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

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

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

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

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

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:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Development of an impoverished indigenous reserve - incorporating alternative land use systems - through intensive training provided by a small NGO.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The Foundation for Rural Community Development is a small NGO, working in a 5 km2 indigenous reserve - characterised by ecological and economic crises. In this area, the foundation has built up a Centre for Research and Community Services (CISEC - Centro de Investigacion y Servicios Comunitarios). CISEC operates an experimentation and training centre in the reserve, where large demonstration/production areas also exist. For 15 years CISEC has provided training to local promoters in the fields of sustainable land use and health care. Workshops are held, and a team of specialists guarantee continuous supervision and technical assistance for the land users. The specialists plan the approach and the development of the technology. Its design, and the precise implementation steps are clearly prescribed. The overall purpose of the approach is to raise the living standard of the marginalized indigenous people through alternative development opportunities. This is achieved by focussing on four principle areas: (1) Promoting an alternative land management system ensuring sustained and diversified production based on the principles of organic farming (see related technology: 'intensive agroforestry system'); (2) Improving basic health services, sanitation and promoting balanced nutrition; (3) Training, education and capacity building at three levels: (a) integration of sustainable land management as a topic in the local college - directed by CISEC; (b) basic training on technology implementation, ecological processes and accounting for all participants; (c) special workshops to train local promoters who continue to advise land users after the implementation stage through various means, including development of teaching materials, libraries, workshops, courses, farm visits, and demonstration sites. (4) Economical dimension: a new initiative within the programme focuses on marketing of organic products.

Role of stakeholders: Participating land users have to adhere to specific requirements and fulfil certain conditions. For example, the layout of the agroforestry system has to be done to plan, groups must be organised, and a schedule for implementation developed. Participatory identification of problems and needs takes place in community assemblies, and through individual talks between extensionists and land users. To facilitate the implementation and ensure the continuation of SWC practices, land user groups manage a revolving fund - based on the subsidised provision of manure ('manure-for-work') during the establishment phase of the technology.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

1) achieve sustainable and efficient use of local resources, 2) improve the living standard of the indigenous population, 3) strengthen land users' organisations, 4) promote land rehabilitation and increase agricultural production, 5) promote environmental education through training of the community

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: 1) high level of unsatisfied basic needs, 2) land degradation, 3) lack of technical and social infrastructure, 4) lack of support from outside

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	none	experimentation and demonstration of the technology on test areas, participatory identification of problems and needs in assemblies and individual discussions
planning	none	planning of the approach and technology implementation steps by specialists; for planning of workshops the land users are consulted regarding their needs
implementation	none	the land users implement the technology on their own, organised in groups, supported and assisted by the local promoters and by the CISEC specialists
monitoring/ evaluation	none	continued assistance and supervision by the specialists by means of farm visits, evaluations and reports (by CISEC and local promoters); during workshops observations made by land users are evaluated
Research	none	research activities take place basically on CISEC's plots, some experimentation is carried out on the land users' farms; there is integration of land users' ideas into the investigation process

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Explain:

through experimentation and development of the technology by CISEC (including traditional elements) and consulting the needs of the land users.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users. implementation of the technology according to directives of CISEC (regarding implementation steps and time-schedule). Modifications by land users only regarding the selection of crops.

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas
• courses

Subjects covered:

Training is carried out in agroforestry, livestock management, protection and sustainable use of forests, soils, watershed management, organic weed control (spraying organic liquids), basic accounting, and nutrition.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Workshops and farm visits are the main means of extension.; Key elements: training of local promoters who pick up extension activities in the community after the implementation phase has been completed, thus guaranteeing the long-term continuation of extension services

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements; indicators: qualitative soil assessment
Technical aspects were regular monitored by 0 through observations; indicators: design modifications
Economic / production aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements; indicators: costs and benefits
Area treated aspects were ad hoc monitored by 0 through measurements; indicators: agroforestry plots
No. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements; indicators: participants
Management of Approach aspects were regular monitored by 0 through observations; indicators: distribution of limited project resources
There were several changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: these include schedule of technology implementation, incentives, the integration of animals into the production systems, training on specific topics that have been identified as important (maintenance of particular measures, keeping of accounts, etc).

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Experimental investigation takes place on the demonstration plots of CISEC: there have been variety trials, and testing of SWC measures.

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• > 1,000,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: international non-government (Helvetas (Switzerland)): 55.0%; national non-government (-): 5.0%; local community / land user(s) (-): 40.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

• construction

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• food-for-work

Comments:

La mano de obra es voluntario. Se suministran insumos iniciales para el establecimiento de la tecnología (Plántulas, abono), los campesinos

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Land users can continue activities initiated under the approach without further external support. The revolving fund helps them to access the necessary inputs, and technical assistance is available through the trained local promoters. SWC specialists from CISEC also follow up and monitor the implemented SWC practices during frequent farm visits.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
producción aumentado y continuo, productos sanos
recuperación de la fertilidad del suelo (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: suministración de abono)
capacitación

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Strengthen self-sufficiency/independence of the community (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Maintain activities)
Improve agricultural production through utilisation of local resources (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Maintain activities)
Training of land users and of local promoters (human capacity building) (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Maintain activities)
Sustained and/or increased agricultural production and marketing of 'healthy', organic products.
Involvement' of the land users by responding to their needs.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
sistema abono por trabajo limitado al primer año, dspués difícil a conseguir el abono
mucho mano de obra
sistema abono por trabajo limitado al primer año, dspués difícil a conseguir el abono
sistema abono por trabajo limitado al primer año, dspués difícil a conseguir el abono

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Very labour intensive technology design (but already overcome by provision of incentives and implementation in organised groups)	Emphasise production increase as an incentive.
The 'manure-for-work' system is limited to the first year for each participant; afterwards some land users find it difficult to get access to manure.	fortalezer capacitación
Lack of awareness raising and training in some important topics (eg green manuring etc)	Strengthen training.
The design and implementation processes of the technology are rather fixed and static	Allow more possibilities for modification by land users.
There are land users who participate only to receive manure for work (negative impact of incentives)	Put more emphasis on on-farm manure/ compost production.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Gurtner M (1999) Bodendegradierung und Bodenkonservierung in den Anden Kolumbiens - Eine Nachhaltigkeitsstudie

Available from where? Costs?

Science Faculty, University of Berne, Centre for Development and Environment