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)

Catastrophic shifts in drylands (EU-CASCADE)

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

Universidad de Alicante (Universidad de Alicante) - Spain

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

Conselleria de infrastructuras, territorio y medioambiente - Spain

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:

Plantation of native woody species using planting holes on slopes

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

This technology is a restauration technology implemented on degraded south-facing slopes of a semiarid mountain range. The restoration technology consisted of a plantation of seedlings of a variety of native woody species, mostly shrubs, using deep (60cm depth) planting holes. Microcatchments were established upslope the planting hole in suitable areas. Seedlings were protected from extreme radiation and predation by biodegradable seedling shelters. The target area was highly degraded due to long-term overexploitation of resources under harsh environmental conditions. Failed previous reforestation actions on bench terraces led to further degradation in some areas. Degradation resulted in low plant cover, decreased plant biodiversity, lack of riparian vegetation on the ramblas (ravines with intermittent flow), soil erosion, development of gullies, and frequent floods. To address this problem, the Forest Administration implemented a restoration program on the south-facing slopes of the Albatera-Crevillente mountain range. The program was implemented in 2006-07.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of the plantation is the restoration of diversity and cover of vegetation on degraded south-facing slopes of a semiarid mountain range, erosion control, and flood prevention.

Natural / human environment: The target area is the south-facing side of a mountain range in a semiarid area of Southeast Spain. Exploitation of resources over centuries, mostly grazing and wood gathering, under harsh environmental conditions, led to very low plant cover, mostly consisting of dwarf shrubs sparsed in a matrix of bare soil, lack of riparian vegetation on the ramblas (ravines with intermittent flow), soil erosion, development of gullies, and frequent floods. The exploitation of the land was drastically reduced during the second half of the 20th century due to the general rural land abandonment trend that started in Spain around the 1950’s driven by critical socio-economic changes such as the use of fossil fuels and the sharp increase in activity in the tourism and services business sectors, mostly in the coast land. However, despite the reduction, or even complete abandonment, of rural activity on the mountain range area, there was no sign of spontaneous recovery from degradation. Soil erosion and floods were of major concern for the resource managers in the area (Public Forest Administration), and a number of reforestation and restoration programs have been implemented in the area, with varying degree of success. In more recent decades, new pressures appeared in the mountain area, such as agricultural expansion into the range area (1970s), mining activities (late 1990’s - early 2000’s), and urbanization (2000s). Rural tourism and recreation are new activities in the mountain range area. For the time being, the intensity of these activities is low to moderate. However there is already some evidence of incipient degradation associated to recreation, and some regulation is being demanded by environmental NGOs.

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.):

The MST was designed by the Forest Administration in the framework of a restoration programme for degraded semiarid lands and incorporated recent scientific findings regarding the technology and species used.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Erosion, water scarcity, low productivity, loss of soil functions (water infiltration, nutrient cycling), low biodiversity, loss of landscape structure

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Low productivity, aridity, erosion

Plantation forestry: Without exploitation

Forest products and services: nature conservation / protection, recreation / tourism

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fp: Plantations, afforestations

Number of growing seasons per year:

1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 240Longest growing period from month to month: November-June

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wo: offsite degradation effects, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bq: quantity / biomass decline, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (Agricultural land expansion. Starting in 1965, peaking in late 1970’s), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (Peaking during 1940’s), poverty / wealth (Poverty)

Secondary causes of degradation: overgrazing (Peaking during 1940’s), industrial activities and mining (Late 1990’s - early 2000’s), urbanisation and infrastructure development (Last 10 years), droughts, population pressure (Relative demographic pressure given the low productivity of the land), land tenure (Lack of proper land demarcation until late 1990’s - early 2000’s, leading to misuse and mismanagement of public land)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Euro

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

0.78

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Soil preparation and planting holes	during winter
2.	Soil and microcatchment preparation	during winter
3.	Fertilization plantation (holes)	Winter
4.	Fertilization microcatchment	Winter
5.	Plantation	during winter
6.	Plantation (microcatchments)	during winter
7.	Tree shelter placement	late winter
8.	tree shelter placement (Microcatchments)	late winter

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	Labour	ha	1.0	1343.0	1343.0	100.0
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	853.0	853.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	252.0	252.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Biocides	ha	1.0	154.0	154.0	100.0
Other	Tree shelters	ha	1.0	424.0	424.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					3026.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					3879.49

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 5 month(s)

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Walking Excavator

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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 is medium (Sandy- loam (dominant))
Soil fertility is low
Soil drainage/infiltration is good
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water quality (untreated): For agricultural use only (irrigation)(groundwater)

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 Leaders / privileged

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

Market orientation of production system: No forestry production

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:

• open access (unorganized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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
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	not known

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

7.1 Methods/ sources of information