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)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

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

Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

27/4/2017

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:

The technology is established during the dry season to guard against spread of fire within a tree or garden plantation for environmental conservation

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Fire lines are established at the boundary between tree plantations to guard against wild forest fires that destroy the valuable tree species

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Firelines, also known as firebreaks, are vegetation-free spaces, established within or between tree plantations. They also often serve as roads for motorised transport used to collect forest produce such as firewood and timber. The primary aim of this technology is to prevent wild fires from attacking and destroying trees, especially during the dry seasons. In northern Uganda, the technology is based on firelines of 5-6 meters width. Planted forests that use this technology in northern Uganda have an average size of 30 m by 120 m.
The establishment of this technology requires professional advice, starting with demarcation, using ropes or strings, and tools such as hand hoes, machetes and slashers. Maintenance of fire lines involves monitoring to ensure that the spaces are free of vegetation and dead wood. Sometimes, big trees with large canopies are maintained to discourage vegetation undergrowth's and accumulation of dead materials on forest floors.
The benefits derived from this SLM technology are both short and long term, including protection of valuable tree species from being affected by the fire, reduction of impact of air pollution and promotion of ecological balance. When professionally done, the value of these products can significantly offset the cost of maintaining the firebreaks in a given forest setting, especially where such fires become common. It is important to note that fire lines alone may not be a measure to prevent fire outbreaks. There could be need for community bylaws and fire fighting facilities to supplement this effort.

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:

2011

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Supported by National Advisory Services (NAADS)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• create beneficial economic impact

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:

Cropland

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Rely on rainfed and in case of low or unreliable rainfalls the land users face water shortage

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

April-August and August-November

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• forest plantation management

• Protection against fires

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 km2 (10 ha)

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:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The technical drawing of the fireline system contains a set of firelines between the forest patches. Firelines are typically 5-6 metres wide.
The plantations (forest patches) shown in the technical drawing have a dimension of 30 X 120 metres.

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):

Ugandan Shilling

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

3400.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Identify a tree plantation	Management	Before establishment, rainy season
2.	Buying equipment	Management	Before establishment
3.	Mark the fire line	Management	Before establishment, during the rainynseason
4.	Clear the vegetation	Structural	During establishment, during the rainy season
5.	Monitoring	Management	After establishment, during the dry season

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	Persons days (fireline of 5-6 meters width)	persons	3.0	5000.0	15000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	Pieces	1.0	10000.0	10000.0	100.0
Equipment	Panga	Pieces	2.0	5000.0	10000.0	100.0
Equipment	Tape measure	Pieces	1.0	30000.0	30000.0	100.0
Equipment	Rope	roll	2.0	2500.0	5000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					70000.0

Comments:

The farmer had kept very well all the the records on the costs which helped us to calculate the costs

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Monitoring	Management	Twice a year, during the dry seasons
2.	Cutting the vegetation	Management	Once a year before the dry season

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	Labour for slashing	Persons	2.0	10000.0	20000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					20000.0

Comments:

The technology requires low cost inputs for establishing and maintenance with regard to paying for clearing vegetation. However, labour is not readily available.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour is not readily available, and is thus expensive. Hence it accounts for most of the costs required for establishment.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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:

• communal/ village
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

Comments:

No community bylaws and the land is free. If you are a member of the community or household you are supposed to use the land and, thereafter leave it for others to use in future.

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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
forest fire	moderately
land fire	very well

Comments:

Wild fires are a common threat

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 is positive with regards to maintenance costs which are rather low after establishment

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

5

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

Very few have adopted the technology because it demands a lot of labour and most people have not taken an initiative to start on their own

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

The cut vegetation is carried away to other fields or left in the place where its cut for decomposition

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Low costs of establishment and maintance
Can easily be replicated in other areas where fires are common
Cut vegetation can be taken to other areas as mulch or be left to decompose for soil fertility improvement

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Does not require high sophisticated skills which are available with the extension agent
Very good at preventing bush fires

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?
Requires money which may not be readily available with the farmer to hire labour	Work in groups and form an association between tree planters to exchange labour

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Fire line alone may not be a measure alone to prevent fire outbreaks. There is a need for the formulation and application of community bylaws on fires.	Support communities to formulate and implement bylaws on fires

7.1 Methods/ sources of information