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)

CESVI (CESVI) - Tajikistan

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The construction of linear gravel bed ditches lined with local tree species, at angles across a hill slope to channel the surface water.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A series of 80m long ditches are constructed at angles of approximately 30 degrees, across a hill slope at the base of the watershed. This land is prone to waterlogging, therefore several ditches approximately 0.5m deep, with a gravel bed to prevent erosion, drain the excess surface water away to the main tributary of the watershed. The edge of the ditches are further lined with fast growing tree species such as willow and poplar for stabilisation and afforestation purposes.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of the ditches is two fold, firstly to channel the surface water to prevent waterlogging that had previously led to landslides and small mud flows. Secondly, to enable cultivation on land that was previously unusable.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The technology is very simple and cost effective. Initially there needs to be an assessment of the amount of surface water that runs over the slope, this will determine the number of ditches required. The ditches are marked out, running at approximately 30 degrees perpendicular to the slope. The ditches are dug to a depth of 0.5m (or deeper) and filled with a base layer of stone to prevent the bed of the ditch from being eroded. Once the ditch is established, preferably in the spring time, fast growing and naturally available cuttings from trees such as poplars and willows are planted alongside the edge of the ditch at 0.2m intervals. These will stabilise the ditch bank and as the trees become established some thinning out will be required due to their close proximity to each other.

Natural / human environment: The area used is a hillside slope, subject to substantial amounts of surface water run off due to its location at the base of the watershed. The region suffers from a lack of accessible irrigation water, especially during the hot summer months. This technology allows land to be brought into cultivation that has natural access to water and is able to sustain vegetation during the dry months.

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:

• 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

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Due to a lack of drainage in the existing soil, surface flow collects and becomes concentrated leading to top soil washing and gulleying. Animal paths across the slope exacerbate the erosion process.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): In Soviet times the land was not used due to waterlogging, but the land had good potential to plant trees and produce an income.

Selective felling of (semi-) natural forests: Yes

Problems / comments regarding forest use: Collection of fruit; apple, pear and other trees that can be used for construction purposes. These can be cut after 15yrs to provide income.

Forest products and services: timber, fuelwood, fruits and nuts

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?

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

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure
• water diversion and drainage

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wm: mass movements / landslides

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing (The land is used for grazing and livestock migration.), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (Heavy rainfall events add to the degradation process.), other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify (Topological situation at the base of the watershed means it is susceptible to mud flows and other natural disasters)

Secondary causes of degradation: inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (access to animal water points and pastures.)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Tajik Somoni

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

4.5

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Tree planting	Spring
2.	Construction of the drainage ditches	spring

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	Planting trees	Persons/day	3.0	25.0	75.0	100.0
Labour	Building drainage ditches	Persons/day	3.0	25.0	75.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	Pieces	1.0	20.0	20.0	100.0
Plant material	Tree seedlings	pieces	800.0	1.0	800.0	100.0
Construction material	Stone	cub m	3.0	100.0	300.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1270.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					282.22

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	tree maintenance	spring
2.	clearance of ditches	annual

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	Tree maintenance	Persons/day	2.0	25.0	50.0	100.0
Labour	Clearing ditches	Persons/day	1.0	25.0	25.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					75.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					16.67

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Shovel

The costs are calculated for an 80m trench based on 2010 prices in rural Tajikistan.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The cost of an 80m ditch is mainly determined by labour and seedlings. Labour can be provided by the land owner and seedlings for willows and poplars can be found locally and therefore are of no cost. The stone may occur naturally but there may be transport costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: Just at the foot of the hill slopes.

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 is high because of loess soils

Soil drainage / infiltration is poor

Soil water storage capacity is low

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Also medium

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

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%

90% of the land users are poor (low income rural families).
10% of the land users are poor.

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:

• state

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

Water user right refer to the water running over the land

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

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

	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	not well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not 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

• single cases/ experimental

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

1 household

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

• 91-100%

Comments:

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
It is easy to build and cheap.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It is a basic and easy technology that could be easily replicated, over larger areas. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Further training on the correct angles to build channels and dimensions
The technogy is low cost and potentially quick to build. How can they be sustained / enhanced? It can be built on many different slopes types, angles and heights.
It allows the land to be used for growing fruit trees and timber. There is the opportunity to sell the products. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Training could be provided on tree cultivation.

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 trench may be inefffective if there is a heavy deluge of surface water, and may in fact concentrate the surface water run off.	The trenches could be filled with gravel and rocks, and intertwined in a grid network, this is a common practice for railway embankements in Europe. The slope has to be shallow enough to prevent the gravel material being washed away.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information