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)

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

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

Catholic Relief Services/East Africa (Catholic Relief Services/East Africa) - Kenya

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:

Contour trench bund applied on contour lines of moderate slope to trap run-off to improve infiltration and reduce flash floods.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Contour Trench Bund technology is documented by Sustainable Land Management
Project/HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation with financial support of Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation(SDC) and close support and cooperation of the Catholic
Relief Service (CRS). The technology was applied in Sar-e Ahengaran watershed of Bamyan centre, an area of 0.08 km2 as part of a watershed project by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The total watershed area is 67 ha. The project started in October 2009 involving the community with funding support from USAID and CRS. The project came to an end in March 2013.

Purpose of the Technology: The main purpose of the contour trench bund technology is to reduce excessive surface runoff and improve infiltration. It also contributes to increased vegetation cover.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The main activities for this SLM technology include: site selection and technical planning in October 2009; demarcation of contour lines using A-frame and lime; and digging trenches and construction of soil bunds. The technology was established over 10 months. The project used a “Cash for Work” approach; local people were employed for construction works. Cost-wise, approximately 7,536 USD were spent on this technology (approximately 942 USD/ha) with 90% contribution from the project and 10% from the participating community. There have been no maintenance costs so far for this technology.

Dimensions of a trenches are: 0.7 m in depth, 1.2 m width, 3 m length and of the bunds: 0.45 m in height, 1.2 m in width, 100 m in length with 12 m spacing and 1.5 m vertical interval between two contour lines. Contour trenches were applied on hilly (16-30%) slopes at an altitude of 2500-3000 m. The technology is tolerant to temperature, seasonal rainfall, storms and droughts and sensitive to heavy rainfall events and floods. The soil in the watershed is sandy to loamy type, and infertile with a depth of 20-50 cm. The infiltration is medium.

The technology is part of the watershed management system. Other measures implemented included stone walls, cultivation of fodder grasses and ban on grazing and shrub cutting at the site. The land ownership (in the watershed) is communal with open access water rights. Medium scale land users, mainly men, applied the technology. Women and school children participated in meetings concerning awareness raising. There is also a watershed and pasture management committee for site management.

Natural / human environment: The annual rainfall in the area is 250-500 mm. The agro-climate is semi-arid and temperate type with the longest growing period of 180 days from April to October. The people in this area are mainly poor. 10-50 % of all income comes from off-farm activities. Access to health, market and financial services is low and education, roads, transport, drinking water and sanitation facilities are moderate. Agriculture is of mixed type, subsistence and commercial based.

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:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• reduce risk of disasters

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Reduction of the vegetation cover causes flash floods and accelerated erosion. The water level goes down and there is no moisture in the soil.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Downstream flash flood and shortage of spring water due to overgrazing of the range-land.

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Grazing land: Gi: Intensive grazing/ fodder production

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

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: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, overgrazing

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 currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Demarcation of the contour lines using A frame and Lime
2.	Excavation of the trenches and construction of the soil bunds

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	Demarcation of the contour lines	ha	1.0	92.0	92.0
Labour	Excavation of the trenches and construction of the soil bunds	persons/day/ha	121.0	7.0	847.0	10.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					939.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					939.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 10 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	No maintenance costs so far for CRS.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The establishment duration of the Contour Trench Bund was 10 months.

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 - medium

Soil drainage / infiltration is medium

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Workload does not give chance to women to work on the mountains.

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

50% of the land users are poor.

Off-farm income specification: Busy with carpentry and migrate for work.

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:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

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

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
Extreme precipitation events especially if the technology is applied on steep slopes.	not well

Comments:

Increase size, stable bunds stabilized with vegetation

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:

The benefits will be more in the long term when trees, shrubs and fodder grasses are ready to harvest.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Appropriate information is not available.

Comments on spontaneous adoption: Only soil bunds have been applied by a few farmers on their private lands.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The technology helps to create SLM based job opportunities for many people. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Needs external support/projects.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Demonstration of link between SLM measures and water source. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Conducting training and showing drawing.
Technical knowledge of community enhanced. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Share more aspects of the technology, where to apply and how.
Flood reduction, greening of the area, increase the spring water. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Cultivate native plants, share experiences with more communities and SLM specialists.
Good for land rehabilitation (extremely degraded lands). How can they be sustained / enhanced? Always combine with vegetative and management measures.

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Farmers do not prefer to construct this technology because it requires soil excavation/disturbance.	One needs to show how such measures have been applied in other parts of the world for multiple benefits through action research.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Site selection	Apply technology at suitable site that has proper slope and is really degraded. Avoid places where there is already good vegetation cover.
Higher cost of establishment of the technology.	Encourage the community for more contribution or apply where absolutely necessary.
Technical design	The designer should research more about the site and discuss with the skilled people of the community before designing.
Few vegetative measures	plant fodder grasses and adapted trees between trenches.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information