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

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

1.4 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 (documented using WOCAT)

Combating erosion, recovery and enhancement of degraded land … [Burkina Faso]

The approach applied in this project is an integrated and multi-stakeholder approach in the South West of Burkina Faso, based on watershed management and sustainable land management with a strong emphasis on local participation. It carries out physical and biological measures against erosion, adaptation to climate change and various activities …

• Compiler: Rebecka Ridder
• 09/27/2016 5:17 p.m.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Combining different measures such as stone rows, dikes and dams to stabilize and restore the soil and increase water infiltration. Trees alongside these structures allow an enhancement of these structural measures.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The main objective is the recovery of 20,000 hectares of degraded land by the project 'Combating erosion, recovery and enhancement of degraded land and climate change adaptation (EKF)' until 2019. This should be achieved through a combination of structural measures such as stone rows, and biological measures such as revegetation and agroforestry.
The EKF project carries out four types of land improvement techniques:

Contour stone rows, permeable rock dams, permeable rock dikes as well as the treatment of gully erosion. In order to strengthen their performance, these structures are vegetated with grasses (Andropogon gayanus, Cymbopogon sp, Vetiveria zizanioides) or tree species (Jatropha curcas, Acacia nilotica, Agave sisalana).
Working groups are created for the construction and maintenance.
The described measures help to protect the land against erosion caused by runoff, by slowing down runoff and spreading it over the land. In this way the structures increase water infiltration and not only help to act against erosion caused by runoff (thereby preventing the loss of rainwater), but also increase sedimentation and act as a filter by keeping waterborne particles on the land. In areas of erratic rainfall, these measures help to conserve soil moisture.

Vegetation helps to stabilize the structures and is furthermore an effective measure to protect the land against water and wind erosion. The right grass or tree species must be chosen to ensure the longevity of the structures. Preferences and needs of land users are taken into account as trees and grasses provide products and byproducts (bearing economic benefits), but also provide fodder for livestock and increase overall biodiversity.

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:

Burkina Faso

Region/ State/ Province:

South West

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• 100-1,000 km2

Comments:

The project's intervention is focused on six pilot municipalities in the region.
The goal is to reach 200 km until 2019 (end of project).

Map

×

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.):

Stone rows are part of a local knowledge that has been known and implemented in Burkina for generations.
The combination of technologies and certain aspects are based on the project's interventions.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-silvopastoralism

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• fodder crops - grasses

• Andropogon gayanus, Cymbopogon sp, Vetiveria zizanioides

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Grazing land

Extensive grazing:

• Semi-nomadic pastoralism

Forest/ woodlands

Type of tree:

• Acacia nilotica

• Jatropha curcas and Agave sisalana

Products and services:

• Fuelwood

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

vegetative measures

• V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

structural measures

• S2: Bunds, banks

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
• Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
• Wo: offsite degradation effects

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil
• Ed: deflation and deposition
• Eo: offsite degradation effects

physical soil deterioration

• Pk: slaking and crusting

biological degradation

• Bh: loss of habitats
• Bs: quality and species composition/ diversity decline
• Bl: loss of soil life

water degradation

• Ha: aridification
• Hg: change in groundwater/aquifer level

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

F CFA

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

584.5

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

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

Financed by the project

Comments:

Costs are calculated for the permeable rock dams

These costs do not include the following:
- Salaries and operating costs of the project team;
- Supplies (notebooks and pens) for the working groups;
- Pharmaceutical supplies for the working groups;
- The contract grant for the implementation and monitoring of the activities of vegetation;
- The operating costs of the maintenance;
- The training of farmers on erosion control techniaues

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

Most are leached tropical ferruginous soils on sandy material and sandy clay. They are acidic (4.4 <pH <5.9), the nitrogen content is between 0.044 and 0.088%.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used 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:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

Comments:

The approach began in 2013, only short term benefits exist.

It is clear that the costs of implementation are comparatively high (equipment of working groups, topographic surveys, labour costs, transportation costs).
So far, there has not been maintenance costs. The anti erosion measures are regularly maintained, but this has involved no costs.
A study of financial profitability shows that it takes about five (5) seasons in order to evaluate the investments.

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Good practices in water and soil conservation. A contribution to adaptation and farmers' resilience towards climate change in the Sahel. 2012

URL:

https://www.giz.de/fachexpertise/downloads/giz2012-en-good-practices-in-soil-and-water-conservation.pdf.