Breve descripción de la práctica óptima

The technology of establishing shelterbelts/woodlots was developed by Sustainable Land Management Project to protect arable lands, habitations and infrastructure from hot desiccating winds blowing a speed of 80-90 km/hr and very high evapotranspiration rates that create the problem of moving/shifting sand dunes. The limiting factor in establishing shelterbelts/woodlots was the water required for irrigation of trees due to high cost of sinking bore holes and diesel motor for uplifting underground water.  A demonstration was established on 115 ha (290 acres) after motivating the local communities. Multiple rows of trees were planted as shelterbelts/woodlots of indigenous tree species like Tamarix aphylla  (frash) and Acacia nilotica, (kikar). The distance between plants and rows was 10 feet . About 12 inch long one year old cuttings of Frash were driven into sand up to 9 inches, leaving 3 inches above ground. One bore hole, about 40-70 feet deep, was dug to arrange water for irrigation of plants on each 2.5 acres. Effort was made to select such a site for bore whole from where water could be supplied through gravity flow. A 6 hp diesel operated peter engine fitted with pump was used to lift water from the bore hole. Each peter engine had a portable frame and was rotated between four bore holes to efficiently irrigate planted area of 10 acres. The peter engines were fitted with two hydrant points, at few locations, to reduce the number of bore holes. Plastic pipes of one inch diameter and 100 feet in length were either fixed with each of the two hydrant points or directly fitted with the peter engines to water each plant. The young plants were protected from grazing/browsing. Watermelons were intercropped at few sites to make best use of the available water and land resource. Frash proved to be most suited natural barrier against hot desiccating wind. It is easier to propagate, relatively fast growing and has readily available market.|

Lugar

District Bhakkar of Punjab Province,Pakistan|

Breve descripción del entorno natural en el lugar especificado

The terrain predominantly has sand dunes with inter-dune arable lands. The old dunes are usually higher than 8-10 m with low rates of movement and have potentials to support natural vegetation. The new dunes are mostly smaller than 8 meter and are almost devoid of vegetation with high rate of sand movement.
Semi Arid climate with summer temperature in the range of 32-40 degree Celsius reaching a maximum of upto 49 degree Celsius. The winter temperature ranges between 3-8 degree Celsius with widespread frost. Average annual rainfall is less than 10 inches and mostly received during June, July and August.|
The area is Tropical Sandy Desert along the high banks of the Indus River. Whole area is characterized with sandy soil and extensive sand dunes. Wind erosion is a major problem that leads to erosion of top soil, organic matter, damage to crop fields and often lead to loss agricultural lands and infrastructures.

Condiciones socioeconómicas imperantes de los habitantes del lugar o las proximidades

The area under cultivation is 0.719 million ha whereas 0.094 million ha is uncultivated. An area of 0.036 million ha is state owned whereas 0.035 million ha are available for agriculture, while the remaing is uncultivated lands. The arable land is mostly privately owned with majority of the population possessing about 5 acres agriculture land per household.|
Employment opportunities are quite low in the area. There are only 15 registered industrial units in the area, which  provide employment to about 20,000 individuals. Agriculture productivity is very low. Land holding are relatively small due to inheritance divisions. It has further reduced the house incomes from agricuklture produces. People supplementtheir income from sale of livestock and their by- products.|
Majority of the population practice rainfed agriculture and rear livestock. Farmers cultivate millet (Pennisetum typhoides) and guar (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus) in the summer, and wheat, gram (chickpea), barley and tara mira (Eruca sativa) in winter. The people are heavily dependent upon 0.799 million cattles and 1.116 million small ruminants.

¿En base de qué criterios o indicadores (no relacionados con la Estrategia) se ha considerado la práctica propuesta y la tecnología correspondiente como ‘óptima’?

The Sustainable Land Management Project has succussfully demonstrated raising woodlots and shelterbelts, which has convinced the farmers that stabilization of sand dunes is possible cost effectively without incurring heavy expenditures on land levelling. Improvised irrigation system introduced for watering plants persuaded the farmers that water could be managed efficiently to irrigate forest plants even at the top of sand dunes. Protection of productive agriculture land increased crop yield. Production of timber and fuel-wood is likely to be increased substantially. Animal waste was used manure to increase productivity of agricultural fields. The technique was relatively less labour intensive that encouraged farmers to rehabilitate more area that created additional employment opportunities at rural level.|
Demonstrations established by the project convinced the farmers that stabilization of moving dunes is possible cost effectively without incurring heavy expenditures on land levelling. Improvised irrigation system introduced for watering the plants persuaded the farmers that water could be managed efficiently to irrigate the plants at the top of the dunes. Protection of productive agriculture land increased the crop yield. Production of light timber and fuel-wood increased hence animal waste was used to increase productivity of agricultural fields. The technique was relatively less labour intensive that encouraged farmers to rehabilitate more area that created  additional employment opportunities at rural level.

Principales problemas que trata la práctica óptima

1. Wind erosion
2. Shortage of water|3. Shortage of fuelwood, fodder and timber|Prevention of sand dunes movement

Explique los problemas específicos de la degradación de las tierras que trata la práctica óptima.

Wind erosion in sandy deserts is common problem that prevents productive agriculture in such lands. It also damages standing crops, human habitations, and infrastructure. The shelter-belts created barrier to wind velocity upto 15 times the height of plants within the shelter-belt. In addition, drought conditions were recovered by accessing ground water through inexpensive measures using traditional technologies and without harming the local environment.  
wind erosion in sandy deserts is common problem that prevents productive agriculture in those lands and also damages standing crops, habitations and infrastructure. The shelter-belts created barrier to wind velocity upto 15 times the height of plants within the shelter-belt.
In addition, drought conditions were recovered by accessing ground water through cheap measures and without harming the environment.  

Especifique los objetivos de la práctica óptima.

1. Control wind erosion and sand dunes movement through approperiate soil conservation measures|2. Harvesting of ground water through inexpensive local technologies|Moblizing local communities for controlling DLDD
1. Control wind erosion and sand dunes movement through approperiate soil conservation measures|2. Harvesting of ground water through inexpensive local technologies|Moblizing local communities for controlling DLDD

Breve descripción de las principales actividades, por objetivo

Raised shelter-belt plantations on farmlands|Raised woodlots over 300 acre unproductive lands and sand dunes
Harvesting ground water by using multiple bore holes, peter engines, and pipes|
Introduced participatory land use planning for sustainable management of land resources
Establised Community Based Organizations for undertaking participatory SLM activities

Breve descripción y especificaciones técnicas de la tecnología

Background: The administrative district of Bhakkar is located in Thal. The average annual rainfall of Bhakkar districts is very low and only supports xerophytic type of natural vegetation. Wind erosion is a major problem in the Thal desert where the higher average wind speeds, a dominantly sandy terrain, sparse vegetation cover and high human activities on the sand dunes and sandy plains lead to accentuation of sand blowing. It often leads to erosion of top soil containing precious little organic matter, damages to crop plants, burial of good agricultural lands and infrastructures, as well as disruption of transportation network.
Description: The site selection and appraisal was conducted jointly by the representatives of local communities, vegetation experts of Forest Department (FD) and On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) expert of the District Administration. Since the land belonged to more than one farmer hence whole community was involved by forming a community based organization (CBO) with the support of a social organizer. The making of bore holes and purchase of peter engines for the improvised irrigation system was made under the guidance of OFWM expert. Selection of plant species and planting design was made by the forestry experts of FD based on the geo-physical and agro-ecological conditions, community needs and marketing opportunities. Establishment of shelterbelts/woodlots was initiated in consultation with the CBOs. Protection of newly planted trees, irrigation of young seedlings, after-care and monitoring plans was the joint responsibility of all stakeholders. The practice concluded with planting of 115 ha (290 acres) of farmlands in three villages of District Bhakkar.

Nombre y dirección de la institución que desarrolla la tecnología

National Coordination Unit-Sustainable Land Management Project (SLMP)|H.No. 7, St. 62, G-6/4
Islamabad, Pakistan
Ph: 051-2602467-68
|Provincial Coordination Unit-SLMP|Planning and Development Department, Government of Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan

¿La tecnología se desarrolló en una alianza?

Sí

enumere los asociados:

1. Punjab Forest Department, Pooch House Multan Road, Lahore, Pakistan.|2. Punjab Agriculture Department, Near Civil Secretariat, Lahore, Pakistan.

Especifique el marco en el que se promovió la tecnología

• Iniciativa local
• Iniciativa nacional – gubernamental
• Iniciativa basada en un programa/proyecto
• Otro (especifique)

Especifique:

No Answer

¿La participación de interesados locales, incluidas las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, favoreció el desarrollo de la tecnología?

Sí

enumere los interesados participantes:

1. Member of Community Based Organizations of three villages.|2. Officials of Punjab Forest and Agriculture Departments, Government of Punjab|3. Officials of District Government of Bhakkar.

Detalle la función de los interesados enumerados anteriormente en cuanto a diseño, introducción, uso y mantenimiento de la tecnología, en su caso.

Members of the three community based organizations remained fully involved in creating awareness and interest among the farmers to encourage them towards establishing shelterbelts/woodlots. The officials of the local Agriculture and Forest Departments collaborated with the CBOs in all phases of the initiative, from planning to implementation. The project social organizer played a catalytic role in ensuring collaboration between the CBOs and the government departments. The financial contribution of the donor agencies was insured by the government agencies whereas that from the local farmer was gathered by the CBOs. The local people who provided labour have benefited financially from the activity. The CBOs remained fully involved in the aftercare and maintenance of the planted area.

Describa los impactos in situ (los dos principales impactos por categoría).

No Answer
Increased productivity of the agriculture crops in the inter-dunes.
Improved micro-environment through increased vegetation cover.
Enhanced capacities of the local CBOs to mitigate degraded lands.
Decreased sand dune movement.
In few areas salinity and water-logging was controlled.
Income opportunities increased for the local population as well as merchandize.
Production of light timber and fuelwood improved.

Describa los dos principales impactos fuera del lugar (por ejemplo, que no se registran en el lugar, pero sí en las zonas próximas).

Supply of light timber and fuel-wood to the neighbouring districts increased.

Impacto en la diversidad biológica y el cambio climático

Justifíquelo:

The practice has increased a valuable source of carbon sequestration through shelterbelts/ woodlots. The reduction of local temperatures has provided relief against the extreme weather conditions to the local inhabitants and animals.

¿Se ha elaborado un análisis costo-beneficio?

¿Se ha elaborado un análisis costo-beneficio? :

Sí

¿La tecnología se difundió o introdujo en otros lugares?

¿La tecnología se difundió o introdujo en otros lugares? :

Sí

¿Dónde? :

Desert areas of neighbouring districts

¿Puede identificar las tres principales condiciones para el éxito de la práctica óptima/tecnología presentada?

Introduction of low-cost improvised irrigation system to support plantations of locally adopted xerophytic tree species.
Local availability and easy use of all materials required for the technology.
Participatory approach of all stakeholders and Government/donor agency support to the CBOs.

En relación con los recursos humanos

Collaboration between the CBOs and the technical experts was an important factor that resulted in successful implementation of the technique on ground.|Capacity building of the CBO members in raising shelterbelts/ woodlots and use of improvised irrigation system was useful in developing local expertise.

En relación con los aspectos técnicos

An essential component of the technique was provision of one year old plants or cuttings for planting. The success of the initiative was due on timely availability of healthy plants for afforestation. Decentralized farmer nurseries of assorted species must be raised to support the activity in future as well.|Treatment for termite attack is also required at the time of planting.