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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Utilization of wooden pole structures placed in parallel, to reduce shallow landslides (2-3 m) in relatively small surfaces. Possibility to be combined with drainage system for better results.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Farmers in northeast parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina traditionally applied the technology to address shallow landslides, surface erosion or loss of top soil due to sheet or interrill erosion. Movements of the upper layers of the soil appears due to unfavorable properties of the soil layers (clays, pseudoclays), set on impermeable geological substrates, all under conditions of intense and long-term rainfall. During the last decades, it has been frequently applied in the area of Kladanj municipality, whose administrative services for agriculture and forestry technically specified and promoted the technology. Landslides are one of the major problems in the hilly areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, threatening particularly the agricultural lands. The technology is being applied by farmers on their own properties, but it is also part of public interventions, e.g. for the protection of roads or other infrastructure from landslides or in the context of roads recovery programs damaged by landslides. The technology aims to reduce the impact of the shallow (up to 2 - 3 m in depth) landslides of relatively small surface, by preventing further movement of the soil. So far, it is sporadically applied on around 20 – 30 locations in Kladanj Municipality, whose territory is around 355 sq. kilometers.
The technology implies pounding wooden poles in front (below) of the frontline of the landslide, along the contour, perpendicular to the slope. Land users recommend oaken pols due to their durability. The poles are usually 3.5 – 4 m long and 20 – 30 cm in diameter. One pole formation consists of two parallel lines of poles, with 1.5 to 2 m distance from line to line. The poles are positioned in a staggered way that a zigzag is formed. The poles are interconnected with wooden laths. One pole formation is usually enough to address smaller landslides, but in case of larger landslides, two formations are recommended. In the latter case, in combination with a drainage system, stone counterforts are formed in front (above) the poles' formation. See technical drawing for more details.
The primary purpose of the technology is to recover shallow and small landslides on slopping terrains. Stopping the movement of agricultural land after reparation of cracks and land gaps caused by landfall enables re-utilization of the land for either agricultural production or agro-forestry. In the municipality of Kladanj walnuts or other wooden fruit species with strong roots are often planted on recovered landslides.
After a prior assessment of the depth and surface of the landslide, an expert or a technician prepares simple project sketches. The sketches define configuration of pole formations and materials needed for the construction (oak poles, laths). The realization of the technology is not particularly demanding. Nowadays machines are used to pound poles in the ground (mainly by a dredge's spoon).
It is a relatively inexpensive technology which could be financed by even small farmers who can protect or recover their, under Bosnia and Herzegovina conditions, usually small agricultural land parcels.
Although not an integral part of the technology, modification with water drainage from the body of bigger landslide ensures additional, long lasting stability of the terrain. If performed, the drainage is carried out by depositing drainage material (perforated pipes, pebbles, tiny stone fractions) in the lower zone of drainage trenches whose configuration and depth depends on the terrain conditions. Another modification of the technology could include construction of a stone counterfort in front (above) the pole formation. These modifications are briefly presented in the technical specification of the technology, but they were not applied on the site (Borak locality) where activities, establishment and maintenance costs of the technology were observed.

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:

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Region/ State/ Province:

Tuzla canton

Further specification of location:

Kladanj municipality

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - other
• fodder crops - alfalfa
• fodder crops - other
• vegetables - other

• Apples, Plums, Pears, Berry fruits

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

Vegetables in orchards

Grazing land

Extensive grazing:

• Ranching

Intensive grazing/ fodder production:

• Improved pastures

Animal type:

• cattle - dairy
• cattle - non-dairy beef
• sheep

Is integrated crop-livestock management practiced?

No

Products and services:

• meat
• milk

Settlements, infrastructure

• Traffic: roads, railways

Comments:

The technology could be applied on various types of land use. In the northeast region of Bosnia and Herzegovina it is commonly applied on: grazing land, cropland (annual, perennial, trees and shrubs), and mixed land uses. In Kladanj municipality the technology is frequently applied for protection or reconstruction of roads damaged by landslides.

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

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

• cross-slope measure

• stopping landslides, recovery of landslides

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

• S3: Graded ditches, channels, waterways
• S6: Walls, barriers, palisades, fences

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wm: mass movements/ landslides

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

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

The sketch depicts the cross-section of the terrain, illustrating the wooden poles’ structures and the technical characteristics of the technology. Two wooden structures are being placed in parallel, at a distance of 3.5-4 m. Each structure is consisted by wooden poles positioned in a zigzag form. The poles are pounded in the ground at a depth of 3.5 m and are connected to each other with wooden laths. The distance between the poles is 1.5-2 m. The number of poles to be used, depends on the size of the area where the intervention is needed. The recommended distance between the two parallel structures is 3 – 4 m, depending on the characteristics of the terrain.
The implementation of the technology does not bring any change on the slope and could be applied on various slopes. The technology is mostly applied on agricultural or infrastructural land, i.e. on slopes not above 30%.

Author:

Muhamed Bajrić, Milenko Blesić

Date:

20/10/2018

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Drawing 1 shows the recommended dimensions of the poles.Drawing 2 illustrates the technical characteristics of the laths (2) which connect the poles. Drawing 3 shows the top view of the overall structure with the required dimensions.

Author:

Milenko Blesić, Muhamed Bajrić

Date:

20/10/2018

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Modification (improvement) of the technology with a drainage system. The modification (drainage) was not applied on the site where the technology was observed.

Author:

Muhamed Bajrić

Date:

10/11/2018

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Modification (improvement) of the technology by construction of the stone counterforts just above the line of poles. The modification (stone counterforts) was not applied on the site where the technology was observed.

Author:

Muhamed Bajrić

Date:

10/11/2018

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

Establishment activities are presented in accordance withe the activities on one specific (Borak) locality. The surface of landslide on this locality was around 0,35 ha, and after its stopping with the formation of wooden poles, its full recovery was done by leveling of the terrain and planting of 300 walnut seedlings (further walnut orchard). The list of final recovery activities could be different on other localities and it depends of landowners' intentions and financial possibilities.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

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

So far, introduction of the technology in Kladanj municipality is supported from the municipality's budget (contribution in purchase of materials and hiring of heavy machinery).

Comments:

The presented activities and costs are related to the landslide (0,35 ha) on Borak (Kladanj municipality) locality. On this particular site, the technology is applied without drainage system and stone counterforts next to wooden pole lines. Though they are not linearly connected, costs on other sites may be smaller or higher, depending on the size of landslides and concrete conditions on the ground.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

After establishment, the technology does not need any particular maintenance activities.

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

Due to the fact that after establishment the technology does not need any major maintenance activities, there are not any significant costs for maintenance. The maintenance is limited to annual checking of joints between lathes and poles and necessary minor interventions (replacement of possibly damaged lathes, re-connection of laths).

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Prices of the construction materials (poles, laths).
Hiring costs of heavy machinery (dredge).

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?

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, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Hydrological disasters

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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

According to information from Kladanj municipality administration, on the municipality territory there are around 30 localities with the applied technology.

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

Most of the interventions on private properties were partly supported by specific municipal/cantonal programs for recovery of lands, damaged by heavy rains, flash floods and landslides. All interventions on infrastructure (mainly roads) were fully supported by municipal/cantonal budgets.

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

other (specify):

Improvemnts of the technology effects and durability

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

The original technology (wooden poles barriers) has been recently modified by parallel installment of drainage of landslide, and most recently by stone enforcement just above the line of wooden poles.

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