1.2 Detalles de contacto de las personas de referencia e instituciones involucradas en la evaluación y la documentación de la Tecnología

Nombre de la(s) institución(es) que facilitaron la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

Haramaya University (HU) - Etiopía

1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

¿Cuándo se compilaron los datos (en el campo)?

02/05/2011

El compilador y la/s persona(s) de referencia claves aceptan las condiciones acerca del uso de los datos documentados mediante WOCAT:

Sí

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

Stone wall check dams are built across a gully to collect alluvial soil and hinder further gully erosion.

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

During the 1980s stone walls and terraces were introduced in Ethiopia in order to combat soil erosion. The technology of stone walls or terraces is used to stabilize hills or to refill gullies also in Bati, Ethiopia. Stone walls can form a very strong check dam to rehabilitate gullies even several meters deep.

Purpose of the Technology: Although stone walls can be used for different purposes, this case study is focusing on stone walls used to combat gully erosion. Farmers in the Bati region often use stone walls to rehabilitate gullies if the material is easily accessible, otherwise they may search for alternatives.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Following procedure is undertaken to build a stone wall check dam: After breaking the stones in the source-area they are transported to the target-area either by hand, by camels or by donkeys, depending on the distance. After digging a foundation for the wall of approximately 30 cm depth, the gap between two rows of big stones 1 m apart is filled up with smaller stones and gravel. These actions are repeated until the desired height and width of the wall are reached

Natural / human environment: The case study site, Bati, lays in an semiarid climatic zone on 1600 m a.s.l. Rainfalls are erratic and the rain sum per year is between 500-1000 mm. The landscape is very hilly with rather steep slopes. As almost in all Ethiopia, the area has a high population density and growth. The agricultural sector is very dominant and lead by a lot of small scale farming with a lot of livestock and small plots of cropland.

2.3 Fotografías de la Tecnología

2.5 País/ región/ lugares donde la Tecnología fue aplicada y que se hallan comprendidos por esta evaluación

2.6 Fecha de la implementación

Si no se conoce el año preciso, indique la fecha aproximada:

• 10-50 años atrás

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• mediante proyectos/ intervenciones externas

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

Soil and water conservation measures, including stone wall check dams, were mainly introduced to land users during the 1980s by the government. Sometimes the technology is not adequately performed though. In recent years the local Agricultural Office is teaching farmers how to correctly build soil and water conservation measures not only on a technology basis but to take care of an integrated watershed management.

3.1 Propósito(s) principal(es) de la Tecnología MST

• reducir, prevenir, restaurar la degradación del suelo

3.2 Tipo(s) actuales de uso de la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Deforestation, overgrazing, cultivation of erosion-sensitive areas or steep slopes.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Too much soil loss and land degradation, no vegetation cover and poor soil moisture.

Grazingland comments: Livestock is not fenced in. Children herd the animals and watch out that they do not browse through crop fields. In off-farming season crop residues are collected from the field and stored next to the field. Animals are allowed to eat the still remaining residues on the field. After that, the animals are fed by the collected crop residues.

Livestock is grazing on crop residues

Type of grazing system comments: Livestock is not fenced in. Children herd the animals and watch out that they do not browse through crop fields. In off-farming season crop residues are collected from the field and stored next to the field. Animals are allowed to eat the still remaining residues on the field. After that, the animals are fed by the collected crop residues.

3.3 Información adicional sobre el uso de tierras

Provisión de agua para la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología:

• mixta de secano – irrigada

Comentarios:

Water supply: Also rainfed

Especifique:

Longest growing period in days: 90 Longest growing period from month to month: June until September

Densidad del ganado (si fuese relevante):

> 100 LU /km2

3.4 Grupo MST al que pertenece la Tecnología

• medida de pendiente transversal

3.5 Difusión de la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.6 m2.

Size of the case study watershed.

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (Deforestation for the past 30 years.), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (Wood collection for cooking and construction.), overgrazing (50% of the watershed area are cultivated - big grazing pressure on remaining land), other human induced causes (specify) (Cultivation of very steep slopes.), change of seasonal rainfall (Erratic rainfall.), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (If there is rain, it is intensive.), population pressure (High population pressure.), poverty / wealth (Poor facilities.)

Secondary causes of degradation: soil management (Poor soil management practices and lack of awareness.), crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Annual cropping.), droughts (The research area is considered rather dry.), land tenure (If the land is rented, it is poorly managed.), inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (Poor access to fertilizer. Bad infrastructures.), education, access to knowledge and support services (Lack of awareness for soil degradation.), Low productivity of the land (As a consequence seeking for new/larger areas to increase production.)

3.8 Prevención, reducción o restauración de la degradación del suelo

Especifique la meta de la Tecnología con relación a la degradación de la tierra:

• reducir la degradación del suelo
• restaurar/ rehabilitar tierra severamente degradada

Comentarios:

Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Especificaciones técnicas/ explicaciones del dibujo técnico

Stone wall check dams as they can be found in the region of Bati. The approximately 1 m wide gap between two rows of larger stones is filled up with small stones or gravel. This is done for every new level of the wall until the wall reaches its final height. The first row of stones is placed in the top 30 cm of the ground and on each side the dam is entering the hill to some extent. After a wall has silted up, the height is increased by other rows of stones until desired dimension is reached. Walls up to 5 m can be found in the case study site.

Location: South-West of Bati. Bati Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Date: 26.04.2011

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate (To teach the farmers how to perform an integrated watershed management.)

Technical knowledge required for land users: high (To build a robust check dam there is a lot of knowledge needed.)

Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, increase / maintain water stored in soil, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Secondary technical functions: water harvesting / increase water supply, improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water

Retention/infiltration ditch/pit, sediment/sand trap
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 10
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 0%

4.3 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

otra / moneda nacional (especifique):

Ethiopian Birr

Indique la tasa de cambio de USD a la moneda local (si fuese relevante): 1 USD =:

16,82

4.4 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento
1.	Preparation of the stones (500 person days needed).	Estructurales	During dry season.
2.	Transportation of the stones (depending on the distance).	Estructurales	During dry season.
3.	Digging a foundation of 30 cm depth (165 person days needed).	Estructurales	During dry season.
4.	Building of the stone wall (500 person days needed).	Estructurales	During dry season.

4.5 Costos e insumos necesarios para el establecimiento

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Mano de obra	Labour	ha	1,0	1165,0	1165,0	50,0
Equipo	Tools	ha	1,0	5,0	5,0	100,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología					1170,0

4.6 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Prepare the stones (250 person days needed).	Estructurales	During dry season if needed.
2.	If dam is silted up, increasing the height by 0.5 m (250 person days needed)	Estructurales	Every year in dry season.

4.7 Costos e insumos necesarios para actividades de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (por año)

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Mano de obra	Labour	ha	1,0	500,0	500,0	50,0
Equipo	Tools	ha	1,0	5,0	5,0	100,0
Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología					505,0

Comentarios:

Machinery/ tools: Shovel, digging hoe, iron rod.

Total costs of a hectare were calculated for a wall of 100 m length and 1 m of height every 20 m (500 m total wall) in the year 2011. Tool prices were estimated and labor costs were calculated with a daily wage of 1$.

4.8 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Rough topology in the area, questionable availability of construction materials if they are not found nearby.

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre topografía :

Altitudinal zone: 1501-2000 m a.s.l. (The study site is located at 1600m a.s.l.)
Landforms: Hill slopes (ranked 1) and valley floors (ranked 2)
Slopes on average: Hilly (ranked 1), rolling (ranked 2) and steep (ranked 3)

5.3 Suelos

Si se halla disponible, adjunte una descripción completa de los suelos o especifique la información disponible, por ej., tipo de suelo, pH/ acidez de suelo, capacidad de intercambio catiónico, nitrógeno, salinidad, etc. :

Soil depth on average: Very shallow (ranked 1) and shallow (ranked 2)
Soil textur: Coarse/light (ranked 1) and medium (ranked 2)
Soil fertility is low
Soil drainage/infiltration is poor
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre calidad y cantidad de agua:

Ground water table: Unknown
Availability of surface water is poor/none (Only during rainy season)
Water quality (untreated): Poor drinking water (treatment required, mostly groundwater)

5.5 Biodiversidad

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre biodiversidad:

Relative to other parts of Ethiopia.

5.6 Las características de los usuarios de la tierra que aplican la Tecnología

Indique otras características relevantes de los usuarios de las tierras:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 100-200 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 6%
1% of the land users are rich (Adopt the most of SWC technologies).
19% of the land users are average wealthy.
89% of the land users are poor.
Off-farm income specification: Off-farm income has low importance.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (Plowing by oxen, ranked 1) and manual labour (ranked 2)
Market orientation cropland: Subsistence
Market orientation grazing land: Goat/sheep are main meat source (in household or on market).

5.7 Área promedio de la tierra que pertenece a o es arrendada por usuarios de tierra que aplican la Tecnología

5.8 Tenencia de tierra, uso de tierra y derechos de uso de agua

Tenencia de tierra:

• individual, con título

Derechos de uso de agua:

• acceso abierto (no organizado)

5.9 Acceso a servicios e infraestructura

6.1 Impactos in situ demostrados por la Tecnología

Impactos socioeconómicos

Producción

Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

Ingreso y costos

Impactos socioculturales

Impactos ecológicos

Ciclo de agua/ escurrimiento de sedimento

Suelo

Biodiversidad: vegetación, animales

Reducción de riesgos de desastres y riesgos climáticos

6.2 Impactos fuera del sitio demostrados por la Tecnología

6.3 Exposición y sensibilidad de la Tecnología al cambio climático gradual y a extremos relacionados al clima/ desastres (desde la percepción de los usuarios de tierras)

Cambio climático gradual

Cambio climático gradual

	Estación	tipo de cambios climáticos/ climas extremos	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
temperatura anual		incrementó	bien

Extremos (desastres) relacionados al clima

Desastres climatológicos:

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
tormenta de lluvia local	bien
tormenta de viento	bien

Desastres climatológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
sequía	bien

Desastres hidrológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
inundación general (río)	bien

Otras consecuencias relacionadas al clima

Otras consecuencias relacionadas al clima

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
periodo reducido de crecimiento	bien

6.4 Análisis costo-beneficio

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de establecimiento (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

Comentarios:

Big labour input for establishment. Also maintenance needs some work every year. But also high benefit by additional farming land gained due to the check dams.

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

Comentarios:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: In the past 6 years the local Agricultural Office has supported farmers to treat their watersheds with SWC technologies based on a food for work programme. Today farmers build the structures on their own but seek support.

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Most of the farmers build SWC technologies (includin stone check dams in gullies) because of the food for work programme

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
The stone check dams are conserving soil and moisture. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Maintain the dams.
Due to alluvial soil there is additional farming land and therefore increased productivity. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Take care of the walls as well of the surrounding area and the whole watershed.

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
Stone check dams are a quite durable structure. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Stability could be enhanced by additional technologies e.g. similar as gabbions or planting of trees/shrubs in front of the wall to reduce collapsing possibility.
The structure collects alluvial soil which can be plowed and used as new farming fields. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Structure maintenance is important. If the dam fails, the field is washed out as well.
The technology is widely used around the world (perhaps with local adaptations) and is therefore well documented. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Keep on with documentation and monitoring of limitations and potentials of stone check dams around the world.

6.8 Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos de la Tecnología y formas de sobreponerse a ellos

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
The Land users could not tell any disadvantages of the technology.	Could be an indicator that there is enough spare time to build and maintain structures during off-farming season.

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Large labour input at establishment and during maintenance period.	Possibly by machinery but it is very expensive.
During time of establishment/maintenance there is no time for farming activites. These activities can therefore be seen as hidden costs.	Perhaps a "professional" team that takes care of check dams and is payed for it.

7.2 Vínculos a las publicaciones disponibles

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Bach S. (2012) Potentials and limitations of Jatropha curcas as a multipurpose crop for sustainable energy supply and soil and water conservation - a case study in Bati, Ethiopia, using the WOCAT approach. Unpublished master’s thesis, Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern.