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)

Swiss Red Cross (Swiss Red Cross) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

21/11/2016

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

V shaped catchment fences are used to stabilize gullies and prevent soil sediments from being removed by surface rain water runoff. It consists of planting izote (Yucca sp.) to create a V shaped fence around a gully.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Department of Olancho is a rainforest located at 1500 masl in the mountain range regions of Cordillera Central and Sierra de Agalta. Even though most of the area is protected as a natural reserve or natural park, it suffers from extensive deforestation from livestock practices and intensive industrial forest management practices. However, small land holders also clear forests. This causes rampant forest fires, soil degradation and erosion. The Department of Olancho is frequently affected yearly by tropical storms and hurricanes coming from the Atlantic. This combination of strong natural phenomena, topographic exposure and misuse of natural resources frequently results in significant property damage and even human deaths.
Gullies are formed by intense rain falling on degraded soils and, thus, gullies grow larger with each rainstorm. This increases the risk of land slides and reduces production areas. V shaped catchment fences using izote plants are set in place to control the gully head because they reduce the effective slope of erosion.
The izote plant (Yucca sp.) takes root and keeps on growing after being planted. By planting izote (Yucca sp.) in a V shaped pattern throughout the gully, the resulting fence contains the flow of water and sediment, thus increasing water filtration into the ground. Trenches are dug out with a depth of 30-50 cm in a V shape across the gully. The izote plants are cut in pieces 5-10 cm pieces, with an average length of 1.5 meters, depending on the depth of the gully. The plants are placed vertically in the trench, in tight clusters, and then the trench is filled with soil. The length of the fence depends on the width of the gully, an average of 3 meters (1.5 per side). The space between fences varies between 2 and 6 meters, depending on the slope. In time, the catchment fence becomes filled with sediment, thus reducing the speed of water runoff and promoting the accumulation of nutrients. Thus, in time, deep gullies can turn into a series of narrow fertile terraces on which crops may be grown.
However, the catchment fences must be included as part of a comprehensive plan for basin management and protection and, thus, must be supported with other SLM/RHR measures on the side slopes, such as live fences along the edge.
Catchment fences must be trimmed once a year so the izote plants don’t grow branches. The upper area where the sediments are collected must be cleared of unwanted material once a month during the winter.
In this case study, V shaped catchment fences were implemented through the project “Resiliencia”, which is undertaken by the Honduran/ Swiss Red Cross. This project aims at providing sustainable support to enhance resilience in the rural regions in Olancho, as well as coordinating efforts to reduce risk and to promote health at all levels (home, community, municipality). Bioengineering works are highly vulnerable and exposed to natural disasters.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2016

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

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

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Extensive grazing

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Specify:

contínuo

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

30-50 cm trenches are dug out in a V shape across the gully. Izote plants are cut in pieces 5-10 cm thick with an average length of 1.5 meters, depending on the depth of the gully. The plants are placed vertically in the gully in tight clusters and the trench is filled with soil. The length of the fence depends on the width of the gully, which is on average around 3 meters (1.5 per side). The space between the fences varies between 2 and 6 meters, according to the slope. In time, the containment fence becomes filled with sediments, thus water runnoff speed is reduced and more nutrients are accumulated.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Lempiras

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

23.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Bring and prepare izote plants (length corresponds to depth of gully)		Any time during the year
2.	Determine distance between fences and terraced curves
3.	Dig small V shaped trenches at bottom of gully
4.	Plant tight clusters of izote vertically inside the trenches
5.	Fill with soil

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	Trained labor	person half-day	1.0	200.0	200.0
Labour	Untrained labor	person half-day	12.0	150.0	1800.0
Equipment	Manual excavator	piece	1.0	180.0	180.0
Plant material	Izote	unit	75.0	3.0	225.0
Other	Plant transportation	trip	1.0	500.0	500.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2905.0

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

Honduran/ Swiss Red Cross

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Trim plants to avoid izote from developing branches		Once a year
2.	Clean the area surrounding the fence		Winter, once a month

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	Untrained labor	person half-day	1.0	150.0	150.0	100.0
Equipment	Machete	piece	1.0	15.0	15.0	100.0
Equipment	Manual excavator	piece	1.0	180.0	180.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					345.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Transport plant material not previously available in the area.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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	very well
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	very well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	very well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
tropical storm	not known
extra-tropical cyclone	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
landslide	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 Technology needs no further investment; it has a long lifespan; it significantly reduces the flow of surface water and thus prevents the formation of gullies. It also allows expanding crop areas and helps the soil to retain nutrients.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

20 out of 250 critical sites

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

• 0-10%

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
Protects houses from damage.
Crops grow faster due to improved soil quality caused by greater retention of nutrients.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The Technology does not need further investments; its lifespan is long; it significantly reduces the flow of surface water and, thus, the formation of gullies. It allows to expand the crop areas and helps the soil to retain nutrients.

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?
If not trimmed, izote extends and overwhelms productive crops	Performing maintenance continuously.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information