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)

Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM I)

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

UNDP/GEF Project Uzbekistan (UNDP/GEF Uzbekistan) - Uzbekistan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

02/09/2011

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:

Improvement of a livestock grazing scheme ensuring the restoration of pasture vegetation and observance of appropriate pasture loading.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

As a result of the existing regulations in the pasture-based livestock production sector of Uzbekistan, pasture lands are provided for perpetual use to shirkat farms (large agricultural cooperative) or for long-term use to large farming enterprises. The population is using shirkat pastures for the grazing of private livestock, whose population sometimes exceeds shirkat livestock numbers. Pastures are used without a management plan. Animals are grazing all year round on the same pastures leading to degradation. Trampling occurs on the paths leading the pastures. The proposed technology was developed and introduced within the framework of the UNDP/GEF and Government of Uzbekistan project “Achieving ecosystem stability on degraded lands in Karakalpakstan and Kyzylkum desert” in 2007-2009. Based on traditional methods and approaches to pasture use, this technology enables pasture usage and revenue generation for the local communities without negative impacts on the natural resources (in the frame of CACILM).

The purpose of this technology is to prevent further pasture degradation, loss of biodiversity and to create prerequisites for regeneration of vegetation and pasture improvement.

National experts of the project, based on consultations with local community, developed the sustainable pasture use plan. For that purpose, a pasture assessment was performed for each stakeholder (flocks of the shirkat, farming enterprises and dekhkan households). The pasture assessment determined the type, forage value and pasture capacity, followed by the calculation of the forage balance (ratio of required to available pasture forage). A pasture users’ commission is monitoring pasture vegetation and productivity in order to fine-tune the plan. Based on that, livestock population is corrected each season to ensure safe pasture loading and prevent overgrazing.
Two watering wells were assigned to an 800 head-strong sheep flock. The 7859 hectare area (based on 5 km usage radius) around each well was split diametrically in two sectors (I and II), and each sector was split in turn into 3 rotation areas of 1308 hectares each, to be grazed sequentially. Based on the current pasture productivity of 1,65 centners/ha, each area can be used for 30 days, i.e. the first sector of the pasture provides 90 days, the entire spring period, of forage for 800 head of sheep. In summer, the flock is driven into sector 2, and in the autumn to the second watering well, where rotation-based grazing is also organized on two sectors split into rotation areas for sequential grazing of sheep: sector one during the autumn and sector two during the winter. Rotation-based grazing ensures that separate pasture sectors are put to fallow in a planned manner, giving the plants an opportunity to grow and restore their vitality.

This technology is proposed for the desert zone with relatively homogeneous vegetation and low productivity. Currently, the population of the desert zone (Kyzyl Ravat village) is mainly engaged in livestock production which is the main source of income.

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.):

During the Soviet era, a scheme of pasture sequencing and rotation was in place, yet independence of Uzbekistan was followed by changes in the land usage legal relations of the pasture-based livestock production sector. Based on traditional methods and approaches of pasture use, this technology was developed and introduced within the framework of the UNDP/GEF and Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan project “Achieving ecosystem stability on degraded lands of Karakalpakstan and Kyzylkum desert” in 2008-2011.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The vulnerability of desert ecosystems caused by natural and climate factors and the unsustainable use of pastures that led to a disruption of the natural balance and environmental damage.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Low productivity of desert pastures and an inadequate quantity of watering places for livestock watering.
Livestock is grazing on crop residues

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

Grazing land: Extensive grazing land

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 110, Longest growing period from month to month: from March to June - natural pasture veg

Livestock density (if relevant):

10-25 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• pastoralism and grazing land management

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 157 m2.
The Technology was applied to pastures of a shirkat, a large agricultural cooperative of Kyzyl Ravat village. Due to unsystematic grazing, the pastures are affected by medium and high degradation rates, especially near villages and around watering wells

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing (Unsystematic grazing of livestock, lack of management and control), droughts (Low rate of precipitation, scant natural vegetation canopy), population pressure (Excess in the pasture loading norms), education, access to knowledge and support services (Lack of knowledge of sustainable grazing (seasonal and annual pasture rotation) among the population), governance / institutional (An absence of legislation regarding pastures or other regulations issued by the government to enforce the observance of pasture loading norms and sustainable pasture use (rotation, grazing schemes, etc)

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

Around the water wells, where the sheep graze, the pasture is divided in two sectors. The first sector is used during spring, and the second one during summer. Each sector is divided into three rotation areas (segments) which are grazed sequentially. In the autumn the flock is driven to the second water well, where the pasture is also split in two sectors that are used in a rotation, in autumn and winter
Location: Village of Kyzyl Ravat. Romitan district, Bukhara oblast
Date: 10-10-2011

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

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, water harvesting / increase water supply, promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)
Change of land use practices / intensity level: from unsystematic grazing to rotation based grazing
Layout change according to natural and human environment: Scheme of grazing around watering wells

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Uzbek sum

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

1630.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Restoration of 1 water well	Management	Spring, 2010
2.	Development of a grazing plan (pasture survey, etc.)	Management	March-May

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		1.0	437.5	437.5	100.0
Equipment	machine use		1.0	1400.0	1400.0
Equipment	development of grazing plan		1.0	1600.0	1600.0
Construction material	cement		1.0	12.5	12.5	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					3450.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 10 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Lifting water from the well with a pump for watering of a 800 head – strong flock	Management	Year round
2.	Grazing of a 800 heads strong flock based on the scheme developed	Management	Year round
3.	Monitoring (updating productivity) and correction of the pasture use plan, lobbying pasture users’ interests – responsibility of the pasture users commission	Management	Seasonally (spring, winter, summer autumn)

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		1.0	6625.77	6625.77	100.0
Equipment	machine use		1.0	590.43	590.43	100.0
Equipment	Development of grazing plan		1.0	2000.0	2000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					9216.2

Comments:

The cost of the technology’s development and the running costs were calculated for one water well and a 800-head strong flock, which, according to the developed pasture rotation system, can use pastures within 5 km radius around the well, assuming the current rates of pasture productivity.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The majority of incurred cost is from the restoration of wells (repair and procurement of pumps to lift water from the wells) and the expertise required to develop pasture rotation scheme and train the local community in effective pasture use.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

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:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 1% - 2%

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:

• leased

Comments:

Farmers own the land based on a long-term (50 years) lease without the right of sale or inheritance. Public land is provided for permanent ownership to shirkats (large agricultural cooperatives), which is then leased to shirkat members.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

Comments:

The technology is adaptable to many climate change scenarios, considering its basis includes management activities that support the possibile rehabilitation of the desert pasture’s natural vegetation.

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:

Assuming that the variable costs per sheep are around 8 USD, the farm’s income may reach up to USD 24, i.e. economic feasibility of rehabilitation of wells is justified.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• more than 50%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
120 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
The technology was initiated by the project and was positively received by the local residents, because it aims to address issues related to the balance of animal forage in conditions of limited natural resources.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Plants’ palatability improves, plants are less affected by trampling by animals
Helps increasing animal weight and milk yield
Animals are satiated within a shorter walking distance, decreasing energy consumption for both animals and shepherds

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology promotes a balance between the needs of the local livestock producer community and the pastures’ requirement for self-restoration
The technology is based on the local livestock producers’ experience and uses local labor resources: shepherds skilled in the technique of rotation-based grazing of sheep flocks, as well as the existing watering well infrastructure.
There’s no need for large investments to introduce the technology
The technology can easily be adapted with support of local administrations

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?
It is believed that the rehabilitation of watering wells without external support is too expensive for local communities.	Estimating economic benefit may provide visibility of efficiency of rehabilitation of the wells in case of appropriate management
Lack of the knowledge needed to develop a pasture rotation scheme	Carrying out field training may have significant benefits in the building of knowledge

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Required initial investments for the rehabilitation of watering wells, which pasture users do not have in sufficient quantity	Micro-financing may be required.
An insufficient level of awareness and knowledge of the root causes of the problems and an insufficient level of ecological education in the population	Pasture users’ capacity level building

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Информационный Бюллетень 2. Проект «Достижение стабильности экосистем на деградированных землях в Каракалпакстане и пустыне Кызылкум», Ташкент 2010.

Available from where? Costs?

www.undp.uz

Title, author, year, ISBN:

План управления животноводством и пастбищами проектной территории «Кызыл Рават», С.Юсупов, А.Раббимов, Ташкент 2010.

Available from where? Costs?

www.undp.uz

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Руководство «Экономическая оценка мероприятий по устойчивому животноводству и борьбе с деградацией земель в пустынных регионах Узбекистана», Х. Норов, С. Юсупов, Ташкент 2011.

Available from where? Costs?

www.undp.uz