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)

Decision Support for Mainstreaming and Scaling out Sustainable Land Management (GEF-FAO / DS-SLM)

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

Bangladesh Forest Department (Bangladesh Forest Department) - Bangladesh

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

FAO Bangladesh (FAO Bangladesh) - Bangladesh

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 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Mound plantation with non-mangrove species to transform mono-culture plantations subsequently into more ecologically resilient, mixed species plantations and as well as to accelerate natural processes of accretion and land stabilization in coastal areas.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Bangladesh has nearly five decades of experience of coastal afforestation and reforestation on offshore islands and newly accreted lands. Coastal plantations were originally planted mainly to protect coastal populations against tidal bores, cyclones and storm surges and as well as to speed up the stabilization of newly accreted lands that eventually protect interior agricultural land from saline intrusion. According to the historical approaches to coastal afforestation and reforestation in Bangladesh, only a few pioneer mangrove species are suitable for planting on newly accreted coastal lands. Mangrove plantations that were established with a handful of pioneer species require increasing levels of management to promote ‘artificial succession’. There is need to transform these predominantly monoculture plantations subsequently into more ecologically resilient, mixed species plantations. Mound plantation with non-mangrove species was introduced in some places to address this issue.
Under the ‘Climate Resilient Participatory Afforestation and Reforestation Project’ non-mangrove mound plantations were established in 2013 in South Salimpur area of Sitakundu upazila (administrative unit) in Chittagong district by the Forest Department. Earlier, in 1983 the newly accreted char land (river islands formed from sedimentation) was planted with mangrove species Keora (Sonneratia apetala). Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that cope with salt water immersion and wave action and are adapted to life in waterlogged and harsh coastal conditions. Due to cyclones and illegal removal of trees the Keora plantations were destroyed in many spots. In the meantime, the mangroves had accumulated sediments and the land was raised as compared to the adjacent inland areas. This accreted and stabilized land is suitable for non-mangrove plantation as the water does not flood the raised land regularly.
However, the area is regularly inundated by the tide during the monsoon. In addition storm surges flood the land and cause waterlogged conditions, which are not suitable for the survival of non-mangrove species. To successfully plant non-mangrove species along the coast, mound plantation is practiced. The mound served as a raised bed to protect the seedlings from waterlogged conditions in monsoon seasons. Akashmoni (Acacia auriculiformis), Jhau (Casuarina equisetifolia), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Rain-tree (Albizia saman), Babla (Vachellia nilotica) tree species are planted in mound. The major activities of this practice are cleaning of site from weeds & making of round shaped mounds. The diameter of the mound in the base is 1m and in top is 0.6m with a height of 0.6m. The mound is prepared through soil heaps from the plantation site. Inter and intra row spacing is 2.6m x 2.6m center to center of the mounds. 1500 mounds per hectare are constructed and one bamboo stick put inside every mound to support the plated seedlings to stand firmly.
The dimension of pit in each mound is 0.3m x-0.3m s 0.3m and the pit needs to be kept open for two weeks for drying before the one year old seedling can be transplanted in the pits. The seedlings were raised in the nursery of Forest Department under the project. While planting seedlings 0.5 kg compost and 0.5 kg loamy soil are mixed in the pit to increase the fertility of the soil. Vacancy filling is required in the next year and weeding practice continues till 3rd year of plantation.
Advantage of mixed-species over monocultures is the promotion of diversifying production under different rotation periods. Mixed-species plantations are more resistant to damage caused by storms, insects or diseases. Mound plantation with non-mangrove mixed species increased the diversity and ecological services. Mound plantations are vulnerable to a variety of threats from livestock grazing, mainly buffalo, to extraction of timber and outright conversion of plantations to other land uses such as agriculture, aquaculture and salt production.
However, the mound plantation practice contributes in coastal greenbelt species diversification along with speed up the natural processes of accretion and land stabilization.

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Climate Resilient Participatory Afforestation and Reforestation Project’ by the Forest Department established the technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

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)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

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

• forest plantation management
• windbreak/ shelterbelt
• ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Plant varieties that comes through natural succession process stabilize the newly formed coastal land. Mound plantation with non-mangrove species strengthen that process with other plantation services.

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

other/ national currency (specify):

BDT

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

84.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Nursery establishment	October-November
2.	Raising seedlings	January-February
3.	Site preparation: clearing of site and mound construction	April-May
4.	Transplantation of seedlings	June
5.	Fertilizer application: Compost mixed with loamy loamy soil	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	Nursery preparation	person-days	17.0	500.0	8500.0	100.0
Labour	Earth clearing and mound preparation	person-days	150.0	500.0	75000.0	100.0
Labour	Plantation work	person-days	25.0	500.0	12500.0	100.0
Equipment	Bucket	pieces	15.0	250.0	3750.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	pieces	15.0	500.0	7500.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds for nursery bed	Lump sum	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Plant material	Poly bags	Pieces	1800.0	1.0	1800.0	100.0
Plant material	Bamboo stick to support seedlings	Pieces	1600.0	2.0	3200.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost to apply in plantation	kg	1000.0	4.0	4000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Urea for poly bag seedling	kg	4.0	35.0	140.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	TSP for poly bag seedling	kg	4.0	40.0	160.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	MoP for poly bag seedling	kg	4.0	30.0	120.0	100.0
Construction material	Bamboo for nursery fencing	pieces	4.0	250.0	1000.0	100.0
Other	Seedling transportation cost	Lump-sum	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					119670.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1424.64

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Vacancy filling	June
2.	1st year weeding	3 times in a year
3.	2nd year weeding	3 times in a year
4.	3rd year weeding	2 times in a year
5.	Fertilizer application to the newly planted trees	June

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	Seedling transportation	person-days	1.0	500.0	500.0	100.0
Labour	Vacancy filling	person-days	4.0	500.0	2000.0	100.0
Labour	Fertilizer application to the newly planted trees	person-days	4.0	500.0	2000.0	100.0
Labour	Weeding	person-days	40.0	500.0	20000.0	100.0
Plant material	Bamboo stick to support seedlings	pieces	350.0	2.0	700.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	NPK fertilizer	kg	75.0	30.0	2250.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					27450.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					326.79

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labor

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

Due to regular tidal inundation the soil become saline and only support to grow mangrove plant species

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Bangladesh Forest Department established the coastal plantation through participatory approach of co-management with adjacent local communities.

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)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
tropical storm	moderately
local rainstorm	well
local thunderstorm	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
storm surge/ coastal flood	well

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately
insect/ worm infestation	moderately

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
sea level rise	moderately

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

• 1-10%

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

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The mixed plantation is now more pest resistance
The aesthetic beauty is increased and attract more tourists

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The mixed stand with mound plantation supports more ecological services like supply of fuel wood, wildlife habitat, timber, tourism, greenbelt, etc.
Species mixtures maximize the use of resources, and consequently increase stand-level productivity and carbon sequestration.
Speed up the natural succession process. Otherwise it takes long period of time to grow non-mangrove species in coastal areas.

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?
The mounds often requires to be repaired when it faces frequent tropical storms and storm surges
Grazing hampers the stand at the initial stage	Community awareness

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Only salt tolerant plant species can be planted

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

N/A

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

N/A

7.4 General comments

WOCAT questionnaire covers all the technical aspect of the practice