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)

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:

Bamboo is planted for fencing agricultural land, protecting the land from strong winds and reducing the demand of wood from the forest. Bamboo shoots are also a source of nourishment and income generation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

After experiencing serious impacts from the typhoon Ketsana in 2010, which included the loss of agricultural produce, the farmers needed to examine means of protecting their Yang Bong tree plantation from strong wind. One of the methods is to plant bamboo to act as fencing which at the same time protects the crops from strong winds. Initially farmers observed that natural bamboo grows in plentiful supplies along the stream banks and islands within the watercourses. Therefore, this stimulated their interest and so to start off with they conducted a trial with two tuffs. They noticed that the bamboo grows quite quickly and that the stems are a reasonably good protection against strong winds. The farmers thus decided to extend the area under cultivation and plant it around the edge of their Yang Bong tree plantation, which is approximately 1 hectare. In fact, farmers had usually harvested considerable amounts of bamboo from the surrounding natural forests for the construction of fencing around their agriculture land. This practice had actually placed ever increasing pressure on these natural forests, is quite time consuming and requires considerable labour power in order to transport it over long distances.
Normally, bamboo fences need to be constructed and maintained annually in the first year of bamboo plantation. Moreover, there is also the issue of wildlife and livestock damaging the plantation area, which results in the loss of produce (approximately 70- 80% of the damaged area).
The bamboo should be planted in holes with a diameter and a depth of 20 cm with a gap of 2 m between each hole. The seedlings are selected from one to two year old stems. The individual rhizomes should be removed from parent plant and then the roots trimmed. The bamboo culms should not be too long, normally about 50-80 cm, about the length of an average human arm. Replanting should take place on the same day and at the very latest not more than two days after the rhizomes have been collected from the parent plant. May and June are the most appropriate months for planting as this is the start of the wet season. Bamboo should flourish during this period and thus it reduces the likelihood that the bamboo seedlings will wither. Maintenance of the plants may require watering, especially during the dry season, which should be done once every five to seven days until the commencement of the rainy season. Watering may not be necessary once the bamboo plants have been able to survive for two years, but they should be weeded at least twice per year.
Planting bamboo provides environmental, economic and social benefits. It helps to increase soil nutrients, porosity, and moisture and lower the temperature of the immediate surroundings. Bamboo shoots are a source of food and bamboo culms can be used for many purposes, such as the manufacture of handicrafts. Dried out bamboo can be sold for 40.000 Kip/kg and, on average, each farmer is able to sell up to 40kg per year. It is possible to harvest bamboo shoots three years after the rhizomes have been planted. Households have learnt from these positive experiences and began to plant bamboo around their rice paddies and home gardens to prevent livestock from damaging their crops and gain additional benefits.

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:

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Region/ State/ Province:

Salavan province

Further specification of location:

Samouy

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

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

• 0.1-1 km2

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2009

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 land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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

Cropland

• Tree and shrub cropping

• Yangbong tree (Nothaphoebe umbelliflora)

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Forest/ woodlands

• Tree plantation, afforestation

Type of tree:

• Bamboo bamboo

Products and services:

• Nature conservation/ protection
• Protection against natural hazards

Comments:

Main crops (cash and food crops): Yangbong tree plantation

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

• windbreak/ shelterbelt
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

vegetative measures

• V1: Tree and shrub cover

structural measures

• S6: Walls, barriers, palisades, fences

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by wind

• Eo: offsite degradation effects

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• adapt to land degradation

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 area

other/ national currency (specify):

LAK

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

8000.0

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Bamboo seedlings are an important factor affecting the costs. Family members go to collect the bamboo seedlings from the forest.

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?

No

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)

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

6.4 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):

2 households

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

• 11-50%

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

other (specify):

Different way of bamboo planting

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