1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Department of Resources and Environmental Science, Beijing Normal University (Department of Resources and Environmental Science, Beijing Normal University) - China

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

SWC decision makers, I.e. approach planners, lead local people to plant caragana korshinskii in the areas of serious water and/or wind erosion by means of combined inputs from government, locals and social loan etc.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The most important factor that hinders agricultural development in the Loess Plateau is soil and water loss. Many measures have been taking to conserve soil and water resources. Here is one of them using caragana korshinskii as one kind of SWC vegetation approach.

Methods: With its long roots, caragana korshinskii can improve soil infiltration and extract water from deep soil layer. It can also protect soil from water and wind erosion because it is tightly fixed in the soil. It has rhizobium in its roots to improve soil fertility. Besides, its branch has economic value. To carry out this approach, planners lead local farmers to plant caragana korshinskii in the areas of the serious water and/or wind erosion. Before planting, dipping selected seeds in brine with 1% concentration, and then moving them in warm water for about 24 hours to make them easier germinating. Caragana korshinskii can be planted in holes. Autumn is the best season for seeding, but if there is much rain in Spring, it is also ok. In the first three years, young plants are very frail. They should be protected from sheep eating and cutting. After four years, the branches of caragana korshinskii above ground can be cut according to their utilization. The more you cut the better they grow.

Role of stakeholders: Besides government leaders, local land users are also the most important participants, they accomplish most of planting and maintaining work. The Research Institute is another key participant, they provide the SWC knowledge and technology.

Other important information: Caragana korshinskii has many other advantages besides ecological benefits. It has many economic values, such as supplying forage for sheep and fuel for local residents, supplying raw material for paper making, supplying green manure and improving soil quality. Finance is mainly from government, partially from loan and local input(labor).

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• traditional/ indigenous

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (Sheep forage, paper making, fuel, green manure etc.)

Controlling water and/or wind erosion, preventing sand and dust storm.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Water and/or wind erosion, inadequate fodder, poor local agricultural and economic development.

Caragana korshinskii is one of the most drought endurable shrubs. Once planted, caragana korshinskii grows very fast.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	public meetings
planning	none
implementation	interactive	casual labour
monitoring/ evaluation	self-mobilization	measurements/observations;
Research	self-mobilization	measurements/observations;

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• politicians/ leaders

Explain:

directive (top-down). Leaders are the key participants

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by by politicians / leaders. consultative. From SWC specialist

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

• SWC specialists, extensionists/trainers, planners, politicians/decision makers

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas
• courses

Subjects covered:

seed, establishment and maintenance of Caragana korshinskii

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Visiting demonstration areas; Key elements: Quality of the demonstration, Ability of visitors, Ability of hierophants; 1) Advisory service was carried out through: projects own extension structure and agents, government's existing extension system 2) Advisory service was carried out through: projects own extension structure and agents, government's existing extension system; Extension staff: mainly government employees 3) Target groups for extension: land users, technicians/SWC specialists; Activities: farm visits

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Activities of government influence the choice of land users greatly, usually by administration ways.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• financial

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements; indicators: None

technical aspects were ad hoc monitored by 0 through observations; indicators: None

economic / production aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements; indicators: None

management of Approach aspects were None monitored by 0 through observations; indicators: None

There were few changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: planting density, frequency of caragana korshinikii branch cutting.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• economics / marketing
• ecology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

comparing Caragana korshinskii with other kind of SWC vegetation species.

Research was carried out on station

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 100,000-1,000,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (national - money, technology, planning): 25.0%; national non-government (money): 45.0%; local community / land user(s) (material, money, labor): 30.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• paid in cash

Comments:

Labour was also rewarded with sheep breed

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Yes

Specify conditions (interest rate, payback, etc.):

Interest rate charged: 0.7%

Interest was lower than market rate.

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Obtaining additional economic return (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Developing Stockbreeding and increasing crop yield.)
low input and easy to implementing (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Forbidding overgrazing and cutting.)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reducing wind and water erosion (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Scientific design and management.)
simple SWC and easy to carry out (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Enhancing training of how to scientifically planting caragana korshinskii.)
marked economic benefits that farmers would like to do (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Further developing the variable uses of caragana korshinskii.)
Preventing sand and dust storm in the leeward region. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Enlarging planting areas and combining with other SWC measures.)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
no

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Yang Wenbin, Ren Jianmin, Jia Cuiping. Studies of The Relationship Between Physiological Ecology of Drought-Resist in Caragana Korshinskii and Soil Water. Acta Ecologica Sinica. 1997,17(3): 239-244.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Hu Xuewen. Marked benefits of developing Caragana korshinskii in Pianguan county. Economic benefits corpus of soil and water conservation. 1987.10: 43-44.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Li Zhirong. To advocate for Caragana korshinskii. Economic benefits corpus of soil and water conservation. 1987.10: 36-38.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zhao Zhizhong. Planting Caragana korshinskii extensively, breeding livestock to reach richness. Soil and Water Conservation Science and Technology in Shanxi. 1997.3: 26-28.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Niu Xiwu. The distribution and description of Caragana Fabr. In China. Acta Bot. Boreal. Accident Sin. 1999,19(5): 107-133.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Pan Ming, Zhao Jinrong. Benefits of Caragana korshinskii and its planting technology. Economic benefits corpus of soil and water conservation. 1987.10:39-42.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Cheng Jimin. The Reasonable Utilization and Patterns of the Main Shrub Species In Southern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation. 1991,11(1): 54-61.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Li Jinchuan, Wang Wenying, Lu Chongen. Exploration on Restoring Vegetations of Dump Land on An-Tai-Bao Surface Mine. Henan Science. 1999,17(Suppl.): 92-95.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Bai Yongqiang. Studies on Phonological Patterns of the Main Shrubs in Yanchi Sandy Land. Journal of Arid land Resources and Environment. 1998,12(2): 82-86.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Department of Resources and Environment, BNU.