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)

Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA) - Yemen

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:

Building terraces in steep areas for the purpose of reducing the slope, water harvesting and soil moisture conservation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Cutting and collecting stones for the construction of terraces on steep slopes of the mountains, structural measure to reduce the length and angle of the slope and the speed of runoff. This makes it easier to harvest water and reserving deposits. A wall terraces is built of stones where the height of a wall should be increased height of 1.8 - 3 m, a width of 1.5 - 4.3 m and the length from 8 - 14 m to keep the accumulated deposits. The cutting stones are brought from distant places for the purpose of building the walls. These terraces are similar to mountain terraces but the top soil surface can be covered with stones to protect it from heavy rain storms and prevent sheet erosion that results from raindrops hitting the bare top soil surface. The stone layer, also prevents evaporation and maintains soil moisture. The stones are arranged in a layer of about 0.25 – 0.7 m thickness over the entire surface of the soil except where to put the coffee trees with an average diameter of 1 m. It is difficult to use equipment in the process of building the terraces due to severe slopes. Therefore it is a labor intensive process of manually building terraces. Due to the slow process of construction it requires a lot of time. However, building terraces on steep slopes can lead to increased erosion in the absence of well maintaining outlets that allow draining the excess water from one terrace to another, avoiding breaking of terraces' walls. In any case, terraces need regular maintenance to ensure the sustainability of this technology. The landscape of the region is mountainous, bench terraces which are used for crop production exist in slopes exceeding 60%. The texture of the soil is silty loam and the depth of the terraces is moderate to deep. Due to small holdings and steepness of the terraces, the local implements are used for land preparation. The climate in the region is arid to semi-arid and annual precipitation ranges between 200 and 450 mm. The major crop in this area is coffee, which is cultivated because of its high economic value on the market.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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:

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

It is very ancient technology but was rehabilitated in 2011 by the users of the land by getting a fund from the Social Fund for Development

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Water erosion in the form of Gullies, large stones loss (landslides) due to the sever steepness in addition to low soil moisture.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil erosion

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Cropland: Ct: Tree and shrub cropping

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

Comments:

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Cropland: Ct: Tree and shrub cropping

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: post-flooding

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure
• water harvesting
• water diversion and drainage

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (Severe rainstorm), other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify (Severe slopes and fall of large rock masses), land tenure (Fragmentation of holdings), Immigration and search for other income sources

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (For domestic use due to lack of gas as a fuel source), poverty / wealth (Poverty), education, access to knowledge and support services

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 currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Remove the spate deposits and filing the gullies with soil, then the top soil surface has to be leveled	Before the rain season
2.	Collecting and transporting stones	Before the rain season
3.	Building the walls of the terraces	Before the rain season
4.	Cover the top soil surface of the earth with stones	Before the rain season

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Building terraces	ha	1.0	42430.0	42430.0	11.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					42530.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					42530.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 7 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Repair walls that were destroyed	annually after the rain season
2.	Inverse the soil covered with stones

4.6 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	Repair walls that were destroyed	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Labour	Inverse the soil covered with stones	ha	1.0	186.0	186.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					236.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					236.0

Comments:

It is important to note that the implemented works to achieved is about 6 hectare, the project which support money against work, contributed with 231720.54$ to cover most of works such as collecting and transfer stones, and constructing the wall of terraces at 16639.16 m, and covering soil surface with stones for an area estimated of 53560.08 m2. While the land users performed cleaning waste of constructions, filling the target area with soil and leveling it. The total cost of constructing per hectare for building walls terraces at 3273.2 m long and 1.8-3 m height and covering soil surface with stones for an area of 8926.68 m2, and 0.25-0.7 m thick, this cost including other works which already have discussion before.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

1- Collecting and transporting stones and arable soil manually as a result of the bad road accessibility.
2- Severe steep slopes

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1400 m a.s.l.

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 depth on average: 150 cm

Soil texture: Flood deposits

Topsoil organic matter: Soil covered with stones except where the tree plantation

Soil fertility is low

Soil drainage / infiltration is medium - good

Soil water storage capacity is medium - high

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Men have more experience and more power for work than the women.

Women carried out the weeding in the field in addition to food preparation at home.

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 3% - 4%

10% of the land users are average wealthy and own 60% of the land.
90% of the land users are poor and own 40% of the land.

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:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Other ecological impacts

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

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

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

• > 50%

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

120 households covering 100 percent of the stated area

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

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

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

The technology is one of the old folk traditions, but due to the deterioration of the living conditions of families and high maintenance costs the terraces left abandoned and when support is available by the government to help farmers rehabilitate and terraces rundown Reclamation. As for the adoption of the technique is essentially the traditional techniques of farmers and they have knowledge of their importance, but in the event of major damage farmers are unable to repair where it needs to expensive costs. Consequently, farmers have to leave and search for another source of income through internal migration. Such as these damages do not happen like this only in the event of a heavy rainstorms and it is very rare, which leads to washed and destroyed many of the terraces. Consequently, the farmer cannot repair the damage by himself. As previously stated it was targeting a group of land users who do not applied to the project to ask for help.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
This ancient technology is original and appropriate to the local situation How can they be sustained / enhanced? Raise awareness among land users of the importance of maintaining the technology.
The sustainable cropping of the soil terraces on steep slopes prevent soil loss and degradation How can they be sustained / enhanced? Continue maintenance and appropriate land management
Increase soil moisture How can they be sustained / enhanced? Periodic maintenance
Reducing runoff and increasing water harvesting How can they be sustained / enhanced? Periodic maintenance
Improve soil fertility How can they be sustained / enhanced? Continue to add organic matter to increase soil fertility and conservation

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The high cost of rehabilitation and maintenance of the terraces by an individual user	Strengthening cooperation and assistance in the rehabilitation and maintenance collectively by land users
High runoff may lead to the erosion of terraces	Planting the upper part of higher slopes with trees or water breakers (controls) for water runoff to reduce the flow velocity, as well as periodic maintenance of watercourses and water outlets in the terraces
Cover the surface of the soil with stones may lead to soil compaction	To avoid compaction due to covering soil with stones reduce the thickness of this layer

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Technical study for construction and reclamation for terraces in some villages, Bani Ismail's uzlah, Manakhah district.2- Mid-monthly reports for implanting terraces construction in Bani Ismail's uzlah, Manakhah district.3- General Census of Population, Housing and Establishment (Census, 2004).4- Guide of agricultural climate in Yemen (Al Khorasani, 2005).

Available from where? Costs?

Social Fund for Development, Sana'a 976714496722- Social Fund for Development, Sana'a 97671449672 3-Central Bureau of Statistics4-Agricultural Research and Extension Authority, AREA