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)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ) - Alemania

1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

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

01/08/2014

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

Sí

1.4 Declaración de la sostenibilidad de la Tecnología descrita

¿La Tecnología aquí descrita resulta problemática en relación a la degradación de la tierra, de tal forma que no puede considerársela una tecnología sostenible para el manejo de la tierra?

No

Comentarios:

The technology described is a means to rehabilitate degraded rangeland. Through targeted harvesting of bushes, the bush density is reduced, allowing for better growth of grass.

1.5 Referencia al (los) Cuestionario(s) de Enfoques MST

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

On Namibian farmland bushes are harvested in order to reduce the excessive bush densities, that stiffle the growth of other plant species, especially grasses. Bush can be harvested manually (e.g. with axes), semi-mechanised (e.g. chainsaws) or fully mechanised (e.g. customised excavators). After cutting, the bush is typically left to dry and in a second step processed into a transportable format (e.g. wood chips).

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

Bush thinning in the form of selective bush harvesting is applied on Namibian agricultural land. The main aim of the technology is the restoration of degraded rangeland, reducing bush densities, fostering the re-growth of grasses. According to the best available estimates about 45 million hectares of Namibian farmland are affected by bush encroachment. Bush encroachment negatively affects biodiversity, groundwater recharge and importantly the carrying capacity of rangeland. Bush encroachment equally hinders crop production, but this phenomenon is of less significance in Namibia due to the limited scope of crop production in the country. There is a multitude of causes for bush encroachment, among which overgrazing (i.e. overstocking with cattle or lack of rotational grazing), reduced frequency of wildfires and higher CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere feature strongly. Bush encroachment is not to be equated with the invations of alien species, since most encroacher species are indigeneous to Namibia

While it is believed that natural transitions in the ecosystems can on the long-run, under favourable climatic conditions, also lead to reductions of bush encroachment, active rehablitation measures are required in order to achieve improvements on the short-run. This is an aboslute necessity for many Namibian farmers, who experience severe economic difficulties due to the reduced productivity of their land.

Bush control comprises of responsive measures (bush thinning), follow-up measures (aftercare) as well as preventative measures (good rangeland management practices). Since vast areas of Namibian rangeland are heavily encroached by indigenous bush species, the focus is currently on responsive measures, i.e. bush thinning.

Bush thinning entails the practice of selectively harvesting a specified number of bushes, effectively reducing the number of bushes per given area. To determine the density of bush remaining after thinning, a formula based on tree equivalent (TE) and average annual rainfall is used. A tree equivalent is defined as a woody tree or bush of 1,5 metres in height. Thus, a 3 metre shrub would represent 2 TE, a 4.5 metre shrub 3 TE. As rule of thumb for estimating optimal bush density, about 30-35% of encroacher biomass should be removed. This rule is based on research that has been carried out mainly in South Africa over the past decades, measuring and comparing the re-growth experienced at various sites where bush had been harvested. Areas, in which too much bush was removed, experienced strong re-growth of bush, often resulting in even heavier bush encroachment.

Bush thinning follows strict environmental guidelines set by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism through the Environmental Management Act with regard to the equipment's used (avoiding negative side-effects such as disturbance of the soil) and the amount of bushes to be harvested (aiming at the right balance between reducing the encroachment and maintaining a healthy number of the desired bush species). The amount of bushes to be harvested must be determined by expert for each specific area and depends on various factors, e.g. soil type, topgraphy, severity of bush encroachment and intended land use type.

It is important to note, that as with most direct interventions in natural ecosystems, there is a lack of precise knowledge on the long-term effect of bush thinning and the appropriate intensity thereof. There is however no doubt that active bush control has an overall positive effect on the savanna ecosystem in Namibia.

In order to render bush thinning economically feasible, value chains have been developed. Through the processing and utilisation of the woody bush biomass, income can be generated and the cost of bush conrol balanced. Existing value chains include the production of charcoal, firewood, poles, bush based animal feed as well as heat and electricity. Value chains currently under development include composition materials, such as wood-plastic, wood-cement and bio-plastic.

Scientific observations have shown, that bush thinning cannot be implemented as a once-off activity, but requires regular follow-up to prevent the re-thickening of the bush. Follow-up measures (so-called aftercare) include the prevention of coppicing and re-growth. This can be achieved by applying aboricides selectively to the cut stems, stem fires or the introduction of browsers (e.g. goats). Research on the effectiveness and possible side effects of each of these methods is limited.

The need for bush control, and therewith bush thinning, is widely recognised among land owners and also acknowledged on the national political agenda.

A major challenge for the implementation of the technology is the limited suitability of available machines. The hardness and high mineral content of the woody biomass leads to high wear and tear on the equipment (both harvesting equipment and processing equipment, like chippers and pelletisers), often rendering operations unprofitable. Research into more suitable machinery is ongoing.

Further, the implementation of sustainable bush control must be improved through skills training and continuous monitoring of the long-term effects on rangeland.

2.3 Fotografías de la Tecnología

2.4 Videos 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

Indique año de implementación:

2015

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• mediante la innovación de usuarios de tierras
• durante experimentos/ investigación
• mediante proyectos/ intervenciones externas

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

Since the 1950s the phenomenon of bush encroachment has been recognised by farmers in Namibia and counter measures have been implemented over the decades. The technologies applied largely relied on the means and innovative capabilities of the respective land owner. Only as of 2014, through the introduciton of a national Support to De-bushing Project, are technologies systematically researched and tested in the field.

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

• mejorar la producción
• reducir, prevenir, restaurar la degradación del suelo
• conservar el ecosistema
• preservar/ mejorar biodiversidad
• crear impacto económico benéfico

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

Comentarios:

Namibia is characterised by large commercial cattle farms. Du to its aridity the land is largely unsuitable for crop farming, with exceptions in high-rainfall areas such as the Grootfontein, Tsumeb, Otavi triangle.

The Northern parts of Namibia are managed as communal land, where farmers have lease holds for their land. In these areas a combination of millet production and cattle herding is common.

Si el uso de la tierra ha cambiado debido a la implementación de la Tecnología, indique el uso de la tierra antes de la implementación de la Tecnología.

The implementation of bush thinning allows to maintain the land use (e.g. cattle ranching) and is typically applied to increase productivity in the long-term.

3.3 Información adicional sobre el uso de tierras

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

• de secano

Número de temporadas de cultivo por año:

• 1

Densidad del ganado (si fuese relevante):

284 000 in targeted area of bush thinning (Otjozondjupa region)

3.4 Grupo MST al que pertenece la Tecnología

• pastoralismo y manejo de tierras de pastoreo
• cobertura de suelo/ vegetal mejorada

3.5 Difusión de la Tecnología

Especifique la difusión de la Tecnología:

• distribuida parejamente sobre un área

Si la tecnología se halla difundida homogéneamente en un área, indique el área aproximada que cubre:

• 1,000-10,000 km2

Comentarios:

Currently bush thinning is implemented on a total of approximately 120.000 hectares (1.200 km2) of farmland per annum. These activities are not confied to certain areas, but spread across all of Namibia, typically concentrating in the most encroached areas (e.g. Otjozondjupa, Khomas, Oshikoto and Omaheke regions).

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

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:

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

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Especificaciones técnicas/ explicaciones del dibujo técnico

Drawing of a bush harvesting site layout. The drawing depicts fully mechanised bush harvesting and immediate processing into wood chips. This set-up is most suitable for large-scale bush thinning, e.g. for the purpose of supplying biomass in larger quantities. Such off-take includes the potential export of bush in processed form (pellets) or energetic utilisation (e.g. local biomass power plants or biomass boilers in the industry). Currently two such energy solutions exist in Namibia, one at a local brewery and one at a local cement factory.

Note that a range of bush harvesting methods exist, ranging from fully mechanised (as depicted) to manual bush harvesting (e.g. with axes). The site layout and principles are the same in all scenarios, but harvesting speed and costs differ.

The bush harvesting process:
Bushes are harvested selectively with and excavator, to which a hydraulic sheer cutter is attached. The biomass is stacked in rows and left for drying some six to eight weeks (depending on weather conditions). The biomass is then further processed with a chipper and collected with a trailer for further transport off the farm (e.g. to a biomass power plant or industrial off-taker). As a rule of thumb, one third of the standing biomass is removed, leaving two thirds standing. Harvesting starts with smaller plants and then moves to larger ones, cutting only plants with 15 centimetres of diameter or less (as per Namibian forestry regulations).

Cost of bush harvesting can be calculated per hectare (e.g. land owner's perspective) or per tonne (in fuel supply agreements with off-takers). All below stated costs are approximations, as costs vary widely depending on the local framework conditions on a given piece of land. Typically the costs to harvest bush on one hectare range from 2,000 NAD to 4,000 NAD.

4.3 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

Especifique cómo se calcularon los costos e insumos:

• por área de Tecnología

otra / moneda nacional (especifique):

Namibia Dollar (NAD)

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

0,078

4.4 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento
1.	Bush harvesting/felling	Vegetativas	Year around
2.	Stacking (and drying)	Otras medidas	Year around
3.	Feeding the chipping operation	Otras medidas	Year around
4.	Transport	Otras medidas	Year around

Comentarios:

The restorative measure includes bush harvesting/felling as well as aftercare measures. Additional activities include the processing (e.g. into chips) and transport of the woody material off the farm/land.

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	1 x Mechanic	person days	0,2	2000,0	400,0
Mano de obra	4 x Operators	person days	0,8	300,0	240,0
Mano de obra	1 x Operation manager chipping	person days	0,2	1000,0	200,0
Mano de obra	1 x Chipping operator	person days	2,0	150,0	300,0
Equipo	1 x 12t Excavator	pieces	1,0	120,0	120,0
Equipo	2 x Hydraulic grab and shearing attachments	pieces	2,0	60,0	120,0
Equipo	2 x Three wheel loggers	pieces	2,0	180,0	360,0
Equipo	1 x Chipper	pieces	1,0	840,0	840,0
Otros	Management and administration overhead	lump sum	1,0	200,0	200,0
Otros						12,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología					2780,0

4.6 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Aftercare	Vegetativas	Annually

Comentarios:

When land is thinned it creates a vacuum in which weeds and woody plants (sometimes more aggressive colonisers than the original encroacher species) will quickly establish themselves. Regular aftercare needs to be applied in order to prevent the excessive re-growth of bush (and therewith new degradation of the land). Various methods are in use to manage the re-growth of bush following harvesting. These include selective application of arboricides, stem burning, and intensive browsing by goats or antelopes.

The more sustainable the bush harvesting itself has taken place, importantly not completely clearing larger areas of vegetation, the less likely is agressive re-growth of bush. In all bush thinning exercises it is important to leave larger bushes and trees untouched and to start by removing the smaller, less established bushes. In addition, not only individual larger bushes must be left standing, but also islands/patches of bushes, which fulfill important ecosystem services, e.g. habitat for animals.

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

Si fuera posible, desglose los costos de mantenimiento de acuerdo a la siguiente tabla, especificando insumos y costos por insumo. Si usted no pudiese desglosar los costos, proporcione un estimado de los costos totales que se necesitan para el mantenimiento de la Tecnología:

500,0

Comentarios:

Commonly aftercare is applied in form of manual application of herbicides to the cut stems, in order to prevent re-growth of the bushes.

4.8 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

(1) Investment in machinery (if not applied manually)
(2) Maintenance of machinery (high wear and tear due to hardness of wood and high mineral content)
(3) Remoteness of farms/land from buyers/markets

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

Indique si la Tecnología se aplica específicamente en:

• no relevante

5.3 Suelos

5.4 Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

¿La salinidad del agua es un problema?

No

¿Se está llevando a cabo la inundación del área? :

No

5.5 Biodiversidad

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

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 tierra:

• individual

Derechos de uso de agua:

• individual

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 ecológicos

Biodiversidad: vegetación, animales

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?
lluvia anual		disminuyó	no muy bien

Extremos (desastres) relacionados al clima

Desastres climatológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
sequía	nada bien

Comentarios:

Despite only limited research exists, long periods of drought that the country has recently faced, are credited to climate change. Drought intensifies the challenge for farmers, as already degraded rangeland has limited capacity to recover in the absence of rain. The technology of bush thinning itself has limited effect if no rain follows the removal of bushes.

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:

Bush thinned land takes 3-5 years to fully recover its productive grass layer, thus direct economic benefits are only experienced with a delay.

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

• casos individuales / experimentales

Si tiene la información disponible, cuantifique (número de hogares y/o área cubierta):

120'000 hectares are bush thinned per year in Namibia; figures on the increase

De todos quienes adoptaron la Tecnología, ¿cuántos lo hicieron espontáneamente, es decir, sin recibir incentivos/ pagos materiales?

• 50-90%

Comentarios:

Farmers largely implement bush control on their own initiative; increasingly value chains are being developed and dedicated service providers offer bush control.

6.6 Adaptación

¿La tecnología fue modificada recientemente para adaptarse a las condiciones cambiantes?

Sí

Si fuera así, indique a qué condiciones cambiantes se adaptó:

• mercados cambiantes

Especifique la adaptación de la Tecnología (diseño, material/ especies, etc.):

Increasingly bush harvesting is carried out with mechanised means, aiming at large scale production for large biomass off-takers, both in the country and internationally.

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
Effective measure against bush encroachment
Costs can be balanced with additional income through the sale of the biomass/biomass based products

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
Apart from the main purpose of rehabilitating rangeland, bush control has various side benefits, such as employment creation and industrialisation.
Bush control and biomass utilisation can contribute to energy security in the country.
The available range of technologies (from manual to fully mechanised) allows to develop viable concept for all types of land/land ownership scenarios.

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?
High initial costs involved	Development of dedicated financial products
Possible negative consequences, such as more aggressive re-growth of species	Increased knowledge dissemination, skills development and mentorship programmes

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Necessity of cross-sector collaboration, e.g. agriculture, forestry, environment, industry, energy and resulting complexity	Introduction of effective steering body on national level
Challenges to sustain operations in communal areas/on land that is not owned by individuals	Development of concepts for community based projects and cooperation with relevant regional authorities and decision making bodies (e.g. Regional Councils, Conservancies)

7.1 Métodos/ fuentes de información

7.2 Vínculos a las publicaciones disponibles

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Baseline Assessment for De-bushing Programme in Namibia (2014)

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Demand Survey for the implementation of a De-bushing Advisory Service (2015)

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Value Added user-opportunities for encroacher bush (2015)

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Compendium of harvesting technologies for encroacher bush (2015)

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Assessment of biomass resource and potential yield in Namibia (2015)

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on bush thinning and biomass utilisation (2015)

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Assesment of financial products and incentive schemes for bush harvesting and value addition (2015)

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Environmental and forestry bush harvesting guidelines and generic Environmental Management Plan (2016)

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Regional assessment of the economics of land degradation related to bush encroachment in Otjozondjupa, Namibia

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

GIZ Support to De-bushing Project, www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

7.3 Vínculos a la información relevante disponible en línea

Título/ descripción:

De-bushing Advisory Service (DAS) Namibia, Resource Section

URL:

www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título/ descripción:

Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG)

URL:

www.n-big.org

Título/ descripción:

Videos

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwCICCfwf0SdVBqg2ZcAcKA