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

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

Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research, and Development (LI-BIRD) - Nepal

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

A traditional low-cost method of soil conservation suitable for sloping land; it promotes water retention and helps prevent erosion.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Contour bunding is a proven sustainable land management practice for marginal, sloping, and hilly land where the soil productivity is very low. It is widely adopted by the ethnic minorities of Nepal who practice the shifting cultivation system of farming. Over generations, they have successfully used this technology to control soil erosion, promote water retention, and increase crop production. It has a high probability of replication because it is simple to implement, is low cost, and makes the maximum use of local resources.

Purpose of the Technology: Farmers use a multi-step process to promote the formation of rough terraces along contour lines on sloping land. First the vegetation on the shifting cultivation plot (mostly fodder and forage trees and bushes) is cut down and the leaves and small twigs removed from the branches by slashing. All the material is left on the surface to dry. The leaves and twigs gradually decompose. After a few weeks, the remaining dry material is rolled into bundles and arranged along contour lines. The material is anchored with pegs, stones, and (where possible) tree stumps. This is the beginning of the contour bund. The farmers then incorporate the remaining leaf litter and decomposed organic matter into the soil between the bunds and plant crops. Over time, as the soil gradually deposits above each bund and is eroded below, rough terraces are formed. The process is labour intensive and farmers need to regularly check and maintain the bunds to allow the soil to collect.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Contour bunding is relatively easy to establish and maintain since it does not require external inputs and local unskilled labourers can make them using locally available woody materials. It is also both sustainable and ecofriendly since there are no external inputs and no organic matter is burned in the process.
The use of contour bunding is limited by the fact that it is labour intensive and that bunding cannot be implemented during the fallow period of the shifting cultivation cycle, thus it can only be applied on a plot for two years (the cultivation period of the shifting cultivation cycle).

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:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Shifting cultivation is a traditional farming system practice used by the ethnic minorities who farm marginal, hilly, and sloping land. Erratic rainfall and improper land use practices all contribute to land Rock phosphate is not always available -> crushed stone dust can be substituted. degradation.

Livestock is grazing on crop residues

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

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (Natural soil Erosion), population pressure

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

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	The vegetation on the plots (leafy fodder and others) is slashed and allowed to dry on the sloping land.The dry materials are collected along contour lines and anchored into place using locally available materials.The land between the bund lines is enriched with the leaf litter and crops are planted.	few weeks (16 days)

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 rough terraces	persons/day/ha	16.0	2.7	43.2	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					43.2
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					43.2

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	The bundling is periodically checked and lapsed areas are repaired as needed	few days

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

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Maintaining area	persons/day/ha	4.0	2.7	10.8	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					10.8
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					10.8

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The cost of implementing this technology is dependent on the gradient of the slope (and other geographical features) and the availability of labour. All costs and amounts are rough estimates by the technicians and authors.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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 fertility is low

Soil water storage capacity is very low

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly disadvantaged land users

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Other ecological impacts

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)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

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

200 households in an area of 1 - 10 sq km (10 - 50 persons/sq km)

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

• 91-100%

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: About 200 land user families have voluntarily adopted this technology in Tanahun, Chitawan, Gorkha, Dhading, and Makawanpur Districts of Nepal.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Decreased soil erosion and increased productivity of the soil How can they be sustained / enhanced? Formation of permanent bunds and terraces; adds organic matter to the soil
Natural terrace formation and decreasing slope gradient How can they be sustained / enhanced? Over time, as more soil deposits on the bunds, the gradient is naturally decreased
As the organic matter content increases, humus soil is formed and the soil fertility increases How can they be sustained / enhanced? Continue to accumulate crop residues on the surface; these will decompose and increase the organic matter content of the soil

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Slashing contributes to the risk of forest fires	After drying, the slashed materials should be rolled out within a week
When too many trees are slashed it can promote landslides	Grow trees along the bunds; fodder trees are especially beneficial
Bunds may harbour biological pests such as rodents	Regular maintenance and pest control can help to limit unwanted wildlife

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Indigenous knowledge of farmers in the shifting cultivation areas of Western Nepal., Regmi, BR; Aryal, KP; Subedi, A; Shrestha, PK; Tamang, BB, 2001