Recharge Ponds in Nakina Van Panchayat Community Forest (Hanspeter Liniger)
1. The recharge ponds and trenches have been applied in mountainous community forests. There have been about 60 trenches, 1 large and 4 small recharge ponds constructed in the specific sites in the community forest of Naikina. These are ideal areas to implement these technologies, as they encompass the microwatershed/springsheds of 3 springs.
a. Recharge ponds are circular or rectangular dugout structures which were constructed a natural depression area on sloping land. The standard size is usually as follows: Length =3 m, Width =3 m and Depth = 0.7 m, with site specific modifications. Water feeder channels which flow to the ponds helps to harvest additional surface flow. The walls are not vertical but have a 45 degree slope to prevent cave in.
b.Recharge trenches are small rectangular structures of typical dimensions: Length=1.5 m, Width= 1m , Depth= 0.7 m, constructed on sloping land in a staggered manner. The slope of the walls should be not more than 45 degrees, and the size of the trenches and their spacing depends on the slope of the land. In higher slope areas, one should construct smaller staggered trenches with closer spacing. These are generally made in high rainfall areas, as there is an increased danger of overflow. In staggered trenching, the trenches are located directly below one another in alternate rows and in a staggered fashion. These may be 2 m to 3 m long and the spacing between the rows may vary from 3 m to 5 m.
2. Aims/Objectives: The central focus of the technology is water conservation and harvesting of surplus monsoon runoff to recharge groundwater reservoirs, which is otherwise going un-utilized. Additionally, land degradation by water erosion is decreased due to slowing of runoff and increased soil infiltration. Water erosion after intense rainfall affects both onsite and offsite sites, causing soil displacement, increased frequency of landslides, damage to vegetation, agriculture land, and village settlements.
3. Methods: Due to decreased spring discharge in the dry season and high dependency on the springs for drinking water (humans and livestock), the community has implemented these technologies within in catchment areas of 3 essential springs (Bhind, Vaishnavi, and Bagawoti) in the last 3 years.
4. Stages of Implementation: Awareness building, community mobilization, and central planning was done by the head of the Forest Council (Gram Panchayat), Mr. Jagdamba Joshi. Recharge pond and trench construction was done over the course of a month by different villagers that were available to participate. They were incentivized to work with a small compensation of 5.30 USD (400 INR)/day. Activities and inputs included time and manual labor (about 3 days for the large recharge pond, 0.5-1 day for each of the small recharge ponds, and 4 days for 60 recharge trenches) and appropriate land-use planning and management. Primarily, the strategic construction of these technologies and selection in appropriate springshed recharge/catchment areas has led their success. The structures have been placed below the pine forest, (which generates high runoff) and reside in a restored broadleaf forest, which acts like a sponge to retain the runoff water flowing down from the pine forest above. The ponds lies in a natural, leveled depression with gentle slopes around. Broadleaf/oak dominated forest areas have been increasingly supported as technology construction sites, as the placement further improves of groundwater recharge.
To assure long-term effectiveness, maintenance and re-digging of the recharge ponds and trenches is carried out by villagers annually, pre-monsoon.
5. Gram Panchayat, Mr. Joshi has played a key role in informing the villagers of technology design, function and importance for supporting the community forest and subsequent spring recharge. He has previous knowledge of the application of these technologies through first-hand experiences working in the army. The villagers were solely responsible for construction with Mr. Joshi's guidance. The men were mainly responsible for making recharge ponds and the women dug trenches and removed weeds.
6) Technology benefits/impacts acknowledged by the community: moisture conservation, long-term groundwater recharge, spring recharge, reduction of soil-water erosion, improved infiltration and support for vegetation cover and broadleaf/oak forest.
Like: Relatively simple and inexpensive, little external inputs required, effective in short and long-term (provided site appropriate selection and regular seasonal rainfall)
Dislike: Drudgery, time consuming, maintenance required, distance (site of implementation may also be far from village).
Location: Nakina Village, Pithoragarh Bloc, Uttarakhand, India
No. of Technology sites analysed: 2-10 sites
Spread of the Technology: applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
In a permanently protected area?: Yes
Date of implementation: 2016
Type of introduction
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (INR) | Total costs per input (INR) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Labour | |||||
| Community manual labor | person-days | 120.0 | 400.0 | 48000.0 | 100.0 |
| Equipment | |||||
| pick | pieces | 5.0 | 300.0 | 1500.0 | 100.0 |
| shovel | pieces | 5.0 | 500.0 | 2500.0 | 100.0 |
| pharuwa (hoe) | pieces | 4.0 | 300.0 | 1200.0 | 100.0 |
| khanti (digging bar) | pieces | 3.0 | 1500.0 | 4500.0 | 100.0 |
| hammer | pieces | 3.0 | 2000.0 | 6000.0 | 100.0 |
| small hammer | pieces | 3.0 | 300.0 | 900.0 | 100.0 |
| chino (chisel) | pieces | 4.0 | 500.0 | 2000.0 | 100.0 |
| Construction material | |||||
| Rocks excavated on site | |||||
| Total costs for establishment of the Technology | 66'600.0 | ||||
| Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD | 951.43 | ||||
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (INR) | Total costs per input (INR) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Labour | |||||
| Maintenance Labor | person-days | 4.0 | 1600.0 | 6400.0 | 100.0 |
| Equipment | |||||
| Communal equipment (see above for costs) | |||||
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology | 6'400.0 | ||||
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD | 91.43 | ||||
The situation of infrastructure is difficult and inconsistent in the hill regions because of the terrain. The major infrastructural issues are drinking water and irrigation facilities, electricity, transportation and communication facilities and social infrastructure (housing and education). As for financial services, only the State Bank of India (SBI) is active in the hill regions where it is trying to achieve the objective of 100% financial inclusion. Some villages mentioned buying into into agricultural insurance in the past, however this was a temporary enterprise and they were never compensated after extreme climatic events that occurred and damaged over 70% of their crop. Though infrastructure and education has generally improved over the years, institutional and marketing networks in the region aimed at supporting hill-farmers are lacking.
Constructing these technologies in the forest and within spring catchment areas has supported the village to work collaboratively and increased overall insightfulness to on-and-offsite effects and potentials of SLM.
Decreased the amount of supplementary fodder required for livestock. The amount of grasses, fodder, and fuelwood has increased with the help of strategic placement of recharge ponds and trenches.
Less time spent collecting forest resources, as the area where the technology is near the village and supports fodder/fuelwood growth (broadleaf forest/oak nursery area)
Improved self sufficiency of village, as the technology has helped increase their water availability.
Water condition has improved. Their is less time spent collecting fodder in the forest, as these technologies have supported fodder tree and grass production.
There is less friction between the villages of Bhurimuni and Nakina. Nakina did not have to go ask for permission to access the Bhurimuni Naula for water during the dry season.
The improvements of forest resource security and resilience to disasters/climatic extremes have allowed the villagers to spend more of their time building up a communal gathering area for ceremonial events and festivals around the Vaishnavi Temple.
There is more time for the women (1-2 hours saved) as the structural technologies have supported existing vegetation growth. This has reduced the time and distance required for gathering fodder an fuelwood.
The partnerships formed between land-users, the Nakina Van Panchayat, the Forest Department and external institutions are leading examples of necessary cooperation between all levels of governance for project harmonization.
People are taking forest management seriously and making innovative plans for further SLM interventions, whether it be community-initiated or with the help of external institutions/agencies.
Increased availability of resources has helped the overall morale of the village. This has further enhanced cooperation for interventions that require participation and effort in the community forest.
The technologies act as a water reservoir and improve water holding capacity of the soil by decreasing runoff velocity.
Micro-catchments accumulate debris/silt washed down from upstream areas. When managed properly, this can function as a beneficial mulch to the soil, improving bioavailabiltiy of nutrients for plants.
Improved water availability and thus potential/support for vegetation growth and cover.
Improves grasses and vegetation growth, and collects debris/silt from upstream areas.
Micro-catchments provide water for native grasses, vegetation, and can help with the germination of seeds.
Micro-catchments provide water and habitat for small animals/birds.
Micro-catchments provide water, habitat, and protection for microorganisms and insect species. They support native grasses and vegetation.
Decreased surface flow velocity
Improved groundwater availability and enhanced spring recharge
Erosion impacts from extreme rain storms is reduced by decreasing flow velocity
Area is protected and forest is further enhanced by improved groundwater availability
Decreased surface temperature due to improved vegetation/biomass, soil cover and water availability.
Improved spring discharge in the peak dry season
Bhind and Vaishnavi Naulas (springs) have improved discharge in the peak dry season. According to villagers, there was little to no water available in May/June, and since 10 years the flow has returned due to improved forest management in combination with these structural technologies.
impact of flash flood is minimized
Helped slow down sediment and runoff
No direct evidence, but statements from the locals indicate that there are less sediments in the spring water ( due to improved soil infiltration and buffering capacity)
Less damage from runoff
Decreased intensity of runoff on the roadside and settlement below
