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

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

Integrated Biodiversity Management, South Caucasus (IBiS)

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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

03/10/2018

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

Ja

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

Nee

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Small horizontal wooden structures and terraces on eroded slopes built to mitigate sheet or rill erosion and slow down water run-off. The technology is easy to apply and efficient to mitigate erosion processes of the upper soil layer and to stop small rock falls.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In the provinces of Aragatsotn and Shirak in Armenia, the weather is cold and temperate with dry summer. Steep slopes, pastures and some autochthonous oak forests make up the area. Farmers make most of their income with grazing by manual labour. The carrying capacity of pastures in the vicinity is regularly exceeded, and they degrade more and more. In order to stabilize the steep eroded slopes, pile walls were established. Pile walls are horizontal constructions along a slope, functioning as erosion control measures by slowing down the superficial water runoff, retaining materials and supporting the rehabilitation of vegetation.
The major advantages are: It is not expensive since mostly locally available materials can be used, and a positive effect can already be observed within a year. Also, the pile walls can be established relatively easy without any need of heavy machinery or specific knowledge and, therefore, allow the involvement of the local population.
In the case of the implementation in Armenia, the exact location for the pilot measures was selected in such a way that grazing activities were almost not impaired. For temporary exclusion of livestock, electric fencing was used. Within the fenced area, pile walls were established in the washed-out rills along the slope to address the water erosion phenomena.
The technical requirements and workload for the construction of a pile wall are relatively low. The needed resources require iron piles, a hammer, wooden logs (or a bundle of branches) and tree cuttings. First, the wooden logs were cut in 1-2 m length to fit into the irregular rills of the slope. After identifying the locations of individual pile walls, the team fixed the logs with iron poles of about 70-100cm length. The distance between the pile walls varies between 1-3m, depending on the topography: the steeper the slope, the closer the distance. The space behind the logs was filled with soil, plant material and rocks to stabilize the construction and to reduce the risk of water washing out the soil and passing below the logs. As a last step, the terraces were covered with hay to provide protection against precipitation and to accelerate re-growth of grass through the seeds contained in the hay residuals.
Community members were surprised how easy and quick the pile walls could be established. A team of two workers established a pile wall within 30 min. Since these areas are usually intensively used and thus are of high importance for the community, even a temporary exclusion from use must be thoroughly discussed and agreed upon.
The measure slows down vertical water-run off and provides steps for cattle. Due to temporary fencing and the application of hay mulch vegetation is recovering on these parts.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

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

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• reduce risk of disasters

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

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Livestock density (if relevant):

0.89-1.30 pasture load/ha

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• pastoralism and grazing land management
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• minimal soil disturbance

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Required materials for 1 pile wall:
- 2 iron poles (0.7-1m) and a hammer
- 1 wooden log (ca. 4 m, 20-25cm diameter)
- 10-20 shrub cuttings (e.g. Salix species)

Selection of appropriate sites for pile walls (where and how to put them):
The logs are being spread on the slope as indictated in the scheme of the figure. The steeper the slope the narrower the vertical spacing in between (max. 4m, min. 1-2 m). On uneven slopes, place the along the depressions as these are the areas where water-run off is strongest. Parts which show no erosion signs can be left out to not destroy existing vegetation cover. The location of the pile walls is determined by the slope and serves to stabilize the slope at superficial level (10-30 cm). It landslides occur that involve deeper soil layers, this technology is not efficient.

Building process:
After placing the logs, those are fixed with two irons at the end (alternatively wooden posts can be used as well). After fixing the logs, the space behind needs to be filled (slight terracing of the slope). Additionally, either shrub seedlings or living cuttings from species such as willows (ca. 50cm long, 2-5cm diameter) should be integrated. Finally, the open soil should be covered by a layer of 2-5 cm of hay/grass containing seeds and eventually additional seeds (from local species) to promote the re-establishment of vegetation. This has also the benefit that this cover keep humidity in the soil, which is particularly important in (semi-)arid areas.

Species used/density:
At least 20 cuttings per pile wall should be planted. Depending on the survival rates, it can be also more. Shrubs additionally stabilize the slope and are to some extent protected by the pile wall.

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.	Selection of eroded sites and size	Management	anytime
2.	Clarification of land user rights	Management	anytime
3.	Calculate amount of logs and irons needed	Management	anytime
4.	Materials check: Local materials and procurement of other materials	Management	anytime
5.	Place logs on the eroded slope (favor depressions where water flows are)	Structural	anytime (best in spring and autumn)
6.	Fix logs with two iron poles at both sides of the log	Structural	anytime (best in spring and autumn)
7.	Fill the space behind the log with soil, rocks and (willow) cuttings	Structural	early spring or late autumn (willow cuttings without leaves)
8.	Flatten the area behind the log (small terracing)	Structural	anytime (best in spring and autumn)
9.	Use additional hay/grass mulch to cover open soil and add additional seeds	Vegetative	best in spring (alternatively in late autumn)
10.	If it is grazing area: Fence the area for at least 2-3 vegetation periods	Management	during grazing period

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	Unskilled worker: Implementation of field measures	person days	30.0	21.0	630.0	10.0
Labour	Skilled expert (Implementation supervision and project management	person days	14.0	120.0	1680.0
Labour	Transportation costs (truck, experts)	rental days	12.0	54.0	648.0	10.0
Labour	Administration costs	month	1.0	127.0	127.0
Equipment	Consumables	set	1.0	59.0	59.0	10.0
Equipment	Electric tools	set	1.0	424.0	424.0	10.0
Equipment	P3800 Fence energizer + Box and equipment	set	1.0	345.0	345.0
Equipment	Solar Panel for fence energizer	piece	1.0	233.0	233.0
Equipment	Battery and fence tester	piece	1.0	203.0	203.0
Plant material	Cuttings (20 per pile wall) (not used as it is being grazed)	pieces
Plant material	Hay/grass for mulch cover (Bales ca.20kg)	kg	800.0	0.08	64.0
Construction material	Wooden logs (3m, 20cm diameter)	pieces	50.0	17.0	850.0
Construction material	Iron poles (0.7-1m, 10 mm diameter)	pieces	150.0	2.1	315.0
Construction material	Electric Fence Polywire	m	1300.0	0.3	390.0
Construction material	Electric Fence Corner donut insulator	pieces	27.0	1.0	27.0
Construction material	Earth stakes	pieces	3.0	22.0	66.0
Construction material	Electric Fence Spring Gate Set	piece	1.0	42.0	42.0
Construction material	Wooden Posts	pieces	9.0	6.4	57.6	20.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					6160.6

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

GIZ Project

Comments:

Initial costs were comparatively high as it is a pilot project. Thus, staff costs and the procurement of electric fence equipment made costs rather high. If materials can be obtained locally costs go down as far as 23 USD/pile wall (including material and work).

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Regular check of fence	Structural	Once per two weeks
2.	Installation and deinstallation of electric fence	Structural	Once per year
3.	Changing the broken posts	Structural	once per year
4.	Optional refill of stones and/or soil if washed out	Structural	twice per year

Comments:

Almost all maintenance activity refer to the maintenance of the electric fence (which is being removed in winter) and needs to be re-established during the grazing period. The pile wall itself does not need maintenance measures.

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	Regular check of fence	workdays	8.0	21.0	168.0	100.0
Labour	Installation and deinstallation of electric fence	workdays	8.0	21.0	168.0	100.0
Labour	Changing the broken posts	workdays	1.0	21.0	21.0	100.0
Labour	Optional refill of stones and/or soil if washed out	workdays	3.0	21.0	63.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					420.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Grazing (if fencing is needed it is the most costly part)

Wooden logs (if bought). This can be turned to zero by either using local wood (if permitted) or bundles of branches of specific species (e.g. willows).

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The technology is applicable on hills and steep slopes with an inclination between 10° and 30 (40)°

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Nee

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Ja

Regularity:

episodically

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

There are substantial amounts of water (seasonally) from water from melted snow of Aragats mountain

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

The area is widely used as pasture and shows some degradation signs (e.g. inpalatable plants spreading, open soil, decreasing number of plant species, spreading of Astragalus). On some slopes, autochtonous oak forests (Quercus macranthera) still exist. The area consists of typical sub-alpine to alpine grasslands with medium species diversity.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The land owners are the communities in the target region on behalf of community mayors.

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:

• state
• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• leased

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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	not well
seasonal temperature	winter	increase	not well
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	not well
annual rainfall		decrease
seasonal rainfall	spring	increase	not well
seasonal rainfall	autumn	increase	not well
seasonal rainfall	winter	decrease	not well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well
land fire	not well

Comments:

Seasonal raifall is different, but the annual rainfall has decreased. The impact of technology is minor, since the area is very small.

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)?

Comments:

On the short term there is a significant increase of work load and needed resources to establish the pile walls and fencing the site. Recovery of vegetation, increase of soil carbon content and increase of productivity will need 2-5 years to be effective and give increase fodder yields of the site.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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

There are interested households who want to adopt the technology, but indeed there is nobody who implemeted the technology by himself/herself.

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

• 0-10%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Ja

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Due to unavailablity of local seeds, local hay/grass was used to provide mulching cover and add locally adapted seeds
On one site an additional drainage trench was prepared as the soil was very compacted and vegetation cover was completely destroyed. The trench was filled with rocks which are available in abundance.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improvement of road of animals, improvement of quality of pasture and vegetation cover, overcome of erosion, regulation of water flow, better view of the area, dissemination of seeds to other areas

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Technology is easy to apply and works mostly with local materials and requires no specific knowledge. Materials can be adapted (e.g. if timber is scarce, bundles of willow branches can be used as alternative)
Technology is able to stabilize superficial erosion processes and support recovery of vegetation on steep slopes. It can also stop small rock falls.
Technology can also be adapted to fortify/stabilize paths and cattle paths on slopes (e.g. when a walking path is crossing a small gully section). Thus, it can also stop erosion processes caused by trampling or hikers

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Limited availability of material such as electric fence, solar panels, etc in the local market	At the moment they can be imported
relatively high cost for material	Using cheap and local material
Limitation of cattle road	Use other alternative road for animals

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
If not installed properly, water flows on the sides of the pile walls and below and the barrier becomes ineffective	Take care during construction that the space below the logs is filled appropriately. Take care of appropriate re-establishment of a vegetation cover
If area is being grazed, it is challenging to re-establish vegetation. Cuttings which further stabilize the slope are unlikely to succeed.	Temporary fencing of the area or permanent fencing and use of area for hay making

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Handbook on Integrated Erosion Control A Practical Guide for Planning and Implementing Integrated Erosion Control Measures in Armenia, GIZ (ed.), 2018, ISBN 978-9939-1-0722-6

Available from where? Costs?

GIZ Armenia

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Project website of the GIZ program

URL:

http://biodivers-southcaucasus.org/