This is an outdated, inactive version of this case. Go to the current version.
Technologies
Inactive

Couloirs de passage [Niger]

technologies_1353 - Niger

Completeness: 78%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
GREAD (GREAD) - Niger

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The ‘couloirs de passage’ are formally defined passageways which channel the movements of livestock herds in the agro-pastoral zones of Niger, by linking pastures, water points and coralling areas, be it within village areas (internal couloirs) or on open land (external couloirs).

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The main goal of the couloirs is the prevention of conflict between agriculturalists and pastoralists regarding the use of limited land and water resources. These conflicts are often provoked by cattle entering cropping areas. The establishment of demarcated passageways allows the livestock to access water points and pastures without causing damage to cropland. The corridors are regulated through the ‘code rural’ – a national law defining the land use rights of the pastoralists. Demarcation of couloirs is based on a consensual decision of all concerned interest groups. Internal couloirs are negotiated in a general on-site assembly involving all stakeholders (farmers, breeders, women’s groups, local authorities). For the demarcation of external couloirs the involvement of transhumance herders and neighboring villages is indispensable. Once an agreement on the course of the couloir is achieved, demarcation with stones and/or boundary planting with selected tree species is carried out by the local land users - with financial and technical assistance of the government or NGOs. Common species involve: Euphorbia balsamifera, Acacia spp. (A. nilotica; A. senegal); and Faidherbia albida. Management committees at the community level draw up regulations for the management of the couloirs (maintenance and protection of vegetation). Protection of plants is achieved through dead branches (at the initial stage), daily control by forest guards, and information campaigns. The technology is a sustainable solution to the described conflicts. As a valuable by-product the trees along the demarcation lines provide of wood and non-woody by-products.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Niger

Region/ State/ Province:

Tillabéri North

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through projects/ external interventions

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • create beneficial social impact

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

Mixed (crops/ grazing/ trees), incl. agroforestry

Mixed (crops/ grazing/ trees), incl. agroforestry

  • Agro-pastoralism
Comments:

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil erosion by water, soil erosion by wind and biological degradation; Primary problem addressed is conflicts between livestock and agriculture producers around natural resources

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Yes

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Mixed: Ms: Silvo-pastoralism

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

Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

3.3 Further information about land use

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

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • pastoralism and grazing land management

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

vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V1: Tree and shrub cover
management measures

management measures

  • M3: Layout according to natural and human environment
Comments:

Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
soil erosion by wind

soil erosion by wind

  • Et: loss of topsoil
biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Et: loss of topsoil, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high (facilitator of code rural)

Technical knowledge required for land users: low (pastors and workers)

Main technical functions: increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Trees/ shrubs species: Euphorbia balsamifera, Acacia spp. (A. nilotica; A. senegal) and Faidherbia albida

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:
  • US Dollars
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

1.5

4.4 Establishment activities

Activity Type of measure Timing
1. Identification of an existing couloir or definition of a new passageway by means of a general assembly Vegetative
2. Alignment of corridor boundaries e.g. by establishing stone lines. Internal couloirs are 10 to 50 m wide, whereas external couloirs exceed a width of 50 m Vegetative
3. Digging 40 cm deep pits; tree planting along boundaries (with a spacing of 1-3 meters, depending on the species selected and the secondary objective) Vegetative

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 Identification of an existing couloir or definition of a new passageway persons/day 25.0 1.5 37.5 5.0
Plant material Tree planting along boundaries (seedlings) pieces 670.0 2.05 1373.5 5.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 1411.0
If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Government or NGO's

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Type of measure Timing/ frequency
1. Protection of trees (through dead branches, guards, information campaigns) Vegetative
2. Replanting tree seedlings to fill gaps (annually, beginning of rainy season) Vegetative

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 Protection of trees persons/day 4.0 1.5 6.0 100.0
Plant material Replanting tree seedlings pieces 67.0 2.0448 137.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 143.0
Comments:

Costs for seedlings were calculated for a couloir length of 1 km and a spacing of 3 m between plants (one tree line on each side). Seedling production is financed by projects, only transport costs are met by land users.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The costs of the planning meeting (general assembly) and the stones for delimitation were not taken into account. Daily salary for field work is US$ 1.5.

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
  • semi-arid

Thermal climate class: tropics

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • low (<1%)
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 fertility is medium

Soil drainage / infiltration is good but low in case of soil crusting

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:
  • subsistence (self-supply)
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Individuals or groups:
  • groups/ community
Level of mechanization:
  • animal traction
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha

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

Land ownership:
  • individual, titled
Land use rights:
  • communal (organized)
  • individual

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased

fodder production

decreased
increased

fodder quality

decreased
increased

animal production

decreased
increased
Income and costs

farm income

decreased
increased

Socio-cultural impacts

cultural opportunities

reduced
improved

community institutions

weakened
strengthened
Comments/ specify:

Through mutual aid in technology implementation

national institutions

weakened
strengthened
Comments/ specify:

Code rural secretariat

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved

Ecological impacts

Soil

soil cover

reduced
improved

soil loss

increased
decreased

nutrient cycling/ recharge

decreased
increased
Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased

animal diversity

decreased
increased
Climate and disaster risk reduction

fire risk

increased
decreased

wind velocity

increased
decreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

wind transported sediments

increased
reduced

damage on neighbours' fields

increased
reduced

damage on public/ private infrastructure

increased
reduced

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Comments:

Technology is sensitive to climatic extremes (such as droughts and floods)

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

Comments:

Peace between communities is the key result on short term and on long term. Ecological and economic benefits are linked to the plantation of trees and the improved management of natural resources

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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:

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: for prevention of conflicts and land degradation

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology provides a sustainable solution to conflicts between agriculturalists and pastoralists

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?
Implementation constraints: plant production is very expensive and reaching a consensus on the transformation of private cropland to communal passageways is very difficult definition of the couloirs as public infrastructure and enhancement of organizational capacities of the local population through training and information sessions
Maintenance constraints: maintenance can only be realized by adjacent land owners, as the community organizations are weak reinforce the institutional capacities of livestock owners and farmers to manage the couloirs
In the pastoral zone the couloirs lead to conflicts between pastoralists and private ranches establish community-based land tenure commissions and introduce new laws on land property in the pastoral zone

7. References and links

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Projet LUCOP/Tillabéry. 2004. Referential des measures techniques de recuperation, de protection et d’exploitation durable des terres, 2nd edition, 2004, 51 pp

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Hiernaux P., E. Tielkes, E. Schlecht. 2001. Elevage et gestion des parcours au Sahel, Workshop proceedings organised by Eric Tielkes et Abdoulaye Soumaila, Verlag Ulrich E. Grauer, Beuren, Stuttgart, Germany, 2001

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Soumaila A.S. 2003. Base de données du code rural

URL:

www.case.ibimet.cnr.it/den/Documents/code_rural/start.html

Links and modules

Expand all Collapse all

Modules