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)

Book project: SLM in Practice - Guidelines and Best Practices for Sub-Saharan Africa (SLM in Practice)

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

Toker Integrated Community Development - Eritrea

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

Ministry of Agriculture of Eritrea (MoA) - Eritrea

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Tree plantations in combination with hillside terracing to protect upper catchment areas are a widespread technology in the Central and Northern Highland Zone of Eritrea.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In the early 1990s a large area was treated in the Toker catchment, northwest of Asmara. The first step was to establish hillside terraces on the steeper slopes where it is essential to conserve soil and water for improved growth of trees and other vegetation. The terraces comprise earthen embankments laid out along the along the contour, reinforced with stone risers, combined with a trench on the upper side to harvest runoff water. The trenches are subdivided into basins (by ties) to avoid lateral flow of runoff water. In a second step, trees were planted at a spacing of 2 m (in the trenches). Mostly fast growing eucalyptus was used, with a very small percentage of the indigenous African olive (Olea africana) - which has good survival rates but grows very slowly. Afforested areas are closed for any use until the trees reach maturity: they are protected by guards. In 1995 the Ministry of Agriculture handed over user rights to communities allowing cut-and-carry of grass and cutting of trees (with permission of the government). The technology requires appreciable expense, labor and expertise, but if maintained well, it results in multiple ecological and economic benefits: Soil cover has improved, water is conserved, the severe problems of soil erosion have been reduced, and dams further downstream are protected from siltation. Trees have become an important source of income for the rural communities, wood is a valuable resource mainly needed for construction, and also as fuel. Since the 1960s, several afforestation campaigns have been initiated by the government, mainly using food-for-work or cash-for-work approaches as incentives. Nowadays, local tree planting initiatives (on community or individual level) without external support are dominant.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Surface and gully erosion; Decline of vegetation cover, diversity and biomass; Loss of surface water; Lowering of ground water level

Plantation forestry: Yes

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management
• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 30 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, structural measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour

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, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bq: quantity / biomass decline, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline, Hg: change in groundwater / aquifer level

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

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Main technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, reduction of slope angle, improvement of ground cover, stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), increase of infiltration, increase of groundwater level / recharge of groundwater, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 2.00

Trees/ shrubs species: Eucalyptus, few Olea africana

Terrace: bench level
Spacing between structures (m): 2.50
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.50

Construction material (earth): digging out trenches and piling up risers

Construction material (stone): risers should be reinforced with stones

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Dig planting pits (0.5 x 0.5x 0.5 m), at 2 m intervals, in the trenches	Vegetative
2.	Plant tree seedlings (mainly eucalypts, some African olives); fill pit with top soil (optional: mix with 1 spade of manure)	Vegetative
3.	Spot weeding and softening soil around the pits to improve percolation of water and soil aeration (during rainy season)	Vegetative
4.	Supplementary irrigation during dry spells (using jerry / watering cans)	Vegetative
5.	Prohibit open grazing: Area closure is done collectively	Vegetative
6.	Mark contour lines using a line level. Spacing between terraces depends on slope, vegetation status, soil depth. In the case study area horizontal spacing between terraces is 2.5 m	Structural
7.	Terraces are built (inward-sloping) by digging out trenches (0.5 m deep) and piling up risers (minimum 0.75 m high). Risers should be reinforced with stones (where available)	Structural
8.	The trenches are separated into basins by ties at an interval of 2-5 m to avoid eventual lateral movement of water	Structural

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	1760.0	1760.0	73.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	73.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	600.0	600.0	73.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2410.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Replacement of missing plants at onset of rains (10% replacement of seedlings is expected in the 1st year)	Vegetative	onset of rains
2.	Spot weeding and softening soil	Vegetative
3.	Supplementary irrigation	Vegetative
4.	Maintenance of structures	Structural	before onset of rainy season

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	Labour	ha	1.0	480.0	480.0	83.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0	83.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					580.0

Comments:

Costs are calculated for gentle slopes with a terraces spaced at 2.5 m.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour cost includes construction of hillside terrace, pitting, planting and spot weeding and cultivation. According to the work and payment norms of the Ministry of Agriculture the cost of 1 person-day is 2.66 US$. Production cost of one seedling is 0.2 US$. Maintenance costs include terrace maintenance, re-pitting and replanting of seedlings.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Also hill slopes
Slopes on average are steep ( > 50%)
Soil fertility is low

5.3 Soils

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly disadvantaged land users

Market orientation of production system: subsistence (self-supply), subsistence (self-supply), mixed (subsistence/ commercial, mixed (subsistence/ commercial

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:

• communal (organized)

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

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Comments:

Sensitive to climatic extremes (e.g. rainfall decrease, especially in case of monocultures)

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:

Initial labour inputs payout on long term

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?

• 0-10%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption: Acceptance of afforestation areas has increased, since user rights have been given to land users: Communities located in Toker upper catchment areas have taken the initiative to maintain and protect their woodlots. Moreover, there is a trend toward locally initiated hillside terracing and tree planting without external initiative/incentives, apart from the provision of seedlings (through Ministry of Agriculture). The afforestation area covers approx. 30 km2 with high potential to enlarge.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Protection of slopes from erosion while at the same time providing an income source for the poor

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?
Establishment cost is high and labour intensiv	provision of hand tools and demanded seedlings
Fast growing eucalyptus trees have a high rate of water consumption; Indigenous trees are not favoured	encourage people to protect naturally regenerated indigenous trees, assist villagers to get market channels for products of indigenous trees
Community mobilization and high knowledge of land users is required	awareness raising campaigns, strengthen village institutional arrangements, assist villages bylaws
Land use rights: because the afforestation area is communal, nobody feels responsible for maintenance	promote plantations by individual households

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zeremariam I. 2001. Assessment of upper catchment development technologies in the Central High Land zone of Eritrea. MSc Thesis; The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Amanuel Negasi et al. 2002. Soil and water conservation Manual for Eritrea. RELMA.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zeremariam I.2001. Assessment of upper catchment Development Technologies and Approaches in the Central High Land zone of Eritrea. MSc Thesis; The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark