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)?

27/06/1995

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:

A hillside terrace is a structure along the contour, where a strip of land is levelled for tree planting.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Hillside terraces are up to 1 metre wide and constructed at about 2-5 m vertical inteals. Hillside terraces should only be applied if there is a strong necessity of erosion control and/or water conservation justifying their construction. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, they have been mainly applied in the highlands, although the area of their applicability would be rather in the drier and lower lying agroclimatic zones. Slope range is 50-100%, soil range particularly on eavily degraded land. Hillside terraces are mainly used to prevent damage of flooding the area below steep slopes.

Hillside terraces help retain runoff and sediment on steep sloping land and to accommodate tree seedlings to be planted on them. They are also effective on badlands and in areas with low rainfall to conserve water. Hillside terraces are usually combined with area closure (against grazing). Little materials are needed for their construction: Line levels, digging instruments, stones, and other materials as needed for combined measures. Little management is needed for their maintenance, except for taking care of the tees planted, and for correcting damage that may be caused by livestock grazing.

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:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Originated from engineering handbooks and Indian experience. Has been applied in Eritrea & Ethiopia since ~1978

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): High run-on from steep slopes onto cultivated land. Sheet and rill erosion from slopes, and subsequent gullying on cultivated land along footslopes. Lack of grass and woody biomass.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Lack of grazing for livestock. Lack of cultivation land. General food deficiency.
Grazingland comments: Insuffient land at curent population density and low productive farming systems.
Problems / comments regarding forest use: Almost the natural forest is not exist. Low growing condition.
Type of grazing system comments: Insuffient land at curent population density and low productive farming systems.
Constraints of wilderness: these are mainly badlands which are totally degraded

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also full irrigation

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 90 Longest growing period from month to month: May - OctSecond longest growing period in days: 30Second longest growing period from month to month: Feb - Apr

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

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:

• 1,000-10,000 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 1800 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Hillside terrace cross-section. Linied out along the contour, vertical interval between two terraces 2-5 m. (In: Soil Conservation in Ethiopia. CFSCDD, 1986)

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: reduction of slope angle, increase of infiltration, water harvesting / increase water supply

Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope length, improvement of ground cover, increase of surface roughness, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Trees/ shrubs species: Eucalyptus, Cupressus, Juniperus

Construction material (stone): Cut and fill with stone wall in front

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

For water harvesting: the ratio between the area where the harvested water is applied and the total area from which water is collected is: 1:10

Change of land use type: closed area

Other type of management: livestock management - prevention of grazing, cut and ary system

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Ethiopan Birr

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

7.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Transplanting	Vegetative	beginning of rainy season
2.	Seeding	Vegetative	nurseries
3.	Construction	Structural	dry season
4.	Planting	Structural	beginning of rainy season
5.	Community guarding of closed areas	Management	annual

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding	Vegetative	rainy season /each cropping season
2.	Control of grazing	Structural	always/annual
3.	Care taking of seedlings	Structural	rainy season/each cropping season
4.	communty guarding of closed areas	Management	continuos / annual

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

Comments:

Length of structure on an average slope

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Slope, soil condition, length of terrace per hectare.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Everything below 16 % is to genly sloping to be useful

5.3 Soils

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

5% of the land users are very rich and own 10% of the land.
5% of the land users are rich and own 40% of the land.
20% of the land users are average wealthy and own 30% of the land.
60% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.
10% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: Labour offered to projects.

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

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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):

30600

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:

80% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

30000 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

2% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Very recently, some villages have begun to see the value of hillside terracing, afforestations and area closure if they are given full responsibility to manage the area by a group of land users.

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Hurni H. : Soil Conservation in Ethiopia. Guidelines for Development Agents.. 1986.

Available from where? Costs?

SCRP Addis Abeba