Protected gullies – a traditional sustainable land management practice
(Nepal)
Kholse: eak paramparagat digo bhu-bewasthapan bidhi (Main Contributro: Sabita Khanal, Kathmandu University)
Descripción
Protected gullying is a sustainable land management practice initiated and maintained by the traditional community approach; it is based on indigenous knowledge and uses only locally available materials.
Aims / objectives: Sustainable land management aims to prevent soil erosion and to increase productivity; it can take on different forms depending on the exigencies of the terrain.
Methods: In Kabhrepalanchok District, where the slope of the land is not too steep, farmers use gullies controlled using indigenous techniques to protect fertile agricultural land, to minimize erosion, and to help prevent landslides near villages.
For more than two hundred years, land users in jagidol (jagi=rice, dol=gully) villages practiced gully control and they have developed innovative methods for deployment and maintenance of gullies. Periodically, the whole community is involved in discussions for planning and implementation of new measures, but for the most part only routine repairs are needed and the individual farmers whose properties border the gullies shoulder the main responsibility for maintaining them. When severe flooding events cause many gullies to collapse, materials are collected locally and the whole village cooperates in the rebuilding. Both men and women are involved; men usually help with the heavy digging when new gullies are established or during crises when many gullies collapse at once and women are involved in the day-to-day maintenance of the gullies. Communities in villages higher up in the hills have used this approach for a long time; their gullies are more mature and well-entrenched and are reinforced by mature bio-engineering measures. Gullies in villages situated lower down the slope are usually more recently established and typically still require regular maintenance.
The jagidol village community, the Newari guthi (religious group) in the area, and the Hindus who worship the snake god Nagdevata and Shivadevata along the stream banks are particularly conscientious in maintaining the gullies that border the shrine(s). In this example, maintenance of the gullies is a collective effort through social networks.
Lugar
Lugar: Sharada Batase VDC, Kabhrepalanchok , Nepal
Georreferencia de sitios seleccionados
Dato de inicio: n.d.
Año de conclusión: n.d.
Tipo de Enfoque
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tradicional/ local
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iniciativa local reciente/ innovadora
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proyecto/ basado en un programa
Members of the community gather for a focus group discussion on the approaches for gully conservation. (Sabita Aryal Khanna)
Community worship for Nagadevta along the gulley, devotees take extra care and consciousness for the protection of the gully (Sabita Aryal Khanna)
Metas del Enfoque y entorno facilitador
Propósitos/ objetivos principales del Enfoque
The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (Religious, cultural and ecological significance)
To ensure the maintenance of the system of gullies that acts to help prevent soil erosion and protect against flooding. During the rainy season the gullies channel water away, and during the dry season they can be modified to collect water for irrigation. Maintenance is especially important during the rainy season because when water is not channelled many terraces can collapse simultaneously and the ensuing landslide can threaten the stability of the entire village.
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: This approach suffers from a lack of institutional infrastructure. Since the group that maintains the gullies is not registered as a conservation team or an organization, it is not entitled to technical or financial support of any kind from government or non-governmental organizations. The research conducted by the community is not documented anywhere, it is passed on by word of mouth. A shortage of labour (or labour saving devices) is a persistent constraint in the maintenance of the gullies.
Condiciones que facilitan la implementación de la/s Tecnología/s aplicadas bajo el Enfoque
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Marco de trabajo legal (tenencia de tierra, derechos de uso de tierra y agua): The existing land ownership, land use rights / water rights moderately helped the approach implementation: It is generally accepted that since the farmer whose land borders the gullies gets the most benefit by having access to the water, that it is his responsibility to maintain and repair them. In times of crises, when gullies collapse beyond his individual ability to repair them, he can ask the community for help.
Condiciones que impiden la implementación de la/s Tecnología/s aplicadas bajo el Enfoque
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Disponibilidad/ acceso a recursos y servicios financieros : For the labour needed to perform the maintenance. During the busy parts of the farming year there is little or no labour available for land management projects.
Treatment through the SLM Approach: Sustainable land management projects are scheduled for the dry season when farmers have fewer farming-related obligations.
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Marco de trabajo legal (tenencia de tierra, derechos de uso de tierra y agua): The landowner is mostly responsible
Treatment through the SLM Approach: The landowner is encouraged by others in the community to maintain the gullies that border of his/her land
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Conocimiento de MST, acceso a apoyo técnico: Farmers are not fully aware of the best gullying practices
Treatment through the SLM Approach: New methods and the use of new materials can be learned from other projects implemented in nearby areas
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Otros: Financial: To purchase tools and equipment needed for maintenance activities
Treatment through the SLM Approach: Local materials are used; the community makes in-kind and (occasionally) in-cash donations
Participación y roles de las partes interesadas involucradas
Partes interesadas involucradas en el Enfoque y sus roles
¿Qué partes interesadas/ entidades implementadoras estuvieron involucradas en el Enfoque? |
Especifique las partes interesadas |
Describa los roles de las partes interesadas |
usuarios locales de tierras/ comunidades locales |
Generally the farmer owning the land that borders on the gullies maintains them. |
Usually the gullies are dug by young men. Men are also involved when gullies collapse and heavy digging is needed. Women conduct routine maintenance throughout the year.
|
Agencia líder
The elders in the community are the repositories of traditional knowledge and best practices on gullying. The community discusses with them and together they decide on a plan of action that best suits the existing conditions. The solution is usually implemented by the men during the dry season and the women maintain the gullies during the rainy season.
Involucramiento de los usuarios locales de tierras/ comunidades locales en las distintas fases del Enfoque
ninguno
pasivo
apoyo externo
interactivo
auto-movilización
iniciación/ motivación
The community as a whole decides when it needs to initiate sustainable land management in order to prevent erosion, to increase the amount of available farmland, and to protect the village from landslides.
planificación
The community plans to dig gullies during the dry season; during the monsoon they plant grasses whose roots help to anchor the structures.
implementación
The land users implement protective measures during the times when they are not actively farming; they use all local materials
monitoreo y evaluación
Gullies are monitored routinely as part of normal farming activities; the gullies are maintained and repaired as needed.
La toma de decisiones en la selección de Tecnología MST
Las decisiones fueron tomadas por
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solamente usuarios de tierras (autoiniciativa)
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principalmente usuarios de tierras con el apoyo de especialistas MST
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todos los actores relevantes, como parte de un enfoque participativo
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principalmente por especialistas MST en consulta con usuarios de tierras
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solo por especialistas MST
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por políticos/ líderes
La toma de decisiones se basa en
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la evaluación de conocimiento MST bien documentado (la toma de decisiones se basa en evidencia)
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hallazgos de investigaciones
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la experiencia personal y opiniones (no documentadas)
Apoyo técnico, fortalecimiento institucional y gestión del conocimiento
Las siguientes actividades o servicios fueron parte del enfoque
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Construcción de capacidades / capacitación
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Servicio de asesoría
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Fortalecimiento institucional (desarrollo institucional)
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Monitoreo y evaluación
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Investigación
Monitoreo y evaluación
bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by land users through measurements; indicators: Gullies are regularly monitored by the land users but there is no formal reporting; the community observes the evolution of the approach
socio-cultural aspects were regular monitored by land users through observations; indicators: When there are temples or shrines near the gullies, these are also places of worship for Nagadevta (the snake god) and Shivadevata. The villagers make a special effort to maintain the gullies.
Continuity of the approach aspects were regular monitored by land users through observations; indicators: The community has for generations used gullying as a practice for sustainable land management.
There were few changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: The practice has not changed significantly for generations; however, the use of new materials and techniques can be observed in communities farther downhill where the practice is a more recent innovation.
Financiamiento y apoyo material externo
Presupuesto anual en dólares americanos para el componente MST
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< 2,000
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2,000-10,000
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10,000-100,000
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100,000-1,000,000
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> 1,000,000
Precise annual budget: n.d.
Approach costs were met by the following donors: local community / land user(s): 100.0%
Los siguientes servicios o incentivos fueron proporcionados a los usuarios de las tierras
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Apoyo financiero/material proporcionado a los usuarios de tierras
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Subsidios para insumos específicos
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Crédito
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Otros incentivos o instrumentos
Análisis de impacto y comentarios de conclusión
Impactos del Enfoque
No
Sí, un poco
Sí, moderadamente
Sí, mucho
¿El Enfoque ayudó a los usuarios de tierras a implementar y mantener Tecnologías MST?
Gullying helps to reduce the incidence of erosion, landslides, and floods as a result of which the dwellings in the village are more stable and everyone enjoys a greater sense of security.
¿El Enfoque empoderó a grupos en desventaja social y económica?
Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?
There are a few incidences where farmers from neighbouring valleys have observed the gullying and have implemented similar sustainable land management measures in their own villages.
Motivación principal del usuario de la tierra para implementar MST
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producción incrementada
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incremento de la renta(bilidad), proporción mejorada de costo-beneficio
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reducción de la degradación de la tierra
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reducción del riesgo de desastres naturales
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carga de trabajo reducida
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pagos/ subsidios
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reglas y reglamentos (multas)/ aplicación
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prestigio, presión social/ cohesión social
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afiliación al movimiento/ proyecto/ grupo/ redes
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conciencia medioambiental
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costumbres y creencias, moral
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conocimiento y capacidades mejorados de MST
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mejoramiento estético
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mitigación de conflicto
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Risk Minimization
Sostenibilidad de las actividades del Enfoque
¿Pueden los usuarios de tierras sostener lo que se implementó mediante el Enfoque (sin apoyo externo)?
Conclusiones y lecciones aprendidas
Fortalezas: perspectiva del usuario de tierras
Fortalezas: punto de vista del compilador o de otra persona recurso clave
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The community works together for the benefit of all. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continue to support the community in their traditional land management practices.)
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Everyone's suggestions, including those of nearby communities, are taken into serious consideration when planning sustainable land management.
(How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continue to promote a regard for others sharing the same landscape)
Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos: perspectiva del usuario de tierrascómo sobreponerse
Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos: punto de vista del compilador o de otra persona recurso clavecómo sobreponerse
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There is no formal planning and no contact with either the local authorities or potential funding agencies for conservation work
Formalize planning and implementation and become recognized as a legitimate conservation group.
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Farmers are leaving the area in search of paid employment. New actors are moving into the area and the larger community is changing. There are recurrent incidents of land use change such as brick factories moving into the area.
The government can institute zoning to regulate what land is deemed for cultivation only.
Referencias
Fecha de la implementación: 20 de agosto de 2015
Últimas actualización: 9 de julio de 2017
Personas de referencia
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Shreedip Sigdel (shreedip.sigdel@icimod.org) - Especialista MST
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Sabita Aryal (sabita@ku.edu.np) - Especialista MST
Descripción completa en la base de datos de WOCAT
La documentación fue facilitada por
Institución
- ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Nepal
- Kathmandu University (KU) - Nepal
Proyecto