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

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

Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) - China

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 (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Controlling a small watershed comprehensively with structural, vegetative, management, and agronomic measures based on harvesting area of ground water and underground water, to improve the production and conservation of land.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Over several decades of SWC practices, a successful experience of SWC has been concluded, that is Small Watershed Comprehensive Development. The main aim is regarded a small watershed as a control unit for soil and water conservation. The approach is to control soil and water loss comprehensively by structural measure combining vegetative, agronomic and management measures. Specifically:
1. Agronomic method/measure: contour cultivation, area closure, and green manure
2. Vegetative method/measure: plant trees, grass, grass strip, windbreaks and reforestation
3. Structural method/measures: terrace, ands, small reservoir, and dams
4. Land use management/measure: grazing, area closure, and land use change

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:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

From 1950's, China began to work on integrated control of watershed based on the long term experiences of the mass's practices in SWC.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies

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):

• Agroforestry

Comments:

Main crops (cash and food crops): Winter wheat - rice, or cole - rice.

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): In the mountainous area, land users always open up wasteland along slopes to improve/increase the productivity, but these lands tend to increase in the soil loss. In my opinion, in these areas land users should plant trees to develop economy, increase the annual productivity to improve the economy.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): The land users become to realize the importance of maintaining ecological balance, so many of them are now acting to plant trees and stopping overgrazing in the areas.

Grazingland comments: More recently, SWC areas are closed, calling for stall feeding.

Problems / comments regarding forest use: Developing more fruit trees and economic woodland.

Type of grazing system comments: More recently, SWC areas are closed, calling for stall feeding.

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply also mixed rainfed - irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: early planting, zero tillage / no-till, minimum tillage, contour tillage

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), poverty / wealth (Lack of captial)

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 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	plant fence beside terrace	1965
2.	terrace	1968
3.	small reservior	1959

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 84 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	conserving soil and planting crops	seeding season / annual
2.	improve fertilizer	winter, spring /
3.	increase fertilizer	seeding season /
4.	Cutting fence, planting	fall /annual
5.	terrace	leisure/annual
6.	small reservior	winter/annual

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

Comments:

It is estimated from the management in local area.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Much money is needed to build terraces if hill slope is steeper.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms also valley floors and footslopes

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.

Soil fertility; medium

Soil drainage / infiltration: good

Soil water storage capacity: low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2

Annual population growth: < 0.5%

80% of the land users are rich and own 100% of the land (Lease bared land).

Off-farm income specification: It is much different between whose who have SWC practice and not involved in the SWC. Those who take part in the SWC implementation can get much benefits than whose who not.

Level of mechanization: animal traction: Land in the mountain areas are very small, tilled using animal labor, some are tilled by tractor.

Level of mechanization: mechanized/motorized: If area of land is large enough for tractor.

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

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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

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

138 Households

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

• 11-50%

Comments:

90% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

80 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

30% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

58 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: More and more peasants and local government become to understand the advantages. They would use these technologies. Meanwhile they also want to get help from the government.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information