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)

Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

9/5/2017

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:

Native tree scattered in the garden reduce wind speeds and lower chances of winds damaging crops

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In relatively flat areas such as those in semi-arid parts of northern Uganda, strong winds can exacerbate damage to crops and animal structures in addition to increasing evaporation from watering troughs for animals. To reduce the risk of these occurrences, farmers maintain trees interspersed in the croplands or paddocks to intercept the strong winds.

Trees used for this purpose are generally native species because they grow large in diameter (> 60 cm dbh) and develop wide crowns (~20 m diameter). Some of the native tree species for this technology include Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), and Tido (Khaya grandifoliola). The trees are not arranged in any specific pattern since they establish naturally, and are managed to grow and pruned appropriately to better reduce the impact of strong winds. The spacing between trees can range from 10 to 30 meters depending on the size but also on the location of target structures such as homestead and animal structures. By periodically pruning these trees, farmers also get wood for fuel while reducing the risk of injury from branches falling down as they deteriorate with age. The trees also provide shade in homesteads and in grazing lands. Pruning allows younger branches to emerge and ensures the health and longevity of the trees for several decades.

What farmers like about the technology is that the cost of establishment is generally very low as the care and pruning of trees does not require the purchase of any expensive equipment, planting materials are not required, and there is no labour required for planting. The technology does not take so much land since the trees are sparsely scattered in the crop or grazing land or along the boundaries. Also, the trees provide firewood when the branches are pruned. Sometimes farmers locate bee hives in these trees, thereby ensuring income diversification for the household.

Farmers dislike this technology because native tree species take long (15-20 years) to grow to appropriate sizes to effectively reduce the impact of strong winds and they are also in high demand for charcoal production. Furthermore, they can only be retained where they naturally grow, thus not being very effective as wind breaks as would be the case for those trees that are planted in preferred locations in the landscape. It is labour-intensive to prune these generally large trees with complex crowns, especially when they are fully grown. The trees also acts as hosts for birds, which are formidable pests to crops such as sorghum, simsim and maize in the gardens. The roots of trees extend to large areas within the gardens and can potentially reduce the yield of the nearby crops if root-pruning is not done. These trees also provide additional benefits such as shea from Vitellaria paradoxa that are useful as nutritional supplements. Timber from Khaya grandifoliola is highly valuable and earns additional income to the household.

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:

1950

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts

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:

No change

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):

Grazing is done during the dry season usually immediately after harvesting maize and sorghum

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• windbreak/ shelterbelt

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:

Typical land size is approximately 5 acres

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Extreme weather events (winds and direct sunshine on crops)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• adapt to land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Trees randomly scattered within cropland
Spacing of trees ranges from 10 to 30 meters
Size of trees ranges from 10 to > 60 cm diameter and 5 to 30 meters in height

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Uganda Shilings

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

3500.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Protection	Management	Always
2.	Pruning	Management	Once a year

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	Labor	1	40.0	2000.0	80000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					80000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Pruning	Management	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	labor	1	40.0	2000.0	80000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					80000.0

Comments:

The technology does no require any inputs apart from labour for pruning. Occasionally farmers may plant one or a few additional trees to reinforce the barriers.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Pruning height of the trees. Higher and larger trees are more expensive to prune but also provide more firewood to the farmer

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

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

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Other socio-economic impacts

Ecological impacts

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	well

Other climate-related extremes (disasters)

other (specify)	How does the Technology cope with it?
Strong winds	very 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

• 10-50%

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

• 50-90%

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
Also provides fire wood for the household
Trees also provide shade for the crops and livestock

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Fire wood can be obtained in addition to the environmental services that the trees provide

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?
Attracts wild animals e.g. snakes
Only men are able to implement the technology because it is difficult

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The trees sometimes attract wild animals such as snakes and squirrels.
Protection from wild fire is sometimes required if the trees are close (< 10 meters)

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

N/a

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Agroforestry system (intercropping beans/maize) with contour ditches, strips of Napier grass, manure and organic fertilizers. (Kenya)

URL:

https://qcat.wocat.net/en/summary/2755/?as=html

Title/ description:

Dynamic agroforestry systems (Bolivia, Plurinational State of)

URL:

https://qcat.wocat.net/en/summary/514/?as=html