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)

Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development Tajikistan (ACTED Tajikistan) - 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

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:

Reforestation of the Tugai floodplain ecosystem with reed stands, poplars, djigda, and tamarisk thickets to strengthen the river bank area along the Pyanj river.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Reforestation works are being carried out in an area of 18.2 km2 in four demarcated zones each measuring 4.55 km2. ACTED and CAREC have entered into labour agreements with household representatives of villages near the riparian area to carry out the plantation of seedlings and bushes. 520 household representatives will plant a variety of 150,000 seedlings and bushes in the floodplain area (prone to flooding).

Reforestation works will help to reinforce the river bank area and protect it against potentially large scale floods. It will also diminish the effect of river bank erosion caused by flood waters. The activity will also protect the natural ecosystem in the target area and provide greater security for both the animal and human habitat. As a secondary purpose the reforestation works will also encourage local communities to be more aware of, and to hopefully motivate them to address some of the serious environmental and socio-economical problems affecting them.

The area was preselected by an expert as an area that was a degraded Tugai floodplain forest ecosystem. The area was assessed to ensure it still maintained a Tugai ecosystem. The extensive area was broken into smaller manageable parts of 3.5 h.a., these areas were then allocated to Jamoats who then further reassigned the responsibility to households. The next step is the development of a planting plan and schedule that includes fruit trees, timber and thickets.

The seedlings are obtained from the National Park area in collaboration with the state forestry department. The households are taught basic planting techniques, and supervised during the planting from November to March. A maintenance plan was established to ensure the upkeep of the ecosystem including watering, composting, and pruning.

The issue was that the Pyanj river was encroaching towards villages and cultivated lands that are essential to the livelihood of the local inhabitants. There is a lack of natural resources and increasing pressure on the available land for subsistence farming.

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 projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

In 2008 the Asian Development Bank did their initial appraisal of the Tugai ecosystem.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The seasonal flooding has resulted in severe river bank and soil erosion that has caused a reduction in the area of cultivated land, which provides an increasing threat to the village settlements. An increasing population is also adding to pressures on the limited land available, so threatening the livelihoods of local farmer households.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Local people highlight a lack of income and energy sources that lead them to cut down trees and vegetation for use as fuel and animal feed.
Problems / comments regarding forest use: It is a degraded forest with little economic value.
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fp: Plantations, afforestations

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

Comments:

Number of growing seasons per year:

1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 220, Longest growing period from month to month: March - October

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management
• forest plantation management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures
Secondary measures: structural measures
Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires)
Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, change of seasonal rainfall, population pressure, poverty / wealth, war and conflicts (Border guards exploited/cleared the area during their patrols)

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

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.	Planting of tree seedlings	autumn

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 of tree seedlings	person day	5.0	5.44	27.2
Equipment	Machine use	machine hours	5.0	20.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	pieces	5.0	4.44	22.2	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	Pieces	80.0	1.10625	88.5
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	kg	80.0	0.22125	17.7	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					255.6
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					56.8

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Maintenance of vegetation cover	annually

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	Maintenance of vegetation cover	person days	18.0	5.5555	100.0	50.0
Equipment	Tools	Pieces	2.0	5.0	10.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					110.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					24.44

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: shovel, knife

The costs are based on an area of 1 h.a. using 2010 prices, split from the entire scheme.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The intial costs of the activities are met by the donor project budget, the labourers are paid directly for their efforts under a `food for work' scheme. The seedlings, transport and tools are provided for planting, and the inhabitants are reimbursed in the longer term by the establishment of tree nurseries and fruit tree orchards.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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: Medium
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

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%
80% of the land users are poor.
20% of the land users are poor.
Off-farm income specification: There is significant income from remittances sent back from Russia.

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)

Comments:

Different parts of the Tugai system are allocated to individual households through the local Jamoat, as there are no formal land user certificates.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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	not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not known
local windstorm	not known

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	not known

Comments:

The choice of species are those that are able to grow in very wet/flood conditions.

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)?

Comments:

The inhabitants will not see any returns in the short term, and will have to maintain the forest for several years before they will reap the benefits in the longer term.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

520 families and 100% of the area covered

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
520 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
Comments on acceptance with external material support: The entire area selected for the project was reforested.
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
Land users are happy that their land is protected and that they are being provided with added incentives through food for work and the construction of orchards and nurseries.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The Tugai ecosystem acts as natural mitigation system for large scale flooding in the target area. It does not rely on heavy structural maintenance such as artificial dikes or gabions.
Involves representatives of target communities in the mitigation works. It gives them a sense of ownership towards the activities.

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?
Mitigation is not an instant and obvious return, so the benefits are less obvious.	Land users need to be educated about the environmental and risk mitigation benefits of the project. Practical demonstrations are advisable. Furthermore, as there is no instant benefit it is also advisable to offer land users incentives (e.g. food for work and construction of household orchards and nurseries).
Maintenance of the reforested area requires labour post-reforestation phase (e.g. watering).	The use of incentives is advisable to increase motivation to participate.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information