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)

Applying Landscape and Sustainable Land Management (L-SLM) for mitigating land degradation and contributing to poverty reduction in rural area (L-SLM Project)

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

Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus) - Georgia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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 (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Unsustainable land use practices, such as deforestation, overgrazing and improper agricultural management systems are triggering the loss and degradation of valuable land resources in Georgia. Land use planning is one of the measures among others to contribute to support the integration of good Landscape and Sustainable Land Management (L-SLM) principles and practices into national policy and institutional framework to ensure the adoption of economically viable practices by rural communities. This technology is demonstrated in an application in Arkhiloskalo community in Eastern Georgia.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The globally ongoing degradation of land resources is threatening our food security and functioning ecosystem services. Therefore, restoration of degraded land as defined by the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 15.3) has become a strategic objective of the UNCCD. To achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), action on the national level is needed. Georgia is one of the 113 countries (as of Sept. 2017) willing to take part in the Target Setting Program (TSP).
One of the major problems which Georgia is facing today is an absence of a comprehensive and integrated approach in the land management sector. In addition, an irrelevant legal framework sometimes leads to additional “conflicts” with the evolved national strategy and policy packages.
The land-use planning in the village of Arkhiloskalo, Dedoplistskaro Municipality is one of the pilot activities linked to LDN (Land Degradation Neutrality). The project financed by Global Environment Facility (GEF) / UN Environment Programm (UNEP) was implemented by local partner REC Caucasus (The Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus) through E.C.O. Institute of Ecology (Austria).
The land-use plan documents the status quo of the current land use. It is a baseline that can be used to steer and monitor future developments. The land-use plan is based on field assessments made in summer 2019 and builds a baseline for future assessments/monitoring. The land-use plan on the village level helps to break down national LDN targets to the local level. The plan and the development of land-use scenarios help to anticipate the future gains and losses of land resources and reflect the national LDN-target on the local level. Local stakeholders can identify areas of degradation risk and areas which can be rehabilitated. The Arkhiloskalo land-use plan contributes to sustainable land use by recognizing the current situation of land use and its spatial distribution as well as identifying the strength and weaknesses of the current situation.

Methodology:
Mapping for Arkhiloskalo land use plan: The mapping result is a detailed documentation of size and spatial distribution of land cover categories. Change in land cover is an important indicator to monitor the loss and gains of land resources according to the LDN monitoring concept.
For the mapping of the settlements, arable land and gardens, maps from Google Earth and digital cadastre of parcels were used. In the field maps, each polygon has an assigned Map-ID number, which is unique for each village. Polygons with the same land use category and land-use intensity can have the same Map-ID. Next to the drawing of the polygon on the map, in a field form each polygon is described by:
- Map-ID;
- Current Land use category;
- Current Land-use intensity;
- Remark (a specification of the polygon if needed).

Classifications of land use categories: The land-use classification is based on the CLC - Corine Land Classification System (The CORINE Land Cover is a vector map with a scale of 1:10 000, a minimum cartographic unit (MCU) of 100 m². It maps homogeneous landscape patterns). The Corine Land Classification system classifies urban fabric, mine, dump and construction sites, arable land, permanent crops, pastures, forests, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation associations, Open spaces with little or no vegetation, inland wetlands and waters.
The pastureland was differentiated into different productivity classes. In the field three classes of vegetation cover and species composition: low, medium, and high productivity were assessed.
For the mapping in Arkhiloskalo the following land use categories were selected: Settlements and human infrastructure (Code from the Corine Land Classification system – e.g. SHR, name – e.g. Houses); Forests and shrub-land; Agricultural managed land; Natural and semi-natural habitats.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2018

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The land-use plan approach is one of the measures among others to contribute to support the integration of good Landscape and Sustainable Land Management (L-SLM) principles and practices into national policy and institutional framework to ensure the adoption of economically viable practices by rural communities. This was a GEF-funded project.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Ja

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

Comments:

All form of land cover and land use forms have been mapped.

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• windbreak/ shelterbelt
• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• waste management/ waste water management

• Land use planning

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

The land use planning started with mapping of current land use and included stakeholders input on strength and weaknesses. Based on this, development scenarios have been developed to change current land use approaches to a more sustainable way (e.g. restoration of windbreaks, crop rotation etc.)

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The loss of windbreaks caused an increased exposure of topsoil to wind erosion on fields with annual crops. The land use plan helps to quantify the current state of the windbreaks and underlines their functional importance.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 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:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Gather background information & implement pre-design studies and development of a mapping concept	Winter/spring
2.	Information of local stakeholders on this activity and implementation of an SWOT analysis (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) related to the land use of the village	Spring
3.	Mapping and analyzing the current land use	Summer
4.	Preparation of a draft land use plan	Autumn/Winter
5.	Reflection of the draft land use plan with local stakeholders	Autumn/Winter
6.	Preparation of the final land use plan	Autumn/Winter

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

15000.0

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

REC-Caucasus, GEF-funded Project

Comments:

The budget is $ 15 000 / per year. This amount includes the salaries of following expert, such as: National expert on SLM, National expert on LUP, International expert on SLM, International expert on LUP, Botanist, GIS expert. Also the above budget includes travels and missions in three municipalities, workshops in Akhmeta and Dedoplistskaro municipalities, workshops and public hearings in selected local communities (Arkhiloskalo and Shenako),

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The field work of mapping and analysis of results took a lot of time as well as the stakeholder meetings.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The pastures are located on steep hill slope to the north, while the village and arable lands are located on the gently south facing terrace.

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Nee

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Especially the semi-natural landscapes of the slopes to the north are of high habitat and species diversity.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The village is very remote. Driving distance to the municipality is about 1h on bad roads.

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• communal/ village
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Ja

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

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)

Comments:

The technology of land use planning is not sensitive to climate change but is an appropriate technology to adapt land use to future anticipated climate changes.

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:

The land use planning process is an investment in future developments. Return of investment can be expected in oncoming years. The mapping result is a detailed documentation of size and spatial distribution land cover categories. Change in land cover is an important indicator to monitor the loss and gains according to the LDN monitoring concept. The land-use plan is based on field assessments made in summer 2019 and built a baseline for future change assessments as it includes data on land-use intensity which will enable to consider change in time dynamics and to monitor changes on the ground.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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

It was implemented as show case for one community

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many 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?

Nee

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The majority of the land users in village Arkhiloskalo have been using the same land and natural resources through decades and have good understanding of the natural conditions and climate change perspectives of the target area. The land use plan, the scenario development and the knowledge exchange in the workshops are have been considered as advantage for awareness raising, joint decision making and to start a positive change in short-term period.
The successful land-use system with improved environment conditions and benefit to the local farmers can lead to be a perfect example for the whole municipality of Dedoplistskaro as most part of its territory is agricultural land in semi-arid environment facing some rapid and significant challenges caused by climate change.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The land use plan will help to optimize the management and to eliminate present challenges in the 4 separate zones and promote improved sustainable land- use, land-management practices like crop rotation and re-establishment of windbreaks.
The land-use plan helps to identify the strength, opportunities, weaknesses and threats and contribute to sustainable land-use and its management. E.g.: in the Zone A, Steep North Slope there is a high risk, that the waste in the dumpsites will be washed down in an uncontrolled manner into the natural and semi-natural habitats of the slope. The waste is partly burned and the wash out of toxic solute can harm nature and ground water.
Application of the technology helps to optimize management measures, which will reduce costs and labour forces, e.g., by increasing productivity of land and productivity of vineyards in the Zone C: zone of perennial crops.
The land-use map integrates climate mitigation. E.g. it helps to plan the re-establishment of the windbreaks, which significantly contributes to the reduction of wind erosion in the Zone D: Zone of annual crops.
The terrestrial evaluation of the current land use can also serve to evaluate remote sensing technologies for semi-automatic classification of land cover categories.

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?
Lack of dialogue and trust could be one of the risks to succeed with the introduction of advanced methods of sustainable land management.	The proposed sustainable land-use practices and pilot activities should be planned in a way to have results on the ground in a short-term period to keep local farmers motivated.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Risks: Land use plan Interest of farmers, guesthouse providers and local residents are conflicting.	This can be limited by good facilitation of focus group discussions between different stakeholder groups.
Local actors (farmers, guest house providers ...) are not interested in participating in the joint land-use planning process.	It will need a well-coordinated communication design to include all the local stakeholders in the process of practical and theoretical introduction to the principles of sustainable land-use. The communication should emphasize potential economic benefits to the local households together with advantages of the sustainability. This can be a key factor to get most of the local stakeholders engaged with the proposed sustainable land-use practices.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Pilot project on land degradation neutrality in Georgia: Final Report.2017.Huber, M., Joseph, A., Kirchmeir, H., Ghambashidze, G.

Available from where? Costs?

https://e-c-o.at/files/publications/downloads/D00813_ECO_policy_brief_LDN_Georgia_171025.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Applying Landscape and Sustainable Land Management (L-SLM) for mitigating land degradation and contributing to poverty reduction in rural areas: Final report. 2017. Kirchmeir, H., Joseph, A., Huber, M.

Available from where? Costs?

Request at RECC Caucasus

Title, author, year, ISBN:

limatologies at high resolution for the earth’s land surface areas. Sci. Data 4:170122 doi: 10.1038/sdata.2017. Karger, D. N. Conrad, O., Böhner, J., Kawohl, T., Kreft, H., Soria-Auza, R.W., Zimmermann, N.E., Linder H.P. & Kessler M.

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata2017122

7.4 General comments

It was not easy to consider the land use planning either to be a technology or an approach. Finally, we submitted as an approach.