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)

Decision Support for Mainstreaming and Scaling out Sustainable Land Management (GEF-FAO / DS-SLM)

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

Bangladesh Forest Department (Bangladesh Forest Department) - Bangladesh

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

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:

Creation of green shelter-belt along the coast line through plantation of Jhau (Casuarina equisetifolia) to reduce vulnerabilities and hazards of extreme weather events like cyclones.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The coastal zone of Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change. The coastal populations are mostly poor and some of them are landless with livelihoods connected to agriculture, fishing, shrimp farming, salt farming etc. Past devastating cyclones have killed thousands of people and destroyed homes and infrastructure. Creation of green shelter-belts, including mangrove and non-mangrove plantations, reduces the vulnerabilities and hazards related to extreme weather events like cyclones and storm surges. Afforestation along coastal areas is usually cheaper and ecologically more beneficial than other measures and serves to conserve biodiversity and stabilize newly accreted land. As a general guideline, a shelter-belt protects an area over a distance up to its own height on the windward side and up to 10 times its height on the leeward side, depending on the strength of the wind.
The current sustainable land management practice takes particular account of the Jhau plantation along the coastline of Himchari National Park of Cox's Bazar. Jhau (Casuarina equisetifolia) is one of the most promising non-mangrove species for creating shelter-belts and the Bangladesh Forest Department has been planting them in raised coastal lands and embankments since the 1990s. Casuarina equisetifolia is an evergreen tree with a finely branched, feathery crown and usually growing around 35 meters tall. It is fast growing, salt tolerant, grows in sand and can also tolerate occasional inundation by sea water at extremely high tides. Many areas where the species naturally occurs are susceptible to tropical cyclones, and its general tolerance to strong winds has encouraged its use in protective planting. The most common uses of C. equisetifolia are for coastal sand dune stabilization, shelter-belts, land reclamation and erosion control. The wood is hard and used for house posts, rafters, electric poles, tool handles, etc. It has been called ‘the best firewood in the world’ and also produces high-quality charcoal.
Coastal plantation with Jhau is a soft adaptation measure that has significantly contributed to reduce the loss of lives and properties against tropical cyclones and storm surges in the coastal areas. This species can be planted in coastline, roadside, embankment and marginal lands for creating dense vegetation, which can function as windbreak and combat tidal surges. The spacing used in this shelter-belt plantation along the coastline of Himchari National Park is 2m x 2m and 2500 trees are planted per hectare area. The examined shelter-belt plantations are approximately 1.5km long and 150m wide. The major activities required to establish the plantation were: nursery development (seed collection, site clearing, leveling and fencing, drainage arrangement, bed preparation, making overhead shed, poly-bag preparation, potting seeds, manuring, irrigation, weed control), site preparation (prepare plantation site map with GPS, weeding, marking pit location with sticks, carrying of seedlings to the site) and tree planting (digging of planting holes, tying up of plants with stick for support, application of fertilizers and compost). Weeding and vacancy filling were the maintenance activities which required up to three years after plantation establishment. All those activities carried out by the forest department with the financial help from world bank project fund. The local communities were involved as paid labour for nursery development, plantation and maintenance activities. Local people can only collect fuel wood from the plantation as its soul purpose is to act as shelter-belt from cyclones and tidal surge.
As the plantation site is on the coastline and beside the Himchari National Park, it turns to a tourist spot now for its scenic beauty. Local people involved with various sorts of tourist oriented small-scale business here e.g. parasailing, boating, restaurant, cottage industries, shops, etc. Though the initial establishment of Jhau stand need intensive care, it is functioning as a good wind breaker and combating with tidal surge along with creating alternate livelihood opportunities for local people.

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 projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Under the Coastal Green Belt project and Climate Resilient Participatory Afforestation and Reforestation Project of World Bank, Jhau have been planted along the coastline to function as wind break and combat tidal surges

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters
• mitigate climate change and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Regularly inundated by tidal water

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• forest plantation management
• windbreak/ shelterbelt
• ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

BDT

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

83.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Nursery development (seed collection, site clearing, leveling and fencing, drainage arrangement, bed preparation, making overhead shed, poly-bag preparation, potting seeds, manuring, irrigation, weed control)	September-October
2.	Site preparation (prepare plantation site map with GPS, weeding, marking pit location with sticks, carrying of seedlings to the site)	April-May
3.	Tree planting (digging of planting holes, tying up of plants with stick for support, application of fertilizers and compost)	June-July

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	Nursery preparation	person-days	17.0	500.0	8500.0
Labour	Site preparation	person-days	7.0	500.0	3500.0
Labour	Planting activities	person-days	22.0	500.0	11000.0
Equipment	Bucket	pieces	10.0	150.0	1500.0
Equipment	Spade	pieces	8.0	300.0	2400.0
Equipment	Scissor	pieces	2.0	150.0	300.0
Equipment	Knife	pieces	2.0	200.0	400.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cow dung	cubic meter	1.0	1200.0	1200.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Urea	kg	6.0	35.0	210.0
Fertilizers and biocides	MoP	kg	6.0	30.0	180.0
Fertilizers and biocides	TSP	kg	6.0	40.0	240.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost	kg	1250.0	4.0	5000.0
Construction material	Poly bag	pieces	3000.0	0.8	2400.0
Construction material	Bamboo stick	pieces	2600.0	2.0	5200.0
Construction material	Signboard	Lump sum	1.0	1000.0	1000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					43030.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					518.43

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

Cost are not borne by the forest department (land owner) but by the project of World Bank

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	weeding	3 times in a year
2.	vacancy filling	June-July

4.6 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	1st year Weeding (6 labor/weeding/Ha.) 3 times	person-days	18.0	500.0	9000.0
Labour	2nd year Weeding (5 labor/weeding/Ha.) 3 times	person-days	15.0	500.0	7500.0
Labour	3rd year Weeding (5 labor/weeding/Ha.) 2 times ng and cleaning (5 labor/weeding/Ha.) 1 time	person-days	10.0	500.0	5000.0
Labour	Vacancy filling	person-days	5.0	500.0	2500.0
Equipment	Bamboo stick	pieces	1000.0	2.0	2000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					26000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					313.25

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

Cost are not borne by the forest department (land owner) but by the project of World Bank

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labor

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?

Yes

Specify:

Due to regular tidal inundation the soil become saline and only support to grow few saline tolerant plant species

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

frequently

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

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

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)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
tropical storm	well
local rainstorm	very well
local thunderstorm	very well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
storm surge/ coastal flood	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

• 1-10%

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

• 91-100%

Comments:

Forest department adopted the green-belt plantation technique with Jhau from the projects and now replicating the practice in other coastline areas with government fund

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
Function as wind break and combat tidal surges
Increases the soil fertility of the degraded land through nutrient cycle

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Biodiversity conservation through habitat improvement
Increase carbon sequestration

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?
Initial establishment of stand need intensive care and risk of failure is high	Increase technical capabilities of forest officials

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Jhau tree is not a natural vegetation for the sand dunes	Introduce other indigenous salinity tolerant plant species in the green shelter belt

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Islam, S. A. & Rahman, M. M. (2015). Coastal afforestation in Bangladesh to combat climate change induced hazards. Journal of Science, Technology & Environment Informatics, 02(01), 13–25, 2015

Available from where? Costs?

2015, Journal BiNET. This is an open access article distributed under terms of the Creative Common Attribution 4.0 International License.

7.4 General comments

The questionnaire covered all the technical specifications of this SLM technology.