Area Closure for Rehabilitation of Degraded Hillsides [Ethiopia]
- Creation:
- Update:
- Compiler: Unknown User
- Editor: –
- Reviewers: Alexandra Gavilano, Fabian Ottiger
Lafa Dangesu
technologies_1418 - Ethiopia
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Expand all Collapse all1. General information
1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT
When were the data compiled (in the field)?
29/05/2011
The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:
Yes
2. Description of the SLM Technology
2.1 Short description of the Technology
Definition of the Technology:
Closing the degraded land in order to provide enough time to regenerate by excluding from human and animal interferance.
2.2 Detailed description of the Technology
Description:
The area is closed until the conditions are improved by revegetation and constructing structural measures. The technique is applied on steep slopes, shallow and denuded and environmentally sensetive areas.
Purpose of the Technology: The purpose is to reclaim denuded land and make it productive and introduce effective use use of the land. Through stablizing the soil and regenerating of natural vegetation, helps to protect the down stream crop lands and other properties.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The initial establishment is through restricting any domestic animal and human interferance into the closed area until the land rehabilitates. Maintenance includes replanting of tree species and repair of fence and structural measures that have breached.
2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
Country:
Ethiopia
Region/ State/ Province:
Oromia
Further specification of location:
Boset Woreda
Map
×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
3. Classification of the SLM Technology
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
Forest/ woodlands
- Cut and carry
Products and services:
- Timber
- Fuelwood
- Nature conservation/ protection
Comments:
Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): low level of awarness of the land users on the effect of soil erosion.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): low productivity of land
Plantation forestry: Yes
Problems / comments regarding forest use: no forest land is owned individually,
3.3 Further information about land use
Number of growing seasons per year:
- 2
Specify:
Longest growing period in days: 120 Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Aug Second longest growing period in days: 45 Second longest growing period from month to month: Mar - Apr
3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs
- area closure (stop use, support restoration)
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 57.1 m2.
3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology
3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology
soil erosion by water
- Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
- Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
chemical soil deterioration
- Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
physical soil deterioration
- Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities
Comments:
Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion
Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities
Main causes of degradation: overgrazing, education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge)
Secondary causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, poverty / wealth (lack of captial), lack of enforcement of legislat./authority
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. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs
4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing
Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate
Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover
Secondary technical functions: increase of surface roughness, sediment harvesting
Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 2500
Trees/ shrubs species: Acacia saligna, Casia siamea, Schinus mole
Terrace: forward sloping
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1.5m
Spacing between structures (m): 1.5m
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 6m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.75m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.75m
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 50m
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15%
Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%
Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.
4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs
other/ national currency (specify):
Birr
Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:
8.56
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:
0.85
4.4 Establishment activities
Activity | Type of measure | Timing | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | road construction | Vegetative | dry season |
2. | planting | Vegetative | wet season |
3. | fencing | Vegetative | dry season |
4. | microbasin | Vegetative | dry season |
5. | pitting | Vegetative | dry season |
6. | terrace construction | Vegetative | dry season |
7. | Surveying & layout | Structural | dry season |
8. | digging | Structural | dry season |
9. | stablizing embankment | Structural | wet season |
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 | 13600.0 | 13600.0 | 90.0 |
Equipment | Tools | ha | 1.0 | 500.0 | 500.0 | |
Plant material | Seeds | ha | 1.0 | 350.0 | 350.0 | 10.0 |
Plant material | Seedlings | ha | 1.0 | 5700.0 | 5700.0 | 15.0 |
Total costs for establishment of the Technology | 20150.0 |
4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities
Activity | Type of measure | Timing/ frequency | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | fence | Vegetative | dry season /annual |
2. | microbasin | Vegetative | dry season /annual |
3. | repitting | Vegetative | dry season /annual |
4. | terrace | Vegetative | dry season /annual |
5. | road | Vegetative | dry season /annual |
6. | replanting | Vegetative | wet season /annual |
7. | excavation of sediments | Structural | dry season/annual |
8. | replanting | Structural | wet season/annual |
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 | 9350.0 | 9350.0 | 100.0 |
Plant material | Seeds | ha | 1.0 | 280.0 | 280.0 | 40.0 |
Plant material | Seedlings | ha | 1.0 | 4380.0 | 4380.0 | |
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology | 14010.0 |
4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs
Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:
location of nursery site from the closed area, absence of road and/or vehicle/fuel
5. Natural and human environment
5.1 Climate
Annual rainfall
- < 250 mm
- 251-500 mm
- 501-750 mm
- 751-1,000 mm
- 1,001-1,500 mm
- 1,501-2,000 mm
- 2,001-3,000 mm
- 3,001-4,000 mm
- > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
- semi-arid
LGP 75-179 days
5.2 Topography
Slopes on average:
- flat (0-2%)
- gentle (3-5%)
- moderate (6-10%)
- rolling (11-15%)
- hilly (16-30%)
- steep (31-60%)
- very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
- plateau/plains
- ridges
- mountain slopes
- hill slopes
- footslopes
- valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
- 0-100 m a.s.l.
- 101-500 m a.s.l.
- 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
- 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
- 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
- 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
- 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
- 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
- > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Comments and further specifications on topography:
Slopes on average: Moderate (50% of the area), rolling (30% of the area) and gentle (20%)
5.3 Soils
Soil depth on average:
- very shallow (0-20 cm)
- shallow (21-50 cm)
- moderately deep (51-80 cm)
- deep (81-120 cm)
- very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
- medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
- medium (1-3%)
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 texture is medium (loamy, silty). Also coarse/light (ranked 2) and fine/heavy (ranked 3)
Soil fertility is medium. Also low (ranked 2) and very high (ranked 3)
Topsoil organic matter is medium (1-3%). Also low (ranked 2) and high (ranked 3)
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium. Also good (ranked 2) and poor (ranked 3)
Soil water storage capacity is medium. Also low (ranked 2) and high (ranked 3)
5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology
Market orientation of production system:
- subsistence (self-supply)
Relative level of wealth:
- poor
- average
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:
Population density: 100-200 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
and own 25% of the land.
and own 60% of the land.
and own 15% of the land.
6. Impacts and concluding statements
6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown
Socio-economic impacts
Production
crop production
fodder production
fodder quality
wood production
production area
Comments/ specify:
Reduction of grazing land
Income and costs
economic disparities
workload
Socio-cultural impacts
community institutions
SLM/ land degradation knowledge
conflict mitigation
Ecological impacts
Soil
soil moisture
soil cover
soil loss
Other ecological impacts
Soil fertility
Individual income
Comments/ specify:
Benefited from grasses for construction and sell
Input constraints
6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown
reliable and stable stream flows in dry season
downstream flooding
downstream siltation
6.4 Cost-benefit analysis
How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:
positive
Long-term returns:
very positive
How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:
slightly positive
Long-term returns:
positive
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?
- 10-50%
Comments:
65% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
35% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
Comments on adoption trend: they strongly belive that this technology will solve their basic problem at the community level, lsuch as fulfilling demanding of fuel wood and construction materials in short period and in increasing environmental and economical benefits in the long period.
6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view |
---|
grasses for livestock and timber for construction |
reduce runoff |
increase awarness about resources conservation |
understand the importance of group work |
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view |
---|
reduce soil erosion in the closed area How can they be sustained / enhanced? strengthen and encourage the community |
satisfay the demand of fuel wood, construction material and feed How can they be sustained / enhanced? provide improved seeds and training |
protect down slope land and properties How can they be sustained / enhanced? Organize experience sharing programme |
increase the awarness of farmers about conservation of natural resources |
encourage group work in the community |
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? |
---|---|
un equal contribution in group work during implimentation | |
reduced areas for open grazing | |
low commitment of the community leaders |
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view | How can they be overcome? |
---|---|
lack of continous supervision | |
lack of integration of activities | |
interferance of livestock in some areas | |
too much expectations from the government |
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