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)

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

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

CSE (CSE) - Senegal

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

04/08/2009

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:

A plot under agroforestry with a rotation of horticulture (during the dry season) and millet (during the rainy season), enclosured and protected by a life fence of Prosopis juliflora

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Main objectives are to increase the availability of vegetables in this zone far from the next market and to create an income source for women in the region. To mitigate the effects of wind erosion and gully formation in the plot and to protect it from cattle roaming a fence of dead wood and Prosopis juliflora seedlings has been constructed around it, which was meant to be a life fence after a certain time.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The initiative had been taken by a local "technicien agricole" which had assembled women of three villages and searched for local partenaires. The land on which the plot has been established was allocated to the group by the village chief. At the start, the project received support from the NGO Enda Tiers-Monde and the PAPEL (Projet d’Appui à l’Elévage) which has financed the construction of a small retention basin inside the plot to store water tapped from the local borehole. Each woman had the choice of construction 2m of the fence or to pay 1'000 CFA (US-Dollar: 2.25) compensation. Plot maintenance has been assured through the womens voluntary contributions. The extensive agent for "Water and Forest" has provided seedling of P. juliflora and other species on several occasions. Apart from expenses for seeds or seedlings for vegetable production the technology is not requiring any further financial inputs.

Natural / human environment: This SLM technology site is located in the sylvopastoral region of the Ferlo in the north of Sénégal. The agro-climatic zone is classified as semi-arid with mean annual precipitation of 300-400 mm. The main land use type in the area is extensive pastoralism followed by rainfed agriculture. Pastoralism is primarily practiced by transhumant Fula (Peulh) herders and further by Mauritanian Moor herders with herds of dromedaries. Vegetation cover in the area has largely been degraded due to cutting for domestic uses and cattle feeding, bushfires and overgrazing. The soil is exposed to wind erosion which carries away nutrients in the topsoil and therefore declines soil fertility. During intense rains in the rainy season, surface runoff is accelerated and leads to the formation of gullies and ravines. Quality of water sources has declined as they are being used by the local population for the purposes of body hygiene and laundry. Another factor of degradation are the oversized herds of dromedaries which consume large quantities of biomass, contribute to soil compaction due to the shape of their hooves and whose urine is perceived as noxious to the development of herb cover. Despite the various types of degradation, pastoralism and rainfed agriculture guarantee a certain food security for the local population and they have rarely experienced famines.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

1991

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): degradation of vegetation cover with wind erosion as a consequence / during the rainy season intensive rainfall leads to gully and ravine formation and to accelerated surface runoff / water management: temporary ponds used for activities like laundry and body hygiene and at the same time as drinking water sources for man and cattle

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): limited access to water from borehole for irrigation purposes as cattle herds are always preferred

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120 Longest growing period from month to month: Jul-Oct

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• windbreak/ shelterbelt
• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

The plot located in the village of Diagali has a surface of about 0.5 ha

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -along boundary

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Et: loss of topsoil, Ed: deflation and deposition

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (for domestic uses), overgrazing (oversized herds of cattle and dromadaires), population pressure, poverty / wealth (need for natural resources), education, access to knowledge and support services

Secondary causes of degradation: Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (intense rains during rainy season)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: reduction in wind speed, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Secondary technical functions: increase in organic matter

Aligned: -along boundary
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 84

Trees/ shrubs species: Prosopis juliflora (planteds)

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

CFA

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

455.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Establishment of tree nursery for P.juliflora	Vegetative
2.	Bedding out of seedlings along plot boundary	Vegetative

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Other	Water	ha	1.0	40.0	40.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					40.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

NGO Enda Tiers-Monde, Papel and the governement agent for water and forest

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Pruning of P.juliflora	Vegetative
2.	Growing more seedlings in tree nursery to improve strenght of fence	Vegetative

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

Comments:

The cost of water applies to the need of the 0.5 ha plot and is only important in dry season when there is no other sources of water in the area. There is no other costs for the vegetation measures, as seedlings are given by the extensive agent for "Water and Forest" and all the women work on a voluntary basis

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

water from borehole for watering of seedlings in tree nursery

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 texture: Coarse/light (sol sable-limoneux, sol instable) and medium
Soil fertility: Low (the soil pH is quite basic, it is really rare for this type of soil)
Topsoil organic matter: Medium (labile organic carbon of 0.24 g/kg)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good
Soil water storage capacity: Low

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water quality (untreated): Poor drinking water (treatement required, groundwater accessed through borehole, mainly used in dry season, ranked 1) and for agricultural use only (irrigation, temporary ponds used during rainy season, ranked 2)

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: it's an initiative promoting women of all social classes

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

2% of the land users are rich.
22% of the land users are average wealthy.
76% of the land users are poor.

Off-farm income specification: many women do small scale trading

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• state
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

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

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	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 well
local windstorm	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

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	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

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

• 90-100%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
gives the women the possibility to gain some independance from their husbands and to improve family income

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
the live fence serves as protection against wind speed, limits evapotranspiration and creates a favorable microclimat for millet and vegetable growth How can they be sustained / enhanced? reinforcement with Prosopis provided by "Water and Forest"
the fact that trees in the plot were not cut down in order to gain space for cultivation helps to maintain biodiversity in the area and to a small extent sequester carbon How can they be sustained / enhanced? practice of assisted natural regeneration
reafforestation with a variety of species provided by "Water and Forest" can help to increase vegetation cover in the area How can they be sustained / enhanced? training for planting techniques needed

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
access to irrigation water from the borehole is limited because of preference of cattle	better water management and distribution between cattle herders and cultivators of the plot
little knowledge of the agricultural technologies	more training for agricultural technicians in the area
very high mortality of fruit trees in the plot	research needed to find causes

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
the plantation of trees in the plot does not follow any system	training
the life fence is instable and weak	reinforce the life fence with Prosopis
very low revenues because of fertility problems and therefore reduced plant growth	research needed to find causes