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)

Manual of Good Practices in Small Scale Irrigation in the Sahel (GIZ )

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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ) - Germany

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

Misereor - Germany

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/07/2012

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Sand dunes are stabilized with vegetation to reduce wind erosion and the amount of sand blown onto cropland, dwellings and other infrastructure.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

This measure is used to stabilise sand dunes in locations and villages where there is a risk of sand covering cropland or infrastructure (buildings, roads, irrigation systems, etc.). Dune stabilisation is achieved by setting up windbreaks arranged in a checkerboard pattern, with each side measuring between 10 and 15 m. The windbreaks are formed by palisades made from millet stalks or other plant material or by hedges and trees (Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Euphorbia balsamifera, Acacia raddiana, Acacia senegal, Balanites aegyptiaca, Prosopis juliflora, etc.).

Purpose of the Technology: They provide protection from wind erosion and reduce the amount of sand blown onto cropland, dwellings and other infrastructure which can prevent extensive damage. Grass and shrubs are planted in strips in the fenced-off areas to further stabilise the soil. The palisades and vegetation provide shade that lowers soil temperatures and the organic matter and waste improves the soil structure.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Specific experience is required to assess the degraded area as a whole and choose the most appropriate techniques, the right species to plant and the most suitable locations. Sometimes, the protected area is rehabilitated, particularly when land use pressure is high in neighbouring areas.
The protected dunes must be closely monitored and rigorously maintained for at least three years. It is therefore necessary to ensure good community organisation and take the action required to enforce the rules established and impose fines. Partial use of the area for grazing is sometimes allowed (one day a fortnight). Some projects prefer to fence off the sites with wire fencing to ensure that they are completely protected.
The success of this measure depends to a large extent on climatic conditions. A rainy year after the windbreaks have been erected creates favourable conditions for the species planted to become established.

Natural / human environment: With increasingly stronger winds and the accelerated degradation of the natural vegetation growing on sand dunes, it is very likely that the problems caused by shifting dunes will worsen in the future. Techniques to stabilise shifting sand dunes will therefore become more important.

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

developed, implemented and disseminated as part of projects and programmes undertaken from the 1980s onwards to combat desertification and improve natural resource management. Implemented by GIZ (German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation), PDRT (Projet de développement rural de Tahoua - Tahoua Rural Development Project), PASP (Projet de protection intégrée des ressources agro-sylvo-pastorales Tillabéri-Nord - Project for the Integrated Protection of Agricultural, Forest and Rangeland Resources in Tillabéri-Nord)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): wind erosion
Constraints of common grazing land
Constraints of forested government-owned land or commons

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: August to October

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• windbreak/ shelterbelt

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:

• 1-10 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 1.8 km2.
Under the PDRT in Niger, a total area of 180 ha of shifting sand dunes was stabilised, preventing serious damage to dwellings and to the farmland and rangeland that are basic components of the population’s livelihood system.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -against wind

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Unadapted landuse methods, reduced or abandoned fallow periods), droughts, population pressure (rapidly growing population increasing pressure on land), land tenure (insecure access to land)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Dune stabilisation is achieved by setting up windbreaks arranged in a checkerboard pattern, with each side measuring between 10 and 15 m. The windbreaks are formed by palisades made from millet stalks or other plant material or by hedges and trees.

Location: Niger
Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate
Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase of surface roughness, stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting, reduction in wind speed, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Aligned: -against wind
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 400
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 10
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 5

Trees/ shrubs species: Prosopis chilensis, Ziziphus mauritiana, Acacia senegal, Bauhina rufescens, Euphorbia balsamifera.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

CFA Franc

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

521.18

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Establish palisade of millet stalk	Structural
2.	Seeding grasses	Structural
3.	Planting	Structural
4.	Spreading manure	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	96.45	96.45
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	212.2	212.2
Other	Transport	ha	1.0	115.75	115.75
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					424.4

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour: 50 man-days per ha
• 60 palisade stakes per ha
• 400 tree and shrub seedlings per ha
• transportation (by lorry) of palisades and seedlings
• protection: costly if the site is protected with wire fencing, which might be stolen.

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: Medium and low
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium and poor
Soil water storage capacity: Medium and low

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 3% - 4% (mostly poor households below poverty line).
Off-farm income specification: men migrate temporarily or permanently to cities for off-farm income

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)

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Comments:

traditional land use rights on fields, communal land on pasture and forest land

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology. With increasingly stronger winds and the accelerated degradation of the natural vegetation growing on sand dunes, it is very likely that the problems caused by shifting dunes will worsen in the future. Techniques to stabilise shifting sand dunes will therefore become more important.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Protection of infrastructure, cropland and rangeland
The palisades and vegetation used to stabilise sand dunes contribute to reducing wind erosion, and the shade that they provide lowers soil temperatures. The protection they provide for farmland and infrastructure can prevent extensive damage.
Once the surface of the dune has been stabilised with vegetation, the effect is lasting, provided that the area is not overgrazed.

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?
Grazing restrictions may reduce animal production. Some projects fence off the sites with wire fencing to ensure that they are completely protected.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Good Practices in Soil and Water Conservation. A contribution to adaptation and farmers´ resilience towards climate change in the Sahel. Published by GIZ in 2012.

Available from where? Costs?

http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Main_Page