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)

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

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

Swiss Red Cross (Swiss Red Cross) - Switzerland

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

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Fascine drains are used to drain excess water from elevated lands that might affect plots of land or houses below. They help prevent landslides and gully formation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Department of Olancho is a rainforest area located in the mountain range area of Cordillera Central and Sierra de Agalta, at an average altitude of 1,500 masl. Though most of the area of Olancho is protected as a natural reserve or natural park, there are high levels of deforestation resulting from livestock practices and intense industrial forest management practices. However, small farmers also cause deforestation. These practices result in rampant forest fires, soil degradation and erosion. The Department of Olancho is regularly affected by tropical storms and hurricanes coming in from the Atlantic. This combination of strong natural phenomena, topographic exposure and harmful use of natural resources causes significant material damage and even human deaths.
Fascine drains are used to drain excess water from the elevated land that affects lands or houses in lower areas. This Technology is used in sites where counterslopes are present. The technology helps prevent landslides and gullies.
Fascine drains are implemented by digging fishbone shaped trenches with arms connecting to a main trench. The Technology is generally built from the bottom up and the side angles vary between 20º and 45º. The trenches are filled with live grasses, such Pennisetum sp, King Grass (Pennisetum sp) or sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum). These plants are moored with stakes that regenerate easily (such as (Madriado – Gliricidia sepium). Then, the land around the trenches is tightly packed. Since the livestock can damage the fascine bundles, the area must be fenced off. To avoid production losses, grass is sown (maralfalfa or King Grass) on top of the fascines. These grasses can be trimmed three times a year and used as fodder.
This technology may be combined with others, such as live hedges using Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides).
In this case study, the fascine drains were implemented by the Project “Resiliencia” undertaken by the Swiss/ Honduran Red Cross. This project aims at helping sustainable development to enhance the resilience of rural areas in Olancho by reducing disaster hazards together and promoting health at every level (home, community, municipality). Bioengineering works are implemented in areas which were identified as being vulnerable by updated risk assessments. The beneficiaries are highly vulnerable and exposed to disasters.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2007

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• 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
• reduce risk of disasters

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

Comments:

The trenches are filled with live grasses, such Pennisetum sp, King Grass (Pennisetum sp) or sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)
No animals should be allowed into areas where fascine drains are built to prevent them from damaging the Technology. The vegetation (grass) is cut and taken to feed the cattle.
However, the animals can freely roam the farm lands.

Number of growing seasons per year: 3
The grass is cut three times a year to provide additional fodder.

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)

Comments:

Before implementing the technology, the area was used as grazing grounds (extensive, hacienda type grazing).

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water diversion and drainage

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:

• prevent 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 unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Lempiras

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

21.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Clear land	winter
2.	Prepare stakes and transport them to site	winter
3.	Place stakes and wire	winter
4.	Prepare plant material (king grass or maralfalfa) and tie them in bunches	winter
5.	Dig 50 cm deep trenches (center) and 30 cm (branches)	winter
6.	Place bundles in trenches and moor with stakes	winter
7.	Cover with soil	winter
8.	Plant vegetation to cover	winter

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	Trained labor	person per day	1.0	500.0	500.0
Labour	Untrained labor	person per day	18.0	150.0	2700.0	30.0
Equipment	shovel, pike, gloves, machete	pieces	3.0	2.0	6.0	100.0
Equipment	Cord	pound	5.0	25.0	125.0	100.0
Plant material	maralfalfa, king grass, sugar cane or bamboo	pounds	200.0	2.0	400.0
Plant material	wood for stakes	piece	60.0	3.0	180.0	100.0
Construction material	posts	post	100.0	25.0	2500.0	100.0
Construction material	barbed wire	roll	1.0	450.0	450.0
Other	Transportation for plants	trip	1.0	500.0	500.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					7361.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					350.52

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

Honduran/ Swiss Red Cross

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cut grass with machete	every 4 months
2.	Keep watch on the fence	Continuously

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	Untrained labor	person-days	6.0	150.0	900.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					900.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					42.86

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Purchase and transportation of plants not available on site

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

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:

Many men living in the areas where the Technology is applied have migrated to USA. Women do not work on their own land but rather look for jobs in other farms or coffee plantations in the region. Men who remain behind have a greater work load. Many families receive remittances.

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

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

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)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	very well
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	very well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
tropical storm	well
extra-tropical cyclone	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
landslide	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

• single cases/ experimental

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
The Technology protects houses against running surface water and landslides
Food is produced for livestock

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The Technology prevents soil loss and gully formation.

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?
The livestock can destroy the fascine drains	Area must be fenced off and monitored

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Land users abandon the land due to migration.	Though migration is common, a part of the family usually stays behind and they can sustain the SLM Technology.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Local responses to global challenges - community based disaster risk reduction. Experiences from Honduras. Case Study. Swiss Red Cross, May 2016

Available from where? Costs?

info@redcross.ch (gratis)