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

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

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

10/04/2014

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

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Ancient abandonned terraces, formerly used as cropland, were rehabilitated and are used for hay production and grazing mainly without irrigation

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The ancient terraces built during the middle age had been used as cropland till the 1970. Then they were abandonned and transformed as bushlands. In the 90' the bushes were removed and the terraces are since then used as pastures and fields for hay production. They are mainly not irrigated, what gives sometimes one yield of hay and sometimes two, depending on the rain.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of this technology is to work with minimal inputs, as extensive agriculture.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: To establish the terraces, a company came to clear the fields from the bushes. Then he put the cows on the fields, and rented/got for free fields from other farmers, and expanded his activities.
The main maintainance is to cut the bushes growing from the terasses into the fields, mainly blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

Natural / human environment: The cows used in these fields are a local breed (Herens), kept mostly for traditional and folkloric purpuse.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Bushes are growing into the fields, climate is changing and

Ranching: Yes

Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing: Yes

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Forests / woodlands: Fo: Other

3.3 Further information about land use

Comments:

Water supply: rainfed, mixed rainfed - irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 200 Longest growing period from month to month: march to october

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

• Minimal input agriculture

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• 0.1-1 km2

Comments:

He is the only farmer using this technology without irrigation

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, structural measures

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, manure / compost / residues

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Bh: loss of habitats, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

Main causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), other human induced causes (specify) (The land was abandoned)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Secondary technical functions: improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), increase in organic matter

Better crop cover
Material/ species: Grassland

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: Manure

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: G : grass

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 20%

Terrace: forward sloping
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1
Spacing between structures (m): 20

Change of land use type: From bushland to extensive grassland

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

CHF

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

1.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Clearing bushes	Vegetative

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	Clearing of the bushes	ha	1.0	8000.0	8000.0	100.0
Equipment	Tractors	Machine	2.0	207000.0	414000.0	100.0
Equipment	Tractor material	Machine	3.0	46000.0	138000.0	100.0
Other	Other			40000.0		100.0
Other	Farm	Farm		1000000.0		100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					560000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cutting hay	Agronomic
2.	Maintainance, looking at the cows, clear bushes	Agronomic
3.	Clearing Bushes, looking at the cows, manuring	Vegetative

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 medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is good

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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:

• group
• individual, titled

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

1

Comments:

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: This technology is with irrigation by many other farmers

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Natural food produced (cheese, meat)
Biodiversity increase
Traditional landscapes

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Natural food produced (cheese, meat)
Biodiversity increase

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?
Low productivity
Sensitive to drought

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Low productivity
Sensitive to drought