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)

Bureau of Soils and Water Management (Bureau of Soils and Water Management) - Philippines

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

Southern Tagalog Integrated Agricultural Research Center (STIARC) - Philippines

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

LGU of La Libertad - Philippines

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

28/05/2015

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Rockwall terracing refers to the piling of stones or rocks along contour lines to reduce soil erosion in hilly areas.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Rockwall terracing technology is widely practiced by farmers in hilly area of Barangay Nasunggan, La Libertad, Negros Oriental. Rocks piled along contours are indigenous to the area. The terrace bed is cultivated and planted with corn, watermelon, and vegetables. In some areas, livestock like cattle and native pigs are being raised. The technology is a traditional practice in the Philippines and one of the conservation techniques under the Conservation Farming Village (CFV) approach.

Purpose of the Technology: Rockwall terraces are built to reduce soil erosion and provide ease in land preparation through the removal of naturally present rocks in the cultivated area.It also contributes to the partial arrangement and diversification of land use. Before the implementation of the technology, the physical condition of the area is not recommended for farming practices due to the presence of rocks scattered all over the area.Dispersed and concentrated runoff are controlled in this technology. Raindrop splash is also restrained. Moreover, it contributes to better water storage in soil.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: With the aid of an A-Frame, contours are determined. Rocks and/or stones are gathered from the area and piled along contours to form walls 1.10 m wide and 1.50 m high. It requires 14 person-day for a month to construct a 50-meter rockwall with a cost of 800 USD. Maintenance of the structure is done three times a year by repiling of dislodged rocks.

Natural / human environment: The area is classified under a humid agro-climate condition where an average annual rainfall of 1000-1500 mm per year are observed. The average cropland size of land user ranges from 0.5-1 hectare with a slope of 18-25%. Majority of their income are derived from on-farm activities. Crops planted in the terraced bed are sold in the town market and is also utilized for consumption.

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

• 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): The area is prone to soil erosion and land degradation due to absence of vegetation.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Not suitable for crop production because of the rocks or stones scattered in the area.

Mixed: (eg agro-pastoralism, silvo-pastoralism): swine, cattle, chicken

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Mixed: Mo: Other

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: rainfed, mixed rainfed - irrigated

Water supply: rainfed, post-flooding

Livestock density (if relevant):

10-25 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.278 m2.

At present, rockwalls are not constructed in contiguous manner. Construction were done prioritizing those highly eroded areas but the plan is to build and expand in the barangay, smallest administrative division in the Philippines.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

Main causes of degradation: soil management (intensive soil cultivation/tillage)

Secondary causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (inappropriate cropping system), deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (logging), education, access to knowledge and support services (limited access to learning facilities)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Main goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Rockwall terrace built to utilize the rocks in the area.

Location: Brgy. Nasunngan. La Libertad, Negros Oriental

Date: May 25,2015

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control soil erosion

Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, increase / maintain water stored in soil, promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder), spatial arrangement and diversification of land use, serve as access road

Wall/ barrier
Spacing between structures (m): 3-5m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 1.5
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 1.1
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 50 m

Construction material (stone): limestones

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 18%

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Pesos

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

45.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Contouring	Structural	1 day
2.	Digging along contour, Gathering and piling of stones along contours	Structural	3 months

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
Labour	labour	dam	1.0	804.44	804.44	100.0
Equipment	Tools	dam	1.0	22.22	22.22	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					826.66

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 5 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Repiling of stones and rocks that were dislodged	Structural	3 times a year

4.7 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	Labour	50m	1.0	13.33	13.33	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					13.33

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: A-Frame, Mattock, Shovel

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altiudinal zones: 501-100 m a.s.l. (600m)

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Seasonality of water quality and source of pollution (good drinking water, year round, spring water )

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 disadvantaged land users

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Level of mechanization: Manual work, animal traction
Market orientation: subsistence (self-supply)
Market orientation: Mixed (subsistence/commercial)

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%; 2%

30% of the land users are average wealthy and own 30% of the land.
70% of the land users are poor and own 70% of the land.

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

Comments:

Sharing of water from spring during summer

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

Soil

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	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

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

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

10 land user families/households

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

• 50-90%

Comments:

63% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

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

37% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

6 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Even without LGU assistance, rockwall technology will continue since most of the landusers in the area were trained on how to construct with the use of A-frame.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Rockwall terraces prevent downstream siltation thus preserving the topsoil in the upper part of the area.
Ease of land preparation since rocks are not scattered in the field.It improves the soil condition for crop establishment.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology involves indigenous material such as rocks and stones from the area. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Improvement of piling rocks/stones

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?
Production area is reduced due to the rock wall structure.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Durability of the structure.	This could be improved by cementing the gaps between rocks (riprapping) to enhance durability, thus reducing maintenance cost.