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)

Action Green Heritage (Action Green Heritage) - South Africa

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/04/1999

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:

Stone walls and re-vegetation (planting of indigenous trees) = Rehabilitation

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

For the pilot project loose stones and sometimes concrete walls that work well were used. It is not more expensive than gabions, because a trucker is needed for gabions and it is labour intensive. Wire is also often stolen off the gabions.
The following steps were followed in this technology:
The areas are fenced, barricades (gabion like structure) erected, and planting done. Rehabilitation and environmental education was the overall purpose. Severe erosion dongas can be improved and used for controlled grazing.
The request came from the Communities, they would like to make money and make land available for Nature reserves (it is seen as a status symbol). Hunting by professional hunters and meat for biltong. The excess game goes to hunting (local) and the meat is sold to the community at a lower price. Very little poaching or damage to the fences occurs.
Looking after the fences, roads, gabions and water points (infrastructure) are all part of the maintenance. The Nature reserves are actually surrounded by villages, but there are no problems of people going into the Reserves.
The areas are classified as Nature Reserve - Savannah woodlands (Acock’s veld type: 19), Nebo - transitional zone between 61 and 18 (Acock’s veld type 61) and Sekhukuhne as mixed bushveld (Acock’s 19).

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:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• conserve ecosystem

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Overpopulation (big pressure on veld), poor veld management (overgrazing), poor people. Population density most important factor.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Not enough land, or water for basic needs, agricultural development. Infrastructure was in place in 1964, Government did a lot of training, but there is not much left of anything.
Before the new Government (from 1990) things went downhill. People unsure about their future.

Ranching: Game

Grazingland comments: Trend towards ecotourism, more positive reaction to it.

Type of grazing system comments: Trend towards ecotourism, more positive reaction to it.

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150; Longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Feb

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• nature conservancy system

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:

• 10-100 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is Nebo Distr km2.

Former homeland area, communal grazing. SWC technology could also be applied outside of the Nature reserves. Big part of the Northern Province is similar to this area.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: management measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures, structural measures

Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing, other human induced causes (specify) (Agricultural causes - Poor land-use practice), poverty / wealth (Lack of captial)

Secondary causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify (Soil types, especially in the eastern areas), education, access to knowledge and support services (Lack of knowledge), Lack of enforcement of legislat./authority (Becoming a bigger problem (is already a problem))

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

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope angle

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 150

Trees/ shrubs species: Tree species: adapt technology – no soil. Bigger holes, cattle manure (local available) and mixed

Other species: Botusantes speciosus, Peltophorum africanum Mainly this two species, also some Figus ingens

Structural measure: gabion

Construction material (stone): Started with big one and made it smaller (job creation)

Change of land use practices / intensity level: Fencing the area off

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Rand

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

6.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Dig a hole	Vegetative
2.	Plant the seedling	Vegetative
3.	Watering	Vegetative
4.	Collecting stones	Structural	Before rainy season
5.	For concrete structures, fix it on the side (dig in)	Structural
6.	Fencing the area off	Management
7.	Reintroducing of game (Government paid for this)	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	Construction of gabions and planting	ha	1.0	3100.0	3100.0
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	210.0	210.0
Plant material	Tree seedlings	ha	1.0	625.0	625.0
Construction material	Fencing	ha	1.0	210.0	210.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					4145.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 36 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Watering	Vegetative	For some months /
2.	Bring loose stones back after very heavy storms	Structural	Rainy season/Once a year

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

5ha, concrete was used; land was given by the community, it was not possible to use it for something else (before rehabilitation); in other cases government paid 100% for the nature reserve and the pilot project

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Got funding only for a part of the area for one year. Then in the next year more funding, but never sure if enough funding will be available.
5 ha at Chuniespoort more expensive (concrete walls used). The costs for the community are the given land they couldn’t used for grazing anymore.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Gentle for Potlake and rolling for Nebo

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: Very shallow in Mantrombi, except behind the gabion and deep in Nebo

Soil texture: Coarse especially behind gabion

Soil fertility is low for Mantrombi, except silt deposit and medium for the rest

Topsoil organic matter is low for Mantrombi, but improving and medium for the rest

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is low for Maandagshoek, medium for Potlake and good for Nebo

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: 2% - 3%

(shop owners, doctors, etc).
40% of the land users are poor and own 40% of the land.
60% of the land users are poor and own 60% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: Working people are in towns, people who are living in the rural areas are children, women, and old people.

Market orientation of production system: Trends towards ecotourisme, more positive reaction to it. Game meat always popular, and becoming more regularly available to community. If it is available, they will go for it. Set area apart.

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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)?

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Nature Reserves a possible income

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reduce siltation for whole catchment (dam build in 1965 silted up in ±20 years!)
For recovery of vegetation and made wasteland available again for grazing
Retain water for aquifer and household uses.
Nature Reserves: Increase in biodiversity & income for community.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
High cost for fencing etc.
Soil conservation project – temporarily loss of land