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

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

District Soil Conservation Office (DSCO) - Nepal

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

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

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

Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Mana (Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Mana) - Nepal

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

ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Nepal

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/03/2013

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

Ja

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Local materials and knowledge can be used to construct low-cost structural measures that help to prevent the erosion of riverbanks and the loss of agricultural and residential land.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Riverbank cutting occurs naturally along the rivers that run along the foothills of the Chure (Siwalik) range in Nepal when the stream collides with the river bank or the bank is eroded by water coming from agricultural land above the affected area. When riverbank cutting occurs, it leaves behind an eroded area shaped like a small cliff. This erosion takes place naturally and is difficult to stop because the site is devoid of natural vegetation. It is important to undertake conservation measures because when the riverbank is eroded it damages agricultural land and decreases soil fertility. When the productivity of the land is decreased it affects the lives and livelihoods of nearby communities most of whom are subsistence farmers.

Purpose of the Technology: Communities have developed local measures to help protect the riverbanks and to prevent further erosion and cutting. This technology uses both structural and vegetative measures to help control the erosion and protect both agricultural land and settlement areas from flooding. Check dams are placed at intervals to divert water, additional support is provided by spurs. Bamboo rhizomes are planted between them and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is planted at the back of the structures so that as the plants grow their roots help to anchor the structure. The washed out areas can be used to generate some income by planting them with greenery and fruit trees. The site needs to be monitored annually and where necessary the structures either need to be repaired or supplemented by building additional structures.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: This technology is a blend of local skills and expertise with some external technical input. The key features of the technology are as follow:
• It uses locally available construction materials, tools, equipment, and vegetation.
• It is easy to replicate.
• It is affordable for local people.
• It is environmentally friendly.
A demonstration plot was established by the District Soil Conservation Office (DSCO) in Dang, but the technology needs to be replicated in other areas with action research and experience

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• reduce risk of disasters

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The land is degraded by riverbed cutting and nearby villages are threatened by flooding. The amount of land available for agriculture decreases annually giving rise to a food security problem. Entire villages may have to move to avoid being flooded.

Forest products and services: fuelwood, grazing / browsing

Livestock is grazing on crop residues

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: floods

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

A low cost riverbank protection scheme that can be implemented using mostly local materials.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard

Secondary technical functions: improvement of ground cover, stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides)

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Structural: Check dam construction	Structural
2.	Spur construction	Structural
3.	Vegetative: Pitting	Vegetative
4.	Bamboo planting	Vegetative
5.	Napier grass planting	Vegetative

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Construction of rivervbank protection	ha	1.0	892.0	892.0	51.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	21.0	21.0	51.0
Plant material	Napier grass, bamboo seedlings	ha	1.0	14.0	14.0
Construction material	Stone	ha	1.0	1281.0	1281.0	51.0
Construction material	Bamboo poles	ha	1.0	274.0	274.0	51.0
Construction material	Wire for gabion box	ha	1.0	1644.0	1644.0	51.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					4126.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

The gabion boxes, the transportation costs, and some skilled labour by DSCO, Dang; whereas, the costs for the tools, local materials, and all of the unskilled labour were borne by the local community

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Structural: Verify the integrity of the spurs and check dams; fortify or repair as needed.	Structural
2.	Vegetative: Maintenance costs cover only replacement and maintenance to be done by the local community for a few years until the vegetative structures are well established at the site.	Vegetative
3.	VegetativeCheck to see that the Napier grass seedlings have taken root; add additional plants as needed.	Vegetative

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Fortify and reapir check dams	ha	1.0	52.0	52.0	100.0
Plant material	Napier grass, bamboo seedlings	ha	1.0	7.0	7.0	100.0
Construction material	Bamboo poles for replacing	ha	1.0	123.0	123.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					182.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The costs for the gabion boxes, the transportation costs, and some skilled labour, were borne by the DSCO, Dang; whereas, the costs for the tools, local materials, and all of the unskilled labour were borne by the local community.
All costs and amounts are rough estimates by the technicians and authors.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility is very low

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is very low

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Comments:

Previously, the problem was tackled using traditional techniques alone but the results were not wholly satisfactory. After modifying (as discussed below) the structures are more robust and can withstand greater floods.

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• more than 50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

47 households in an area of 10 ha

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: A community of 47 households has agreed to use this technology to help prevent soil erosion caused by flooding. The community had started to implement local measures to minimize riverbank cutting but the efforts were not successful. The systematic introduction of well-planned gabion spurs and bamboo check dams constructed using only locally available materials, has been successful. The community is convinced that this technology is beneficial and they will continue to propagate it themselves as needed.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is low cost and can be implemented by the local community with the assistance of some technical support from the DSCO, Dang. How can they be sustained / enhanced? The DSCO, Dang, needs to continue to support the community in its efforts by technical backstopping, regular follow-up, and continued scaling up of the technology.
The technology predominantly uses locally available materials. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Replication of this technology should be encouraged by the community as well as by the DSCO, Dang
In the long run, vegetative structures help to propagate greenery and in so doing, they promote climate change adaptation and mitigation. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Communities should be made aware of the hazards of climate change and of what mitigation measures can be employed.
Traditional measures used to help protect against flooding were very labour intensive and difficult to implement. This new method is low cost, easy to adopt, and sustainable. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Additional training with local communities can help to spread the expertise

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Vegetative structures may not always take root as intended; the initial cost for the gabion cages can be high.	Try to implement the technology using vegetative measures
Despite the fact that the technology is known to be effective, it is not being widely implemented.	Communities need greater awareness; intensive extension is needed in order for the technology to have widespread acceptance.

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

District Forest Office, Dang; Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Measures and Low Cost Techniques; Environment Statistics of Nepal, Annual Report (2065/66)

Available from where? Costs?

Available at DSCO, Dang and DCSWM, Kathmandu