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)

Catastrophic shifts in drylands (EU-CASCADE)

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

University of Basilicata - Italy

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

26/05/2014

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:

Cutting of wild ferns for fodder production and to mitigate pasture degradation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Ferns are considered pioneer plants because Wherever there is fertile, acidic and well drained land Ferns (Pteridium sp.) preceed shrub species and the encroaching of forest species. Ferns that develop on pastures are fairly un-palatable to grazing livestock and completely disregarded by animals when the plant is fresh. The plant is thus usually mowed down to clear pastures and make way for more palatable species which would otherwise be suffocated by the presence of ferns. However, once cut down, dried and gathered, ferns can be used during the winter months (when the animals are in sheds or stables), both as a source of fibre and as bedding in deep litter housing systems (in place of the more common use of straw).

Purpose of the Technology: Improve pasture quality and gathering of fodder/ litter

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: End of summer/beginning of fall farmers use to cut ferns in the fields where they are diffused. Usually they use tractor whit a cutting equipment. As they get dry (it takes from 3 to 6 days according to air temperature and humidity) the ferns are collected and stored for winter use, either as fodder or litter housing.

Natural / human environment: The context of production is characterised by a medium level of mechanisation (only the most demanding operations are carried out using mechanical means), the production system is essentially mixed, a small part is destined for personal consumption whilst the bulk of production is destined for local markets. The property is predominantly
privately owned but also includes some public land, especially in the case of pasture land. Most farms in the area are livestock farms whilst the agricultural component is destined exclusively for private consumption. The technique is mainly applied on higher latitude pasture land (because of the presence of acidic soils) which are not particularly stony.

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:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Pasture degradation (shrub encroachment)
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Pasture degradation (shrub encroachment)
Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Shepherds use the area for summer grazing and move downhill in winter
Grazingland comments: the technique is applied in livestock farms which raise both cattle and sheep and goats seeing as
fresh ferns are un-palatable to all grazing species.
Type of grazing system comments: the technique is applied in livestock farms which raise both cattle and sheep and goats seeing as
fresh ferns are un-palatable to all grazing species.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120Longest growing period from month to month: March to august

Livestock density (if relevant):

> 100 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• pastoralism and grazing land management

• fodder production and mitigation pasture degradation

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

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: management measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures

Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

Secondary causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (Undergrazing, decrease in land use and land management)

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: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 150000

Control / change of species composition

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

euro

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

0.74

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cutting and gathering of fern	Vegetative	Once a year
2.	Cutting and gathering of ferns	Management	Once a year

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
Labour	Cutting and gathering of fern	ha	1.0	162.16	162.16	100.0
Equipment	Cutting and gathering of fern	ha	1.0	108.1	108.1	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					270.26

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Tractor with mower which is commonly owned for medium to large livestock farms for the purpose of haying., tractor with mower which is commonly owned for medium to large livestock farms for the purpose of haying.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The technique does not require specific investment given that the necessary equipment is usually already available on farm in the case of medium to large size livestock farms. The work is carried out in autumn when the machinery are not generally in use as haying operations are usually finished in the summer months.
If the farm does not own suitable machinery it can be rented at a cost of €40 per hour.

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-low
Soil drainage/infiltration is good
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water is medium (minimum during month of September and October)

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Active farmers are present only males; women are not actively involved in land management

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: negative; 2%

90% of the land users are average wealthy.
10% of the land users are poor.

Off-farm income specification: Most of the off farm income derives from public sector, i.e. Municipality, Mountain Community, Region and other public bodies. Very few farmer members run local shops or handcraft.

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:

• communal/ village
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	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 rainstorm	well
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	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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

Comments:

In order to make ferns dry up in such environment it would be possible to cut them during last stage of summer rather then early autumn to avoid possible persistent rain that would not allow ferns to dry up.

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:

In the short term the advantage is an increase in surface and quality of valuable pastures. for the grazing animals. In the long term the application of this technique is important to prevent shrub encroachment.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

• 90-100%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
ferns are used in winter as fodder which absorbs the cost of cutting and gathering ferns from pastures and also helps improve pasture quality.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
the cutting of ferns is a simple, low-cost operation which brings great benefits to livestock farms. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Greater exchange of information amongst target farmers on the benefits of clearing pastures.