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)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

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

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

25/05/2017

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:

Farmer-managed natural regeneration is a low-cost, sustainable land restoration technique involving the re-growth of trees from tree stumps and seedlings in the wild.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) involves encouraging existing tree stumps or self-sown seeds to re-grow into trees by pruning and protecting them. FMNR adapts centuries-old methods of woodland management, called coppicing and pollarding, to produce continuous tree-growth of trees from stumps or seedlings. It can be used wherever there is living tree stumps with the ability to coppice (re-sprout) or seeds in the soil that can germinate. FMNR is both a community mobilization approach for landscape restoration, and a specific technique to regenerate trees.

FMNR depends on the existence of living tree stumps or roots in crop fields, grazing pastures, woodlands or forests. Each season bushy sprouts will emerge from the stumps/ roots, often appearing like small shrubs. Continuous grazing by livestock, regular burning and/ or regular harvesting for wood fuel results in these sprouts never attaining tree stature. On farmland, standard practice has been for farmers to slash these sprouts in preparation for planting crops, but with a little attention the sprouts can be turned into mature trees without jeopardizing, but in fact, enhancing crop yields (Ndour, et a., 2010; Garity et al., 2010).

For each stump, a decision is made as to how many stems will be chosen to grow. On average, 2-3, are recommended. The tallest and most straight stems are selected and the remaining stems culled. Best results are obtained when the farmer returns regularly to prune any unwanted new stems and side branches as they appear. Farmers can then grow other crops between and around the trees, such as maize, sorghum, sesame, beans and cowpeas. Whenever farmers want wood for any purpose, e.g. building poles, wood fuel, stakes, trellis, etc., they can cut the stem(s) they want and leave the rest to continue growing. The remaining stems will increase in size and value each year, and will continue to protect the environment. Each time a stem is harvested, a younger stem is selected to replace it (Rinauldo, 2012).

FMNR is applicable in dry lands where it is capable of returning degraded croplands and grazing lands to productivity. It is also used to restore degraded forests, thereby reversing biodiversity loss and reducing vulnerability to climate change. Furthermore, the practice has a big role in maintaining not-yet-degraded landscapes in a productive state when combined with other sustainable land management practices such as conservation agriculture on cropland and holistic management on rangelands.

The farmer likes FMNR because of the direct benefits such as wood fuel, building materials, food and fodder without the need for frequent and costly replanting. Also, when FMNR trees are integrated into croplands and grazing pastures there is an increase in soil fertility and organic matter, soil moisture, leaf fodder, and crop yields. There is also a decrease in wind and heat damage, and soil erosion. FMNR is a rapid, relatively low-cost and easily replicable technology for restoring and improving agricultural, forested and pasture lands.

Farmers dislike FMNR because the tree species, which are mainly native, grow slowly compared to other comparable species such as Eucalyptus and Pine. Native trees also grow in random locations in the landscape depending on the location of the previous trees/seeds, making it difficult to plan arrangement of other farm activities.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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

Indicate year of implementation:

2014

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Trained by the organisation 'Operation Wealth Creation'

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

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

The land was initially un-managed woodland but now used for controlled grazing and bee-keeping

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Livestock density (if relevant):

Appoximately 10 animal units per acre

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management
• agroforestry
• pastoralism and grazing land management

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)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

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 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

1. Spacing between trees is is 10 to 30 meters
2. Each tree stump should be pruned, leaving 3 - 4 offshots to allow for proper continued growth
3. Other farming activities such as controlled grazing and bee-keeping may be included

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

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

3500.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Pruning of tree stumps and seedlings	Agronomic	Once at the time of establishment
2.	Fencing	Structural	Once at the start of the establishment

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	Pruning of stumps and seedlings	Acres	1.0	150000.0	150000.0	100.0
Labour	Fencing	Acres	1.0	200000.0	200000.0	100.0
Construction material	Poles for fencing	Number	300.0	5000.0	1500000.0	100.0
Construction material	Barbed wire	kgs	50.0	20000.0	1000000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2850000.0

Comments:

Money used by the land user to establish the technology was borrowed from the SACCO

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Pruning	Agronomic	Approximately once 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 for pruning	acre	1.0	150000.0	150000.0	100.0
Construction material	Replacement of poles	Number	20.0	5000.0	100000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					250000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour and seedlings take most of the costs of the technology

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

But mostly men

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:

The farmer is planning to acquire a land title

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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Comments regarding impact assessment:

Increased carbon sequestration by tree biomass

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	moderately
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	increase	moderately

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:

High costs at establishment. Costs continue reducing as maintenance is being done. Cost of maintenance can be recovered from the sale of prunigs and fuelwood and poles.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

• 90-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Easy to manage once established
Can easily be replicated by small-scale and large-scale land users else where who own similar sizes of land
Fencing reduces conflict with other land users and eliminates open access situations leading to a free-for-all situation of land use which is not desirable.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is replicable and suitable for small scale land users because it does not require a lot of costs at the time of establishment and maintenance
The technology is not expensive. The land user starts with local trees and shrubs.

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?
Easily threatened by bush fires	Establish firelines
Benefits are realized after a long period of time(5-10 years)	Look for other sources of income

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Requires some capital at the time of establishment which the land user may not have	Engage in village and saving associations
Likelihood of conflict in areas where land is communally owned	Hold discussion with community before fencing-off sites

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Ndour, B., Sarr, A. and Mbaye, A. 2010. Projects Baysatol/ SFLEI – Rapport d'Activities, Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA), Centre National de Recherches Agronomiques, Replublique du Senegal Ministere de l'Agriculture / World Vision Senegal.

URL:

http://fmnrhub.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Francis-Weston-Birch-2015-FMNR-Study.pdf

Title/ description:

Garrity, D., Akinnifesi, F., Ajayi, O., Weldesemayat, S., Mowo, J., Kalinganire, A., Larwanou, M. and Bayala, J., 2010. Evergreen Agriculture: a robust approach to sustainable food security in Africa. Food Security 2. 197–214.

URL:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12571-010-0070-7?shared-article-renderer