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

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

30/05/2011

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

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Closing the degraded land to let it to regenerate by excluding human and animal interference ans speed up the regeneration process by applying some SWC activities and undertake enrichment plantation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Area closure is suitable for degraded lands. Degraded areas are excluded from animal and human contact and integrated with activities that speed up regeneration process such as SWC activities, agronomic measures, vegetative and management measures.

Purpose of the Technology: Area closure improves the productivity of degraded lands and protects down stream fields and properties from flooding and improves ground water recharge.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Management and utilization plan prepared and agreed. Planning and design of supplimentary measures are integrated.

Natural / human environment: Area closure is applicable in all areas that have lost vegetation cover and has low soil fertility.

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:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

It is introduced technology.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Overgrazing, low awarness of land users, lack of management plan for communal lands and low level of diversification of land users activities.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Shortage of grazing lands, lack of common understanding of the management of common resources.

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Yes

Grazingland comments: Inspite of decreasing grazing lands, farmers still want to own some heads of livestock. Grazinglands as a result are highly pressurized. Land users cut grass from area closures and carry them home to feed their livestock. Some land users who have few polts for grazing close them to grow grass.

Plantation forestry: Yes

Problems / comments regarding forest use: Natural forests do not exist. Planted forests are managed by the community. In the SWC area, a larger area was planted some 20 years ago but at present the planted forests have been cleared for cultivation. This is the result of high population growth. Some of the planteed forests have been cleared by demobilizing soldiers.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Cereals - Legumes - Cereals

Constraints of infrastructure network (roads, railways, pipe lines, power lines)

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180 Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Nov Second longest growing period in days: 150 Second longest growing period from month to month: Jan - May

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• area closure (stop use, support restoration)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 10.5 km2.

Communities develop positive attitude towards activities implemented and results obtained such as livestock feed, fuel wood, bee forage, farm implements and construction materials.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion / gullying

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wo: offsite degradation effects, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities, Ha: aridification

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

SNNPR

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, improvement of ground cover, increase of infiltration

Secondary technical functions: increase / maintain water stored in soil, water harvesting / increase water supply, increase in soil fertility

Early planting
Material/ species: maize and potato
Remarks: row planting, broad casting

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: maize & haricot bean
Remarks: row planting

Legume inter-planting
Remarks: broad casting

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: animal dung
Remarks: broad casting

Contour tillage
Remarks: along the contour

In blocks
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 2500
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 2

Vegetative measure: in blocks
Vegetative material: G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 3333
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 10
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.3
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.3

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Trees/ shrubs species: Acacia saligina, Acaccia decurrens, Omedila, Grevillea robusta

Grass species: Desho, phalaris

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 8.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Retention/infiltration ditch/pit, sediment/sand trap
Vertical interval between structures (m): 3
Spacing between structures (m): 10
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 3
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.3
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 1
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 3

Terrace: forward sloping
Vertical interval between structures (m): 2
Spacing between structures (m): 10
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 5
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.3
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 1
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 30

Construction material (earth): Soil excavated from the ditches is used to make the embankment

Construction material (stone): Hill side terraces are supported with stones at the downslope side to make them stronger and stable.

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 8%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Change of land use type: from degraded agricultural land to area closure and practicing of cut and carry.

Other type of management: change of management / intensity level - from open access forms of grazing to guarding, plantation and construction of various SWC techniques.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Birr

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

8.6

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Seedling production	Vegetative	through out the year
2.	Transportation	Vegetative	beginning of rains
3.	Planting	Vegetative	beginning of rains
4.	Surveying	Structural	dry season
5.	Digging of ditches and construction of structural measures	Structural	dry season
6.	Stablization of terraces	Structural
7.	Surveying the degraded land	Management	dry season
8.	Awarness creation	Management	slack period from farming
9.	Planning	Management	any time
10.	Closing the area	Management

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	Labour	ha	1.0	505.8	505.8	50.0
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	83.27	83.27
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	19.26	19.26	70.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	69.76	69.76	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	116.28	116.28	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					794.37

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	land preparation	Agronomic	before rains / each cropping season
2.	Replanting	Vegetative	rainy season /once
3.	Stablization of terraces	Structural	rainy season/annual
4.	Appointing guards	Management	/ annual

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
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	81.39	81.39
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	7.3	7.3	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					88.69

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: hoe, shovel, gaso

The cost is calculated for labour needed to the construct SWC activities to rehablitate one hectar of degraded land.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Higher slopes and shallow soil depths increase the cost of construction.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 2001-2500 m a.s.l. ( <2400m a.s.l., ranked 1) and 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l. ( >1900m a.s.l., ranked 2)
Slopes on average: Rolling (ranked 1), hilly (ranked 2) and gentle, moderate and steep (all ranked 3)

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 depth on average: Also moderately deep (ranked 2) and shallow (ranked 3)
Soil texture: Fine/heavy (mainly clay loam, ranked 1) and medium (ranked 2)
Soil fertility is medium (ranked 1), low (ranked 2), high (ranked 3)
Soil drainage/infiltration is good (ranked 1) and medium (ranked 2)
Soil water storage capacity high (ranked 1) and medium (ranked 2)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 3% - 4%
6% of the land users are rich and own 15% of the land.
45% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land.
35% of the land users are poor and own 30% of the land.
12% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: Some land users are engaged in small trading and some are daily labourer when they are free from field activities.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (oxen plough system, ranked 1) and manual work (hoe and gaso, ranked 2)
Market orientation of forest production system: Mixed (ranked 1, individual plantation for market and domestic consumption), subsistence (ranked 2, individual woodlots plantation for domestic consumption) and commercial/market (ranked 3, community plantation for sale)

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

Land use rights:

• individual

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

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

3990

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

97% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

3800 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

5% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

190 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The farmers have made some modifications in order to increase the effectivness of the technology, by making fences around enclosures.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Feed and forage sources improved How can they be sustained / enhanced? Cut and carry system
Availability of fuel wood, farm implements and construction materials How can they be sustained / enhanced? integrate with multipurpose tree species
Income from beekeeping due to area closure

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Income generated from wood and grass sales. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Equal share from the benefit to all land users.
Rapid recovery and rehabilitation of degraded lands. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Integrate with multipurpose techniques and encourage cut and carry system.
The environment is protected, wildlife attracted and unproductive areas become productive. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Awarness creation and technical support