1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

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

Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority Board (MTPA) - South Africa

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

07/07/1999

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:

To rehabilitate/stabilise distorted wetlands as close as possible to its original state/function.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Two wetland rehabilitation sites that are part of a large wetland area (15 and 10ha).

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of the rehabilitation work was to stabilise, landscape and re-vegetate distorted areas to again fulfil their original function in the catchment.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Maintenance included follow-up on re-seeding distorted areas and alien plant control (cut down plants and treads strips with roundup). Structure maintenance (such as gabions, roads) is also done.
Fire management to protect and manage the area of rehabilitation until such time as it has proved to be stabilised. Leave for ± 3 years before considering burning.

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:

• 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.):

Subjective inputs/discussions with specialists in variety of disciplines (scientist, botanists, hydrologists, managers, ecologists)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• conserve ecosystem

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Afforestation: Pine plantations destroys diversity, also has a major effect on quality & quantity of water run-off, mining opencast activities

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Production of wood/timber, job creation

Ranching: Game occur natural in this area/nature reserve

Grazingland comments: Area in which these two wetlands are situated is proclaimed conservation land. The aim is to manage the area in an as natural as possible condition as it was historically.

Type of grazing system comments: Area in which these two wetlands are situated is proclaimed conservation land. The aim is to manage the area in an as natural as possible condition as it was historically.

Constraints of nature reserve: Fire management/adjacent to pine plantations

3.3 Further information about land use

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 240; Longest growing period from month to month: Oct - May

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• area closure (stop use, support restoration)
• wetland protection/ management

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

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.3 km2.

Wetland rehabilitation work has been executed on two wetlands in the upper catchment of the Blyde River in Mpumalanga.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, structural measures, management measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: industrial activities and mining, education, access to knowledge and support services (Mineral affairs don’t inspect and allows anything.), Lack of enforcement of legislat./authority (2.1.3.2 Government has not enough authority), Mining

Secondary causes of degradation: Forestry

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Wetland rehabilitation

Location: Blyde canyon. Mpumalanga

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, improvement of ground cover, increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, control of fires, fire management

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, reduction of slope length, increase of surface roughness, increase in organic matter, water spreading, increase in soil fertility

Vegetative measure: contour
Vegetative material: G : grass
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.1
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.5

Vegetative measure: graded strips
Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass


Grass species: Eragrostis, Stiburus, Cynodon

Gradient along the rows / strips: 3.00%

Diversion ditch/ drainage
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 60

Structural measure: road
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.15
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 120

Structural measure: filling heddle

Structural measure: bunds/banks: contour
Vertical interval between structures (m): 0.15
Spacing between structures (m): 0.15

Construction material (earth): Contour muttrocking

Construction material (stone): At Heddlespruit: gabions & stonewall to spread high velocity runoff

Construction material (concrete): Strip road with 1m interval openings to allow for draining

Construction material (other): Heddle filling: pine logs, hay bales, wood chips

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Other type of management: Fire management

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

rand

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

8.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Hydro-seeding	Vegetative	Directly after landscaping/levelling
2.	Hand seeding	Vegetative	Directly after landscaping/levelling
3.	Harvesting & replanting of vlei grass	Vegetative	Directly after landscaping/levelling
4.	Scarifying forming	Vegetative	Directly after landscaping/levelling
5.	Horizontal chills	Vegetative	Directly after landscaping/levelling
6.	Gabion building	Structural	March
7.	Landscaping	Structural	March
8.	Muttrocking	Structural	April
9.	Replanting grasses	Structural	April
10.	Hydroseeding	Structural	April/May
11.	Tracers and firebreaks (to secure rehabilitation work)	Management	Autumn/winter

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	Rehabilitate wetland	ha	1.0	56000.0	56000.0	80.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					56000.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Fire protection	Vegetative	June /Once a year
2.	Gabion maintenance	Vegetative	/Ad hoc
3.	Hydroseeding	Structural	September/Once
4.	Gabion maintenance	Structural	Ad hoc/Ad hoc
5.	Road maintenance	Structural	Ad hoc/Ad hoc
6.	Tracers & firebreaks	Management	Autumn / Annual

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour: By using machinery where applicable, work can be done less expensive.
Weather conditions: High rainfall areas, delays work, can destroy half done/partially done processes.

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 depth on average: Very shallow for Watervalspruit wetland and moderatly deep for Heddlespruit wetland

Soil texture: Coarse for Watervalspruit wetland and fine for Heddlespruit wetland

Topsoil organic matter: Medium for Heddlespruit wetland and low for Watervalspruit wetland

Soil fertility is high for Watervalspruit wetland and very low for Heddlespruit wetland

Soil drainage / infiltration is good for Watervalspruit wetland and medium for Heddlespruit wetland

Soil water storage capacity is very high for Heddlespruit wetland and medium for Watervalspruit wetland

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

(State budget limitations (Parks board)).

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state
• company

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: 3.4.2.4 Mpumalanga is the first. A proposal for the Lowveld has been submitted and also D. Lindley.
Moderate increase; next year there will be another wetland in the project.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Hydroseeding How can they be sustained / enhanced? Provides quick basal cover to limit erosion
Cement strip-road How can they be sustained / enhanced? Almost no maintenance necessary
Stabilization of erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? Gabions well build, minimal maintenance

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?
Landscaping of stabilized areas	Must be done to re-shape area - no solution
Access roads	Correct choice of season for construction phase

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Business plan: Wetland rehabilitation, Blyde River Catchment

Available from where? Costs?

Mpumalanga Parks Board, P.O. Box 511, Graskop 1270,Lydenburg,South Africa