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)

Sustainable Land Management Project, Bhutan (SLMP)

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)

Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) - Switzerland

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

Sustainable Land Management Institute Organistatio (Sustainable Land Management Institute Organistatio) - Afghanistan

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Earthen trenches with soil bunds built along contours in staggered design

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The SCTs technology is documented by Sustainable Land Management Project/HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation which is funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), with close support and cooperation of the Agha Khan Foundation (AKF). The staggered Contour Trenches (SCTs) were constructed at a degraded site in Bamyan center (Bamyan province) by Agha Khan Foundation (AKF) project with financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Totally 1470 contour trenches were constructed at the site, which has an area of 24 hectares.
The size of each trench measured 10 m in length, 0.6 m in width and 0.5 m in depth. The trenches had soil bunds on the lower side having a width of 1 m and height of 0.3 m. Contour lines were prepared using an A-frame and lime and the spacing between two contour lines was 8 m considering the slope. All the trenches were dug out manually. Local people were employed for construction works. Along with the SCTs, other measures were applied such as plantation of fodder grass, shrub and non-fruit trees, gully plugs, water harvesting tanks and brushwood plugs. The area is excluded from grazing and shrub cutting.

The land was extensive grazing land before the project implementation and got extremely degraded due to a lack of management by the land users. There was rampant exploitation of natural vegetation for meeting domestic energy needs and for grazing. Droughts, which frequently occur in the region, contributed to the slow degradation of the vegetation.

Purpose of the Technology: The main purpose of the technology is to reduce flash flood risks and improve land productivity (both upstream and downstream) so that more fodder, fuel wood and fruits could be produced and farmers affected by flash floods could grow more crops. The technology, which is part of a watershed technology system, helps in retaining runoff and sediment and improves soil moisture content. It also helps in water infiltration which eventually contributes to improved ground water recharge.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: SCTs were established in a step-wise manner; as follows: (1) Site surveying, (2) Site mapping, (3) Planning, (4) Marking contour lines with the help of an A-frame, and (5) Trench excavation and bund construction.

The establishment cost for staggered contour trenches, was about 15,500 USD or 645 USD/ha. Most of the money was spent on labour. There have been no expenses in maintenance of SCTs since their establishment in 2008.

Natural / human environment: The technology is applied in semi-arid condition as the area receives annual rainfall of about 400 mm to address land degradation. The site formally belonged to the state but the local communities have use rights. AKF is still maintaining the site and using it for training and demonstration purpose. Several exposure visits for SLM specialist, land users, students and teachers have been also organized at the site.

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

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 risk of disasters

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Flash floods, gully/rill/sheet erosion, loss of natural vegetation and low productivity of the land due to degradation compounded by climatic factors.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Declining productivity of land resulting in shortages of fodder and fuel wood and loss of fertile land in the downstream areas due to flash floods.

Grazingland comments: The area is closed for livestock.

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fp: Plantations, afforestations

Type of grazing system comments: The area is closed for livestock.

Number of growing seasons per year: 1

Longest growing period in days: 180; Longest growing period from month to month: April to September
Livestock density: 1-10 LU /km2

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

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• area closure (stop use, support restoration)
• cross-slope measure
• ground water management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, overgrazing

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce 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.	Digging of the contour trenches and construction of the soil bunds
2.	Marking contour lines (A frame and lime)

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Digging of the contour trenches and construction of the soil bunds	persons/day/ha	100.0	6.43	643.0
Equipment	A frame and lime	ha	1.0	1.8	1.8
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					644.8
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					644.8

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 4 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	No maintenance activities have been implemented for staggered contour trenches and soil bunds up to now.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Despite the application of the structural measure of the SCTs AKF is still continuing its financial support for the plantation of the area. Thus irrigation which is a costly activity is still continued by AKF's support. The planted saplings of fruit and non-fruit trees are irrigated for six months/year, i.e. from April to September. Water is carried to the site by tankers. Each month, 75 tankers are used and the cost of one tanker is 12 USD or 600 Afghani. In addition, 16 persons are employed for one time irrigation.

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 - low

Soil drainage / infiltration is oor due to sealing

Soil water storage capacity is 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:

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Mainly men were involved in the activities due to cultural reasons.

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 3% - 4%

100% of the land users are average wealthy.

Off-farm income specification: This is more applicable for poor small landholders or landless families.

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:

• state

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

Formally, state owned. The site is now protected from open grazing and shrub cutting with support from the local communities.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

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	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

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

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

Comments:

SCT must be combined with vegetation and management measures

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 benefits stated are the combined impacts of all measures-structural, vegetative and management. SCTs have helped in the establishment of vegetative measures by contributing to increased soil moisture, reduced runoff and soil loss.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: The whole project activities were implemented by external supports

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: As the implementation of a watershed project requires high costs and investments which can not be affordable for the individual land users.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The land users views were not considered.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Helps in reducing flash flood risks due to less runoff How can they be sustained / enhanced? Proper institutional mechanisms, involving the government, non-government and community institutions should be developed for sustaining project activities. Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock DAIL; (Bamyan) should take lead
Conserves soil and enhances soil cover and fertility leading to more on-site production How can they be sustained / enhanced? Vegetative measures should be strengthened
Complements re-greening efforts by reducing erosion and conserving moisture
The quality of contour trenches and soil bunds are very good and maintenance costs negligible
The site is used for demonstration, training and exposure visits

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?
Establishment costs are very high	Voluntary community contributions, if they have an active stake in the project, would reduce the costs, otherwise, there has to be external support at least for the establishment phase
Loss of land for production	Planting suitable plants inside the trenches and along soil bunds
Requires high level of technical knowledge for establishment	Practical training for the target groups

7.1 Methods/ sources of information