1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Southern African Science Service Centre for climate change and Adaptive Land management (SASSCAL)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Namibia University of Science and Technology ( NUST) - Namibia

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) - Germany

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Making arrangements between a commercial farmer and agriculture students to raise the productivity of rangeland - through managing runoff to grow multipurpose trees and bushes.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The approach was to form linkages between the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and a large-scale commercial farmer to improve the efficiency of rainwater on rangeland. This was technically achieved by reducing runoff while increasing infiltration and transpiration. The objective is to share knowledge and experiences gained by the farmer to grow valuable woody plants, grass and herbs, which students could then apply elsewhere. Since the approach is applied in parts of the rangeland that experience high runoff, one of the first stages of implementation is to address the root causes of erosion - if not already in place. This could be through sound grazing management that provides sufficient rest for grasses to replenish food reserves after grazing. In turn this maintains grasses in a nutritious, leafy stage of growth. If infrastructure such as a farm road or dam has concentrated runoff water, then this too needs to be addressed, by spreading the runoff over gentle and wide portions of the landscape. Thereafter, an appropriate site is identified based largely on the local knowledge of the farmer. A variety of circumstances are taken into account to select the appropriate site, such as one that (a) receives considerable runoff rainwater, (b) has sufficiently deep soil for earthmoving and (c) proximity to where the farmer lives to enable more intensive management than that required by normal rangeland. Contour lines and gentle gradients are then laid out, whether by dumpy or laser level as was done by NUST students, or generated by analysis of aerial photographs taken by drone. Earthmoving equipment is then used for digging ditches and raising bunds or ponding banks to harvest rainwater. For smaller areas or where labour is plentiful, the contour ditches can be dug by hand – as was done by students on the campus of Katutura Youth Enterprise Centre (KAYEC) in Windhoek. After enough rain had fallen to sufficiently moisten the soil below contour ditches, tree seedlings were planted. This was done by farm workers and students at both the Middelplaats farm and KAYEC. Trees included large canopy species, shorter thornless types for “chop and drop” mulching and those that produce fruits or edible leaves. While the banks become crucial fertile patches in this arid landscape, they also act as broad barriers to sheet flow, slowing it down and increasing infiltration rates locally. Thus degraded “leaky landscapes” turn into “sponge landscapes” and restore deeper and more persistent soil moisture. The greatest cost, for earthmoving, was borne by the farmer. NUST paid for its students to visit the farm, sometimes supported by the landscape literacy project of SASSCAL funded by the German BMBF, which also brought in a technical advisor.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• recent local initiative/ innovative

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

To make arrangements between a university and a farmer to improve rainwater efficiency in rangeland for growing valuable trees, grass and herbs for multiple use.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	Farmer requested advice from NUST and discussions took place.
planning	interactive	A plan was drawn up through collaboration between farmer and advisers.
implementation	interactive	NUST students marked out contour lines. Farmer organised construction of infrastructure, planting of trees and their irrigation.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Farmer keeps records of activities and students track tree survival and growth.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Explain:

The farmer of Middelplaats asked for advice from NUST, discussions were held, a plan was jointly drafted, followed by implementation by both farmer and students and advisers of NUST. Informal reviews are held annually where key issues are discussed and the project is “tweaked”.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• research findings
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

• External experts' visits and suggestions

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Ja

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

• Students

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• courses

Subjects covered:

Theory of rangeland science, water cycling and landscape literacy. Practical observational skills and use of dumpy and laser levels.

Comments:

The farmer was trained in planning banks with a laser level, as were two staff in marking contour lines. The machine operator was trained in earthworks.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Ja

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

The farmer could potentially offer an advisory service to other farmers based on experiences gained.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• no

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Ja

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Nee

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Ja

Specify topics:

• economics / marketing
• ecology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Small research projects are carried out by students of the Namibia University of Science and Technology to fulfil requirements for their course work.

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 2,000-10,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Mostly paid for by farmer, for operation of earthmoving equipment, which will not need to be repeated annually. A small amount for fieldwork by students and advisors paid from SASSCAL research funds.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Nee

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• other

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• paid in cash

Comments:

Fully paid by farmer at Middelplaats, but provided at KAYEC by students as part of their training.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Nee

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Ja

If yes, specify:

Advice was provided on implementation, and contour lines were marked out by students.

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

The farmer will continue to finance the maintenance work, the costs of which are expected to be covered by the increase in production.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Advice from the university is appreciated.
Marking out of contour lines by students is appreciated.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Students gain useful experience on the farm.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Students are not always available at the optimal times of the year.	By training farm workers to mark out contour lines.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Students might make mistakes, as they are still learning.	Prepare students well and check their work.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Back from the brink, Andrews, 2006, 0-7333-1962-9

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.amazon.com/Back-Brink-Australias-Landscape-Saved/dp/0733319629 $37

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Beyond the brink, Andrews, 2008, 978-0733324109

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Brink-Sustainable-Australian-Landscape/dp/073332410X $59

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Rainwater harvesting for drylands and beyond: Vol 1 – Guiding principles to welcome rainfall into your life and landscape, Lancaster, 2009, 978-0-9772464-0-3

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.amazon.com/Rainwater-Harvesting-Drylands-Beyond-2nd/dp/0977246434 $20

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Principles of natual sequence farming

URL:

http://www.nsfarming.com/principles.html

Title/ description:

Rangeland Rehydration

URL:

www.emulandrecovery.org.au