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)

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

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

World Vision (World Vision) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

16/09/2016

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

Comments:

It is a very sustainable technology as it promotes the natural regeneration of highly degraded areas.

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a proven SLM Technology to restore degraded wasteland and improve depleted farmland. The farmer regu- lates and facilitates the re-growth of existing trees stumps, or self-sown seeds in the soil, and thus promotes soil fertility and through better ground cover, increases protection from runoff and erosion.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Conventional afforestation and tree planting requires considerable inputs, labour and care including suitable seedlings, transport of these, planting and regular watering - and the survival rate in arid and semi-arid climates is often very poor. On the other hand Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a cheap and effective way to restore and improve large areas of degraded and depleted soils. The technology relies on the fact that even in deforested areas, soils often still maintain some active roots systems and viable seeds of native woody plants. Selectively promoted, leaving only a few main shoots, they can grow into trees within a few years. This technology - based on indigen- ous practices - has been successfully promoted by World Vision in eight African countries including Kenya and Ethiopia, and is now also being applied in Indonesia, East Timor and Latin America. Apart from labour and a farmer’s knife, and skills, there are no major inputs required. The farmers like this agroforestry technology a it is cheap and can be easily combined with other SLM technolo- gies such as permaculture, inter-cropping, and mulching. At the same time it can be used at various scales: on small plots of less than one hectare or up to the landscape level where whole hills can be re-vegetated within a short period. And the impact can be very positive on the soil, ecology, cli- mate and health of crops, people and livestock. The farmer can use prunings as rewood, and grow fodder below the trees; tree branches and leaves can serve for mulching and the owers for bees, fruits for consumption and sale. The trees break the winds, protect the soil and (with some species) their shade protects sensitive crops (e.g. vegetables or even coffee) from the sun. The soil’s water retention capacity, structure, biology and fertility improve. All effects contribute to soil, water and climate stabilization. One limitation can be the use of tractors and other machines which, however, are hardly employed by smallholder farmers. Some practical steps for establishing an FNMR site; 1) jointly agree on a target area (be it a eld or communal wasteland) 2) check out the area carefully for existence of woody species (trees, bushes, rootstocks) 3) mark the bushes or trees that should be nurtured into bigger trees (it is recommended to consult local/scientific knowledge on the trees species and their positive benefits) 4) protect the whole area (fences, hedges) or only the chosen trees against grazing and human disturbance 5) when the plants reach a height of 1 m start with pruning, only keeping the 2-3 main shoots, using the prunings for rewood or mulching 6) watering is in most cases not required as the indigenous trees have well-enough developed roots for self- supply 7) the specific cultivation and management practice depends on the trees species selected and the desired results (intercropping with maize, shade trees for coffee, fodder trees for livestock, flower trees for bees etc.) 8) fire and livestock are the are the main threats for a new FMNR site.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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

Indicate year of implementation:

2014

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology was introduced by World Vision through a public funded project on climate protection and natural resource management. It received the “Total Kenya Eco Challenge Award” in 2016. The introduction was done through the following steps. The project staff were trained on the concept after which they trained Government staff in forestry, education and agriculture department including chiefs and assistant chief who were to turn out to be the entry point/ ambassadors for the concept. Intense trainings, awareness campaigns, practical demonstrations, consultative meetings and observations were conducted. Till now more than 300 hectares of degraded land was reclaimed through FMNR and over 1000 farmers adopted the practice already.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

• this technology brings a lot of positive effects on the environment (more water, more carbon and nutrients in the soil, better micro climate etc.) > bullet point 4: other technologies could be contour farming, agroforestry, water harvesting)

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

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Since only indigenous species are promoted the normal rainfall should be sufficient for their growth.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

There is no planting required but protection of FMNR plots. The shrubs grow best in the rainy season.

Livestock density (if relevant):

Livestock is one of the main threats to the technology. It is a very important to keep livestock out of the FMNR areas either by using live fences or mesh wire fences.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management
• agroforestry
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

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:

There are many more project sites facilitated through World Vision in Kenya where this technology is being applied e.g. in Baringo (Wema, Mogotio) and Samburu (Poro).

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

There is also an aspect of management change (M2): allowing the native trees to grow, pruning of upcoming bushes, mulching with tree branches, felling of trees when desired etc.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

FMNR contributes to less soil erosion, more organic matter and more diversified habitats (leading to increased agro-biodiversity).

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

FMNR contributes to less land degradation and is an ideal technology to restore severely degraded areas.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The technical drawing above shows four typical stages of an indiginous tree in a FMNR site:
1) a suppressed shrub, very damaged by roaming animals or human interference
2) if this small shrub experience protection it will regenerate and grow many new branches
3) as soon as a bush has reached a height of 1 m the farmer can start with pruning keeping only a few major branches. This will help the tree to grow high and the farmer can yield branches and leaves for fire wood and mulching. Depending on the growth rate, pruning can be done 1-2 times a year.
4) A mature tree produces also fruits that can be harvested. As only major branches remain enough sunlight will reach the ground to allow the cultivation of crops or gras production.

Slope and spacing can varry a lot (from 5 to 50 m distance) as FMNR is designed to be extremely flexible, giving farmers considerable freedom of individual choice on how to meet their own specific needs, using the free materials at hand (species mix), responding to the specific climate, soils, crop mix, and their own understanding, at the time of implementation. FMNR is being introduced into many different contexts where the environment and species mix, the specific land use (crop land, pasture or forest) and farmer needs, vary from region to region and even from farm to farm.

To date, FMNR has been successfully practiced in a variety of locally adapted ways such as:
- By individual farmers on their own land
- By communities on communal lands and in degraded forests
- By leaving very few trees (10 - 20 / ha), or by leaving very many (150 trees/ ha).
- By focusing on tree species predominantly used to provide firewood and building poles, or on species that have nutritious leaves that feed families or animals. Some use trees that fix nitrogen and can therefore increase the soil fertility for crops.
- Leaving a single stem to grow from a stump (and harvesting when larger), or by leaving multiple stems,
successively harvesting one each year.
- Allowing a single stem to grow into a permanent tree, and then harvesting 1/2 to 1/3rd of the branches per
year (such as pollarding). Pollarding provides larger wood harvests and more rapid re-growth.
- Allowing tree re-growth only on farm borders. The trees are allowed to grow close to each other and are
pruned high up the trunk. As need arises whole trees are harvested and re-growth is allowed to replace
the tree that was harvested.
- Leaving only trees, which are growing approximately in straight lines and moving self-sown seedlings and replanting them within these lines. Within the rows the trees are grown as bushes which are slashed to
ground level during the rainy season, except for single stems that are allowed to grow about every 12
meters. This is done to avoid interference with ploughing and because soil infertility is a major issue,
addressed by mulching with pruned branches.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

KES

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

100.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Plot inspection (to identify and mark potential bushes)	Vegetative	ideally after harvesting the crops, best time for transects
2.	Plot protection (fencing against livestock)	Structural	ideally after harvesting, best time for transects, before planting
3.	alternatively: Protection measures of single bushes	Structural	ideally after harvesting, best time for transects, before planting
4.	Weeding/ clearance of surplus bushes/ vegetation	Agronomic	all year, during vegetation period
5.	normal farming activities within the FMNR site	Agronomic	after harvesting the crops
6.	Integrating beekeeping and or fodder harvesting	Agronomic	all year, during vegetative period
7.	Thinning or harvesting of fuel wood	Management	As per need, dependant on the farmer, all year round

Comments:

Ideally, FMNR activities are not interfering too much with the normal farming activities except for mulching or compost making wherefore small tree branches can be used.

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If possible, break down the costs of establishment according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

32600.0

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	plot protection - fencing/ ha	person-days	30.0	400.0	12000.0	100.0
Labour	tree protection - first pruning/ ha	person-days	10.0	400.0	4000.0	100.0
Equipment	farmer's knife	piece	2.0	150.0	300.0	100.0
Equipment	machete	piece	2.0	500.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	rake	piece	2.0	500.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	hand hoe	piece	2.0	450.0	900.0	100.0
Equipment	leather gloves	pair	2.0	1000.0	2000.0	100.0
Equipment	strong gumboots	pair	2.0	2000.0	4000.0	100.0
Equipment	axe	piece	2.0	700.0	1400.0	100.0
Plant material	life fence seeds/ thorns of shrubs / ha	seedlings	1200.0	5.0	6000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	n/a
Construction material	n/a
Other	n/a
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					32600.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

The farmer harvest wood and non-wood products like honey and grass. Often FMNR is combined with agriculture or animal husbandry. As the crop yield increases the farmer can invest in more equipment and tools.

Comments:

Some of the costs incurred were covered by WV during inception of the project model of FMNR especially for the demonstration plots but the costs on household level are covered by the farmers themselves. Normal farm equipment is being used to establish the sites. The farmer needs some gloves und gumboots and the time for the additional works. Also some time is needed to be invested for training to get equipped with the required knowledge and skills. Live fence plants or throns from shrubs are normally collected/ taken from the pruned Acacia branches.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Pruning of target bushes and trees	Vegetative	during vegetation period, ideally in the dry season
2.	tree felling	Vegetative	after vegetation period, after harvesting the crops
3.	Harvesting of grass in FMNR sites not on crops	Vegetative	During and after rainny season

Comments:

Ideally, FMNR activities are not interfering too much with the normal farming activities except for mulching or compost making wherefore small tree branches can be used for firewood. In places where FMNR is applied to gain timber, branches and firewood in a sustainable way, it has supported to raise more income for households allowing them to meet their basic needs including school fees, medical bills etc.

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

If possible, break down the costs of maintenance according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

14600.0

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Yearly Pruning of target bushes and trees /ha	person-days	6.0	400.0	2400.0	100.0
Labour	tree felling of selected trees/ ha	person-days	4.0	400.0	1600.0	100.0
Equipment	farmer's knife	piece	2.0	150.0	300.0	100.0
Equipment	machete	piece	2.0	500.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	rake	piece	2.0	500.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	hand hoe	piece	2.0	450.0	900.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					7200.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

The farmer harvest wood and non-wood products like honey and grass. Often FMNR is combined with agriculture or animal husbandry. As the crop yield increases the farmer can invest in more equipment and tools.

Comments:

Some of the costs incurred were covered by WV during inception of the project model of FMNR especially for the demonstration plots but the costs on household level are covered by the farmers themselves. Normal farm equipment is being used to establish the sites. The farmer needs some gloves und gumboots and the time for the additional works. Also some time is needed to be invested for training to get equipped with the required knowledge and skills. Live fence plants or throns from shrubs are normally collected/ taken from the pruned Acacia branches.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Size of the FMNR site and the density and age of trees. Important precondition is fencing off the sites/ protection of trees against livestock. Most of the equipment needed is part of the normal agricultural tool set.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

The data above was provided by Divisional Agriculture officer in Lambwe.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

High amounts of sodium ions makes the water often saline.

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

frequently

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

The water quality of surface water is poor and sometimes only suitable for livestock. Though due to few safe water sources, the households often have to use the surface run off for domestic use.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

The biodiversity is still higher than expected in comparison to the degree of degradation of the landscape. This might relate to the proximity of the Lake Victoria with its rich fish- and avifauna and Ruma National Park.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

All the above groups participate in the roll-out of the technology. It is relatively new and many are excited about the benefits. Elderly and children (youth and child headed households) need more time do the same work and adopt the technology less enthusiastically. Though Elderly are often key drivers of the technology as they best understand the degree of deforestation and water insecurity and the interlinkages.

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

Water 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

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Comments regarding impact assessment:

Detailed research has not been carried out on the impact of the technology to provide scientific evidence. However, soil testing is being done and a study on the biodiversity is being conducted.

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?
other gradual climate change	micro climate (moisture, less wind & erosion, reduced temperature)	increase	very well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well
forest fire	not well
land fire	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
flash flood	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	well

Comments:

A baseline survey captures also aspects of environmental degradation.

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:

FMNR is a low cost technology and brings a good return on investment. Slightly more land is required and mechanisation can become more difficult. Farmers are very optimistic of the long- term results of FMNR since the need for wood is high. Locals have started looking at having trees on farm as an equal investment opportunity compared to crops.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• more than 50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

Over 1000 households reached through training and confirmed practising.

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 90-100%

Comments:

Most of the adopters start the practice after getting basic training and some of them just through observation of model sites.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
FMNR is appropriate for both male and female of productive ages though at the introduction depending on nature and size of the farm, men are more advantaged due to labour intensive. However for land with no trees just starting up, it can be easily managed by both sexes. It is also a form of exercise for the aging people thus improving on healthy lifestyle.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
FMNR can be done by anyone/everyone in a household as long as the drive and understanding of the concept is embraced. This includes people with special needs. It is cheap, efficient and refreshing plus satisfying since results are evident in short while. Tree planting survival rate has been low in the recent times following unreliable rainfall, external threats e.g livestock, pests and diseases thus FMNR is the solution to restoring the degraded ecosystems. Women may find the actual management difficult at some stage but since the concept brings income, even external labor is sourced. So the women don't fear getting on with the technology.
FMNR is a low cost technology and brings a good return on investment. Farmers are very optimistic of the long- term results of FMNR since the need for wood is high. Locals have started looking at having trees on farm as an equal investment opportunity compared to crops.

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?
Safety of the farmers during management (thick thorny bushes) and habitat it creates for wild life that could be threats to man e.g snakes, monkeys eat all their crops as birds feed on the seeds too.	Monkeys can be kept out by thorney hedges, birds by mirrors and cats.
Slightly more land is required and mechanisation can become more difficult.	Mechanisation can be done if new trees build kind of hedges.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Women may find the actual management difficult at some stage and quite labour intensive.	Since the technology brings income even external labor can be sourced.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration Enhances Rural Livelihoods in Dryland West Africa, Weston, Peter, Reaksmey Hong, Carolyn Kaboré & Christian A. Kull, Environmental Management Volume 55, Issue 6, pp 1402–1417,2015, ISBN 0364-152X00267-015-0469-1

Available from where? Costs?

Springer, USD 35

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Re-greening the Sahel: farmer-led innovation in Burkina Faso and Niger, Reij, C.; Tappan, G.; Smale, M., in Millions fed : proven successes in agricultural development, 2009, ISBN 9780896296619

Available from where? Costs?

International Food Policy Research Institute, USD ?

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration Hub

URL:

http://fmnrhub.com.au/

Title/ description:

Scaling up Regreening: Six steps to success, A practical approach to forest and Landscape Restoration, World Resources Institute, 2015, ISBN 978-1-56973-861-0

URL:

https://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/scaling-regreening-six-steps-success.pdf

Title/ description:

In Kenya, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration is a remedy to Climate Change

URL:

http://www.landscapes.org/kenya-farmer-managed-natural-regeneration-remedy-climate-change/

Title/ description:

Australian High Commissioner Visits Environmental Restoration Project in Baringo County

URL:

http://kenya.embassy.gov.au/nair/fmnr.html

Title/ description:

ICRAF and World Vision facilitate Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration training in Uganda

URL:

http://www.worldagroforestry.org/news/icraf-and-world-vision-wv-facilitate-farmer-managed-natural-regeneration-fmnr-training-uganda

Title/ description:

Renew The Land - FMNR in Timor-Leste

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub2K8QGy8k0

Title/ description:

FMNR at the International Permaculture Conference (Sept 2011) in Amman, Jordan

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm_qlyvdZ_A

Title/ description:

Proven successes in agricultural development: Increasing the Number of On-Farm Trees in Niger

URL:

http://www.ifpri.org/publication/millions-fed

Title/ description:

Afrikas Waldmacher (ZDF heute-journal vom 2.9.2016) German video

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgdcbxE-OQo

Title/ description:

FMNR regreening projects in East Africa

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElfgcWCmops