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)

Integrated Catchment Management Project (Integrated Catchment Management Project) - Lesotho

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

Comments:

This technology helps to stabilise the gully and prevents the gully from expanding further in length due to erosion.

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The aim of the gully head structure is to help stabilise the gully and prevent/control the gully from expanding further in length due to erosion. In Lesotho, this is constructed using stones.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

1. This technology is applied where gully erosion is prevalent in different land uses.
2. The technology is performed using stones where the gully is not very deep. However, where the depth of a gully is more than 2m in length, gabions or sand bags can be used to stabilise the gully and discourage further erosion.
3. The aim of the technology is control soil from eroding.
4. In most cases, this technology is implemented by use of stones available from the local area. But, measuring tape, spade, pick-axe and grass seed/sodds are also part of the inputs.
5. It controls soil erosion as it discourages the gully from expanding deeper and wider, therefore, soil loss is halted.
6. To land users, the technology is useful because it protects their fields as much gully erosion occurrs in cropland. At the same time, they regard as the most tedious technology due to use of stones.

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:

2019

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)
• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

This technology has been practised for over the years in Lesotho in all catchment areas implemented by different projects.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Silvo-pastoralism

Comments:

In this area, there is fine sand mining which does not benefit the community.

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

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

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

Comments:

There is encroachment of settlements into grazing areas

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

The community depends entirely on rain water for agricultural production, there is no irrigated water systems.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• erosion control measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

The technology comprises gully wall and check dam structures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The technology discourages land degradation by water through minimising length, width and depth of the gully

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

gully head structures are more useful and implemented in cropland and rangelands where gully erosion is more prevalent

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

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

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

13.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Public gathering	before onset of rains
2.	survey	before onset of rains
3.	design	before onset of rains
4.	stone collection	before onset of rains
5.	implementation	before onset of rains
6.	monitoring and evaluation	after storm
7.	maintenance	after storm

Comments:

The technology is easy to implement except in areas where availability of loose rocks is a challenge. Also, where soils are problematic (duplex)

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	one person	person days	1.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Equipment	Gabions	one piece	10.0	54.0	540.0
Equipment	Sand bags	one piece	50.0	4.0	200.0
Equipment	Pick axe	one piece	5.0	15.0	75.0
Equipment	spade	one piece	5.0	12.0	60.0
Plant material	measuring tape	one piece	1.0	6.0	6.0
Construction material	loose rocks	cubic	10.0	15.0	150.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1036.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					79.69

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

Government

Comments:

Normally implemented during integrated catchment management

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	public gathering	After storm
2.	participatory community monitoring and evaluation	After storm
3.	Maintenance	After storm

Comments:

Maintenance is always recommended after every storm

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	person	person days	1.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					5.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					0.38

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

Government

Comments:

gully head structures are some of the major which are implemented in catchment management throughout the country through integrated catchment management project.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

National budget

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The activity is implemented on gentle to moderate slopes

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.

A detailed soil map of Lesotho could be accessed at https://lesis.gov.ls

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Most of water in this area is harvested from springs

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

The area is severely eroded and therefore has minimum biodiversity attributed to escalation of bare lands

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The middle aged and elderly are the ones interested in land management activities relative to their experiences with long term involvement in land management

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:

• communal/ village
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

This is due to Lesotho land tenure system

Comments:

In Lesotho, land is communally owned. However, this might change due to implementation of decentralisation process as well as population increase

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

Comments:

The community lives closer to town therefore, enjoys much of services from the government services and facilities.

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Ecological impacts

Soil

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Soil erosion, properties and quality assessed

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Soil erosion, properties and quality assessed off-site to aid in the management of adjacent land

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	not well
annual rainfall		increase	not well at all

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local hailstorm	not well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	moderately

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
landslide	not well at all

Comments:

The duplex soils found in this area prohibit use of heavy structures

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:

The land users who own land found the technology very useful as much gully erosion occurs in crop land

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

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

20

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

Land owners found it important to adopt the technology as against those community members who only have land user rights.

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

The design is affected mainly by rainfall intensity and frequency which are influenced by changes in climate

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
It uses locally available material
It is easy to implement
Protects productive soil in major land uses

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
provides support to other structural strength against further damage
Reduces the force of run-off
Prevents soil loss in productive land

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?
Labour intensive	use of machinery is recommended
It requires basic skill to implement	on-site demonstrations
If the locally available material is not enough to complete the construction work, then the structure cannot be implemented.	other alternative locally available materials should be advocated for

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Structures need to be matched to sites where they are corrected	If a heavy structure will not be sustainable, suitable light structures should be recommended
If the design is not properly made, it may cause more harm than good on land	Design must always succinct
It needs maintenance periodically	This one is a must do activity

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

N/A

Available from where? Costs?

N/A

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Department of Soil and Water Conservation

URL:

https://forestry.gov.ls

7.4 General comments

In the beginning it was not easy to fill the questionnaire, however, as time went on the team began to enjoy the questionnaire