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

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

People and Resource Dynamics Project, Nepal (PARDYP)

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

ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Nepal

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Small dam structures constructed across erosion gullies

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Check dams are small low structures built across a gully or a channel to prevent them from deepening further. These small dams reduce the speed of water flow and minimise the erosive power of runoff. They also promote the deposition of eroded materials to further stabilise the gullies.
Two gullies adjacent to a degraded area of communal grazing land were controlled by constructing check dams and with vegetative measures including planting bamboo. The main purpose was to control the further development of the gullies, which were affecting the adjacent grazing land and blocking a downstream irrigation channel. The site is community land used by the 40 households (240 people) of Dhotra village in the intensively used Jhikhu Khola watershed. Irrigated cropland lies downstream from the site, whilst the site itself is bordered by grazing land, degraded sal-dominated forest, and rainfed forward-sloping terraces.
The check dams were made of old cement bags filed with soil and were 1m high with 0.5m deep foundations. The check dams were spaced so that a line joining the top of two adjacent dams had about a 3% slope gradient. Twenty-four check dams were built in the two gullies using a total of 2400 filled cement bags. Forty clumps of bamboo were planted between the dams for stabilisation.
All that is needed to maintain this technology is to inspect the condition of the check dams occasionally, especially before and after the monsoon. Displaced bags should be replaced and the water courses cleared of branches and big stones. Further planting should be carried out if needed.
The case study area has a distinct dry season from November to May and a wet monsoon period from June to October. Annual rainfall is around 1200 mm. The site has red soils that are highly weathered and, if not properly managed, are very susceptible to erosion.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The basic idea of this technology has its origin in traditional methods. However, villagers approached the People and Resource Dynamics Project (PARDYP) for advice. PARDYP assisted, based on experiences made before with rehabilitation/gully plugging experiments under similar conditions. Mainly developed according to theoretical and site specific knowledge.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

• reduce land loss

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The major land use problem is the small per capita landholding size for cropping. These holdings are mostly rainfed, have a low soil fertility status and acidity problems, and are susceptible to erosion. Intense rainfall at the beginning of the rainy season causes considerable soil loss (rill and gully erosion).

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Overgrazing leading to lack of vegetation and gully building.

Ranching: Yes

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fp: Plantations, afforestations

Number of growing seasons per year: 3
Longest growing period in days: 150; Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Oct; Second longest growing period in days: 120; Second longest growing period from month to month: Nov - Feb

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, structural measures

Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

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

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wo: offsite degradation effects

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing (insufficient forage supply from the private land.), education, access to knowledge and support services (identification of appropriate SWC technologies and appropriate collaborators)

Secondary causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (for daily household needs ( litter , firewood, timber), other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify (excessive rainfall during pre-monsoon and monsoon), poverty / wealth (to buy planting materials and for logistics), labour availability (for community level social work)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Nepali Rupee

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

73.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Plantating of bamboo plants (clumps) below the check dams	before onset of monsoon (June)
2.	Placing filled cement bags across gullies to form checkdams	before onset of monsoon (June)
3.	Filling cement bag with soil	before onset of monsoon (June)
4.	Digging trenches for dam foundations	before onset of monsoon (June)

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Building dams and planting bamboo	Persons/day	18.0	2.0	36.0	100.0
Construction material	Cement bags	ha	1.0	73.0	73.0
Other	Lunch, tea for farmers	ha	1.0	16.0	16.0
Other	Transportation	ha	1.0	14.0	14.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					139.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1.9

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Maintaining gullies: repair or replace damaged check dams, plant	before onset of monsoon (June)
2.	Ensuring good drainage for bamboo	before onset of monsoon (June)
3.	Maintaining gullies: repair or replace damaged check dams,plant more grassesor trees if needed	before onset of monsoon (June)/once a year

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Spade, shovel, Spade, shovel

All costs and amounts were roughly estimated by the technicians and authors in 2004.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 900 m a.s.l.

Slopes on average: Also very steep

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil depth on average: Very shallow at some places parent rockmaterial is exposed but variable.

Soil texture: Red soils with high clay content

Soil fertility was very low before implementation of rehabilitation activities.

Topsoil organic matter before implementation of rehabilitation activities.

Soil drainage / infiltration was poor before implementation of rehabilitation activities.

Soil water storage capacity was very low before implementation of rehabilitation activities.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water quality: More in rainy season (June- September), less in April/May

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

95% of the land users are average wealthy.
3% of the land users are poor.
2% of the land users are poor.

Off-farm income specification: In most farm households, off-farm income plays at least a minor and increasingly a major role. Occasional opportunities for off-farm income present themselves in the form of daily

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

Due to the high establishment costs, the short term benefit for the community only matches the costs. However, in the long-term the environmental benefit of rehabilitated land is high, and economic benefit is positive.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

40 households in an area of 0.006 sq km

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

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

40 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: survey results

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: No initiative could be seen in the area.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Reduced soil erosion, rill erosion, and top soil loss How can they be sustained / enhanced? Regular maintenance of the structure and grasses is required
The technology is easy to maintain. How can they be sustained / enhanced? As above

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It's a low cost technology , easy to apply, little knowledge needed. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Regular maintenance of the structure and grasses is required
The effect of the technology can be seen easily. How can they be sustained / enhanced? As above

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Nakarmi, G. (2000) Soil Erosion Dynamics in the Middle Mountains of Nepal, a report submitted to PARDYP, ICIMOD, Kathmandu

Available from where? Costs?

ICIMOD

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Schreier, H.; Brown, S.; Shah, P. B.; Shrestha, B.; Merz, J. (2002) Jhikhu Khola Watershed – Nepal, CD ROM. Vancouver: Institute for Resources and Environment, University of British Columbia.

Available from where? Costs?

ICIMOD

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Shrestha, B. (2004) Progress Report PARDYP- Nepal. Paper presented at the PARDYP Access Mid Year Meeting, 19-22 July 2004, ICIMOD, Kathmandu

Available from where? Costs?

ICIMOD