1.2 Detalhes do contato das pessoas capacitadas e instituições envolvidas na avaliação e documentação da tecnologia

Nome da(s) instituição(ões) que facilitou(ram) a documentação/ avaliação da Tecnologia (se relevante)

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

1.3 Condições em relação ao uso da informação documentada através de WOCAT

Quando os dados foram compilados (no campo)?

01/08/2014

O/a compilador/a e a(s) pessoa(s) capacitada(s) aceitam as condições relativas ao uso de dados documentados através da WOCAT:

Sim

1.4 Declaração de sustentabilidade da tecnologia descrita

A tecnologia descrita aqui é problemática em relação a degradação da terra de forma que não pode ser declarada uma tecnologia de gestão sustentável de terra?

Não

Comentários:

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 Referência ao(s) questionário(s) sobre as abordagens da GST

2.1 Descrição curta da tecnologia

Definição da tecnologia:

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 Descrição detalhada da tecnologia

Descrição:

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 Fotos da tecnologia

2.4 Vídeos da tecnologia

2.5 País/região/locais onde a tecnologia foi aplicada e que estão cobertos nesta avaliação

2.6 Data da implementação

Indique o ano de implementação:

2015

2.7 Introdução da tecnologia

Especifique como a tecnologia foi introduzida:

• atráves de inovação dos usuários da terra
• durante experiências/ pesquisa
• através de projetos/intervenções externas

Comentários (tipos de projeto, 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 Principal/principais finalidade(s) da tecnologia

• Melhora a produção
• Reduz, previne, recupera a degradação do solo
• Preserva ecossistema
• Preservar/melhorar a biodiversidade
• Criar impacto econômico benéfico

3.2 Tipo(s) atualizado(s) de uso da terra onde a tecnologia foi aplicada

Comentários:

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.

Caso o uso da terra tenha mudado devido a implementação da tecnologia, indique seu uso anterior à implementação da tecnologia:

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 Mais informações sobre o uso da terra

Abastecimento de água para a terra na qual a tecnologia é aplicada:

• Precipitação natural

Número de estações de cultivo por ano:

• 1

Densidade animal (se relevante):

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

3.4 Grupo de GST ao qual pertence a tecnologia

• Gestão de pastoralismo e pastagem
• Solo/cobertura vegetal melhorada

3.5 Difusão da tecnologia

Especifique a difusão da tecnologia:

• Uniformemente difundida numa área

Caso a tecnologia seja uniformemente difundida numa área, indique a área coberta aproximada:

• 1.000-10,000 km2

Comentários:

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 de GST contendo a tecnologia

3.7 Principais tipos de degradação da terra abordados pela tecnologia

3.8 Redução, prevenção ou recuperação da degradação do solo

Especifique o objetivo da tecnologia em relação a degradação da terra:

• Prevenir degradação do solo
• Recuperar/reabilitar solo severamente degradado

4.1 Desenho técnico da tecnologia

4.2 Especificações técnicas/ explicações do desenho 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 Informação geral em relação ao cálculo de entradas e custos

Especifique como custos e entradas foram calculados:

• por área de tecnologia

Outro/moeda nacional (especifique):

Namibia Dollar (NAD)

Indique a taxa cambial do dólar norte americano para a moeda local (se relevante): 1 USD =:

0,078

4.4 Atividades de implantação

	Atividade	Tipo de medida	Periodicidade
1.	Bush harvesting/felling	Vegetativo	Year around
2.	Stacking (and drying)	Outras medidas	Year around
3.	Feeding the chipping operation	Outras medidas	Year around
4.	Transport	Outras medidas	Year around

Comentários:

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 Custos e entradas necessárias para a implantação

	Especifique a entrada	Unidade	Quantidade	Custos por unidade	Custos totais por entrada	% dos custos arcados pelos usuários da terra
Mão-de-obra	1 x Mechanic	person days	0,2	2000,0	400,0
Mão-de-obra	4 x Operators	person days	0,8	300,0	240,0
Mão-de-obra	1 x Operation manager chipping	person days	0,2	1000,0	200,0
Mão-de-obra	1 x Chipping operator	person days	2,0	150,0	300,0
Equipamento	1 x 12t Excavator	pieces	1,0	120,0	120,0
Equipamento	2 x Hydraulic grab and shearing attachments	pieces	2,0	60,0	120,0
Equipamento	2 x Three wheel loggers	pieces	2,0	180,0	360,0
Equipamento	1 x Chipper	pieces	1,0	840,0	840,0
Outros	Management and administration overhead	lump sum	1,0	200,0	200,0
Outros						12,0
Custos totais para a implantação da tecnologia					2780,0

4.6 Atividades recorrentes/manutenção

	Atividade	Tipo de medida	Periodicidade/frequência
1.	Aftercare	Vegetativo	Annually

Comentários:

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 Custos e entradas necessárias pata a manutenção/atividades recorrentes (por ano)

Se possível, discrimine os custos de manutenção de acordo com a seguinte tabela, especificando entradas e custos por entrada. Se não for possível, dê uma estimativa dos custos totais de manutenção da tecnologia:

500,0

Comentários:

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 Fatores mais importantes que afetam os custos

Descreva os fatores mais determinantes que afetam os custos:

(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 Topografia

Indique se a tecnologia é aplicada especificamente em:

• Não relevante

5.3 Solos

5.4 Disponibilidade e qualidade de água

A salinidade da água é um problema?

Não

Ocorre inundação da área?

Não

5.5 Biodiversidade

5.6 Características dos usuários da terra que utilizam a tecnologia

5.7 Média da área de terra própria ou arrendada por usuários da terra que utilizam a tecnologia

5.8 Propriedade de terra, direitos de uso da terra e de uso da água

Propriedade da terra:

• Indivíduo, intitulado

Direitos do uso da terra:

• Indivíduo

Direitos do uso da água:

• Indivíduo

5.9 Acesso a serviços e infraestrutura

6.1 Impactos no local mostrados pela tecnologia

Impactos socioeconômicos

Produção

Disponibilidade e qualidade de água

Renda e custos

Impactos ecológicos

Biodiversidade: vegetação, animais

6.3 Exposição e sensibilidade da tecnologia às mudanças climáticas graduais e extremos/desastres relacionados ao clima (conforme o ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)

Mudança climática gradual

Mudança climática gradual

	Estação do ano	Tipo de mudança climática/extremo	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Precipitação pluviométrica anual		redução/diminuição	não bem

Extremos (desastres) relacionados ao clima

Desastres climatológicos

	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Seca	não bem em absoluto

Comentários:

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 Análise do custo-benefício

Como os benefícios se comparam aos custos de implantação (do ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)?

Como os benefícios se comparam aos custos recorrentes/de manutenção(do ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)?

Comentários:

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 Adoção da tecnologia

• casos isolados/experimental

Se disponível, determine a quantidade (número de unidades familiares e/ou área abordada):

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

Entre todos aqueles que adotaram a tecnologia, quantos adotaram espontaneamente, ou seja, sem receber nenhum incentivo material/pagamentos?

• 50-90%

Comentários:

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

6.6 Adaptação

A tecnologia foi recentemente modificada para adaptar-se as condições variáveis?

Sim

Caso afirmativo, indique as condições variáveis as quais ela foi adaptada:

• Mercados dinâmicos

Especifique a adaptação da tecnologia (desenho, material/espécie, 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 Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades da tecnologia

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do usuário da terra
Effective measure against bush encroachment
Costs can be balanced with additional income through the sale of the biomass/biomass based products

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada
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 Pontos fracos, desvantagens/riscos da tecnologia e formas de superá-los

Pontos fracos/desvantagens/riscos na visão do usuário da terra	Como eles podem ser superados?
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

Pontos fracos/vantagens/riscos na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada	Como eles podem ser superados?
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/fontes de informação

7.2 Referências às publicações disponíveis

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

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

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

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

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

Value Added user-opportunities for encroacher bush (2015)

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

Compendium of harvesting technologies for encroacher bush (2015)

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

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

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

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

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

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

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

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

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

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

Disponível de onde? Custos?

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

7.3 Links para informação relevante que está disponível online

Título/ descrição:

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

URL:

www.dasnamibia.org/downloads

Título/ descrição:

Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG)

URL:

www.n-big.org

Título/ descrição:

Videos

URL:

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