monitored by other through measurements
There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation
There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation
Financing and external material support
Annual budget in USD for the SLM component
-
< 2,000
-
2,000-10,000
-
10,000-100,000
-
100,000-1,000,000
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> 1,000,000
Precise annual budget: n.a.
Approach costs were met by the following donors: local community / land user(s) (Local community): 100.0%
The following services or incentives have been provided to land users
-
Financial/ material support provided to land users
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Subsidies for specific inputs
-
Credit
-
Other incentives or instruments
Impact analysis and concluding statements
Impacts of the Approach
No
Yes, little
Yes, moderately
Yes, greatly
Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
teamwork is one of the most important elements of sustainable land and protect it from deterioration and this the approach, which followed by the old farmers even continued the stands terraces to this day.
Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?
Main motivation of land users to implement SLM
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increased production
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increased profit(ability), improved cost-benefit-ratio
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reduced land degradation
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reduced risk of disasters
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reduced workload
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payments/ subsidies
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rules and regulations (fines)/ enforcement
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prestige, social pressure/ social cohesion
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affiliation to movement/ project/ group/ networks
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environmental consciousness
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customs and beliefs, morals
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enhanced SLM knowledge and skills
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aesthetic improvement
-
conflict mitigation
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The creation of new agricultural land
Sustainability of Approach activities
Can the land users sustain what hat been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?
Terraces built without support and continued to the present day
Conclusions and lessons learnt
Strengths: land user's view
Strengths: compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
-
Improve the livelihoods and the stability of society (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continuing to maintenance operations)
-
A tributary of real teamwork in advancing progress and achieve the desired goal, namely, agricultural terraces and teamwork lead to the strengthening of the social fabric and the bonds of love and assistance among themselves (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Community awareness and land users in particular, the importance of the continuation of collective action to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the stands that need to unite everyone to preserve them for future generations.)
-
Take advantage of all the resources available in the region in the process of construction of terraces traditional methods and in accordance with the natural conditions and topography of the region
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: land user's viewhow to overcome
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: compiler’s or other key resource person’s viewhow to overcome
References
Date of documentation: Sept. 18, 2013
Last update: Junie 26, 2017
Resource persons
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ahmed algalal (algalal_82@yahoo.com) - SLM specialist
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Mohammed Almashreki (mashreki2000@yahoo.com) - SLM specialist
Full description in the WOCAT database
Documentation was faciliated by
Institution
- Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA) - Yemen
Project
Key references
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Report of the environmental resources available in the Afar region Kahlan (Mashreki, 2003)A study of land degradation in the Republic of Yemen (Yemen - ACSAD, 2002: Agricultural Research and Extension Authority, AREAAgricultural Research and Extension Authority, AREA
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A study of land degradation in the Republic of Yemen (Yemen - ACSAD, 2002): Agricultural Research and Extension Authority, AREA