1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

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:

Lyme grass is is sown by machines for revegetation in sandy areas to increase the vegetation cover, to capture and stabilise the moving sand. The extensive root system allows the plant to grow in sandy underground and thus protects the soil from extensive wind erosion.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Lyme grass (Leymus arenarius) is a native pioneer plant in Iceland. Due to its spreading, rhizomatous habit it survives and spreads in sand and even in blown sand. The sand can be captured and stabilised, and vegetation cover increases. In this way, new vegetation cover comprising other plants can further develop. Therefore, this plant is used on degraded land with sandy soils to restore and hinder it from further erosion. Wind erosion can be minimized or stopped. Lyme grass protects and prevents the soil from being blown away and from causing damage on- and offsite. For these reasons, it has been applied in various locations throughout Iceland.

Lyme grass is seeded in with machinery in early spring or late autumn over a complete area. Before planting, the seeds have to be treated in order to go through the drilling machine. These seeds are harvested with specialized machinery in September. In order to promote growth and spread, the plants are supported with fertilizer in the four years after application. Normally this activity is carried out in early spring. The use of imported fertilizer is necessary, but quite expensive. Because lyme grass is sensitive to grazing, a fence is often built to protect the area from livestock. In more advanced restored land, seasonally controlled grazing in the summer with sheep can take place again. Sandy areas remain protected because of their vulnerability to wind erosion.

Once planted, lyme grass spreads by itself through rhizomes, and by producing large amounts of seeds every year. It is winter hardy - and copes well with droughts because of its deep roots. Lyme grass is highly appreciated because it brings clear long-term improvement onsite and provides offsite benefits. Onsite, Lyme grass improves soil and vegetation cover and minimizes evaporation from the soil surface. In addition, surface runoff is minimized. Less sediment is transported with the wind and damage to the neighbouring field or private and public infrastructure is minimised offsite. Furthermore, lyme grass can also store large quantities of carbon. Because of its many positive features, this technology is being adopted in many places.

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:

• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• reduce risk of disasters

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:

There are large deposits of groundwater in the area around Thorlákshöfn.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Could be combined with birch tree planting.

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 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

ISK

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

138.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	seeding and topdressing with fertelizer in one operation	early spring time, possible late autumn
2.	harvest seeds by specialized machinery	September

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
Other	Seeding lyme grass	ha	1.0	203539.0	203539.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					203539.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1474.92

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	spreading fertelizer	early spring time once a year

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
Fertilizers and biocides	repeated ferilizer 2. year	ha	1.0	19000.0	19000.0
Fertilizers and biocides	repeated ferilizer 3. year	ha	1.0	19000.0	19000.0
Fertilizers and biocides	repeated ferilizer 4. year	ha	1.0	19000.0	19000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					57000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					413.04

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

workers, seeds, fertilizer, machinery

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:

in sites along the coast, soils/ sand can be saline

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 used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state
• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Water availability and quality

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

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?
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	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

• > 50%

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

• 0-10%

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
Seeding lyme grass increases the vegetation cover, stabalize the sand and sucesfully protects against wind erosion.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Seeding lyme grass increases the vegetation cover, stabalize the sand and successfully protects against wind erosion.
The creeping horizontal roots allows the lyme grass to spread, establish and stabilize the sand dunes and can therefore protect infrastructure.
The long roots allow the lyme grass in contrast to other plants to survive in sandy grounds.
Lyme grass sequests enourmous amount of carbon.

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?
A lot of expensive imported fertelizer is needed for this technology.	Instead of imported fertilizer, manure can be used (but this way more expensive).
Lyme grass is highly sensitve to grazing.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Lyme grass is highly sensitive to grazing.	The lyme grass is protected by building fences or implementing controlled grazing.
A lot of expensive imported fertelizer is needed for this technology.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Webpage Soil Conservation Service of Iceland

URL:

https://land.is/english/