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

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:

SELECTIVE CUTTING OF FOREST TREES TO PREVENT FIRES AND AVOID THE RISK OF DAMAGED TREES FALLING DOWN.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technique consists of cutting down and removing damaged trees from the forest (for example those damaged by snow) or dried trees, which tend to fuel fires and increase their spread.

Purpose of the Technology: Protection of woods in case of fire and promoting the natural regeneration of forests.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Clearing activities carried out periodically.

Natural / human environment: The technique is applied in timber forests. 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.

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): In the timber forests the presence of damaged trees promotes the spread of fires and the increase the risk of fallen trees.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Fire risk and risk of fallen trees.

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

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

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management

• Fire prevention

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
Specification of other management measures: Reduction of risk of fire and better quliaty and value of forest.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Bf: detrimental effects of fires

Secondary causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (Spontaneous combustion.), other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify (Snow, estreme winter weather)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

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: control of fires, reduction of dry material (fuel for wildfires)

Secondary technical functions: improvement of ground cover

Major change in timing of activities: Cutting of trees damaged or dead.

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 of trees damaged or dead by mechanical equipment (chainsaw).	Management	Regularly

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 of trees damaged or dead by mechanical equipment (chainsaw).	ha	1.0	270.27	270.27	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					270.27

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Hedge cutter

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Manual labour and fuel for chainsaw.

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-high
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: 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.

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

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Other ecological impacts

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

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:

The value of the wood harvested is higher than the costs of felling

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:

50% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Contributions through rural development measure (200 € per hectare)

50% 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
The technique is useful particularly in areas nearest public roads to prevention the spread of wildfires and to decrease risk of damaged trees falling.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Selective cutting of damaged trees is a useful tool in preventing the growing spread of wildfires and promotes a more homogenous and regular growth in the forest. How can they be sustained / enhanced? The resources forseen under the RDP to support this action have not led to the its spontaneous adoption.

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?
There are no disadvantages to this technique.