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)

OPtimal strategies to retAIN and re-use water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across different soil-climatic regions in Europe (OPTAIN)

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

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) - Germany

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:

Hedges are structured shrub communities that subdivide fields, reduce soil erosion, and provide valuable semi-natural habitats.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Hedges subdivide large fields and provide multiple other benefits. Improved soil structure, and deep and dense root systems in the hedgerow area result in slowing runoff from adjacent land, increasing infiltration rates and capturing sediment. These factors reduce water erosion and nutrient leaching. On steep slopes or embankments, deep roots can prevent wet soils from slipping. Additionally, hedges can acts as windbreaks and thus reduce wind erosion of light soils: simultaneously soil particles in the air are filtered out by hedges. Hedgerows provide a habitat for various wild animals for their food, reproduction, shelter and retreat. The hedge can act as a measure for natural pest control: for example as a habitat for raptors that control voles. A well-placed hedge may improve the microclimate of a field by reducing wind speed and increasing soil moisture in the wind-protected area.
An effective hedge must be strategically sited and carefully established. The optimal hedge is a multi-row hedgerow (at least three rows) with a herbaceous border on both sides. The width of the hedge should be, ideally, 5-6 m (LfULG, 2014). Hedges are best planted parallel to the contour line, along the direction of cultivation, not on the headland, and should be sited a minimum of 20 m from the nearest road. Preparing a planting plan is very important for the establishment of a hedge. It should be based on native species (Kühne et al., 2018). Planting is usually done from October to November. Since a newly planted hedge requires regular costly watering (100 litres for trees, 20 litres for shrubs) spring planting is not advisable.
Maintenance pruning can be divided into hard pruning (every 10-15 years) and pruning for shape and maintenance (every year). Hedges that are not maintained will lack fruit, develop deadwood, or simply die back. Maintenance pruning should be done in February or March when there is no frost and before the plants sprout. A clean, smooth cut is important to prevent fungi or diseases from entering the plants. Hard pruning of hedges means cutting shrubs to a height of a few centimetres. As a general rule, a hedge should be divided into at least three sections, which should be hard pruned in succession. In this way, the hedge always retains a flowering and a fruiting element. Individual trees should be left as shelter/seed trees. The annual maintenance cuts should be used to shape the hedge, but also to remove broken or diseased branches (NABU Niedersachsen).
Hedgerows also have drawbacks for farmers and landowners. They take up cropland, which initially reduces yields. Once established, they cannot be easily removed, limiting management flexibility. It is uncertain whether hedges will be eligible for financial support or whether they will remain eligible after several years. For example, a hedge in Germany that is initially eligible for financial support must prove, after 10 years, that all the required species are still part of the hedge. If not, the money received from the subsidy must be repaid. Moreover, maintenance requires a lot of work, which needs to be compensated by subsidies (Thünen, 2021).

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2003

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

It was the land users’ own decision to implement that hedge. They are doing organic farming and wanted some natural shelter against the pesticide drift from the neighbouring – conventionally managed - fields (this was the main reason, beside other environmental benefits of hedges the land users were aware of).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

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

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

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Newly planted hedges require regular watering (100 litres for trees, 20 litres for shrubs).

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• windbreak/ shelterbelt
• cross-slope measure
• integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Physical soil degradation refers to the area below the hedge and next to the hedge (3-4 m), but not around it, e.g. in the field. Other types of degradation do refer to the area around the hedge.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent 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

other/ national currency (specify):

€

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

0.91

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Planning / preparing a planting plan	anytime but before planting
2.	Preparing area (preparation of the soil, e.g. ploughing)	late summer- atumn
3.	Planting	late summer- autumn
4.	Protection measures for newly planted hedge (application of a protective coating, construction of protective fence)	after planting
5.	Maintenance measures for newly planted hedge	especially the first year after planting
6.	Optional: preparing area of herbarcious border (preparation of soil)	late summer- atumn
7.	Optional: sawing of herbacious border	late summer- atumn
8.	Optional: rolling of herbacious border	late summer- atumn

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

25.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

7.54 €/m² are covered by the state of Saxony, RL Ne/ 2014- Planting hedges, copses and riparian woods (SMUL Sachsen a)

Comments:

The implementation costs of a hedge include the plants (trees, shrubs, grass seed) and required materials (e.g. fencing, perches for birds of prey, anti-mole mesh, trunk protection, bark mulch) and the rental of required machinery.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cuts to put hedges on stock	every 5-10 years
2.	Shape and maintenance cuts	every year

Comments:

In our documentation, the landscape maintenance association will check the hedge every five years to see how much it has grown back and whether or not it can be put back on the stock.

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

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

11.73

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

3.91 €/m² are covered by the state of Saxony, RL Ne/ 2014- Woody plant rehabilitation - Hard pruning (SMUL Sachsen b)

Comments:

Costs only include maintenance activity 'hard pruning' over a five year period.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The implementation costs of a hedge are rather high and include the plants (trees, shrubs, grass seed), required materials (e.g. fencing, perches for birds of prey, anti-mole mesh, trunk protection, bark mulch), the rental of required machinery and irrigation.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

Luvisol (Pseudogley Parabraunerde)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

High diversity only because of the hedgerow. Without, it would be low to medium.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Organic farm community (demeter quality)

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:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

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

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Estimates based on land users' perception (not based on measurements).

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Estimates based on land users' perception (not based on measurements).

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?
seasonal temperature	spring	increase	not well
other gradual climate change	heavy rain events	increase	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:

This is a reasonable estimate from the SLM specialist's perspective, but not from the land user's perspective.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

no planting in spring

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The hedge as a habitat acts as a natural plant protection measure, e.g. the hedge as a habitat for raptors can be a pest control measure against voles.
Protection against drift from conventional crop protection products.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Promoting biodiversity (habitats for bees, birds and amphibians)
Reducing soil erosion (wind and water)
Improve micro-climate (may increase yield)
On steep slopes or embankments, deep roots prevent wet soils from slipping.

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?
Consume cropland, which initially leads to a reduces yields.	A better compensation by subsidies is required.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Once established, hedgerows cannot be easily removed, which limits management flexibility.	Farmers should consider management and practicality when planning the hedge.
Insufficient market opportunities for shrub cuttings.	Farmers could use shrub cuttings to mulch the hedge or eventually for replanting trees / further hedges.
Maintenance includes a lot of labor.	These efforts should therefore be compensated by subsidies.
Increased machinery operation costs and fuel use (so greater carbon dioxide emissions) because of more turning and shorter machine runs.	Farmers should consider this when planning the hedge, e.g. fields should not be cut into too small parts which are impractical or too expensive to be managed.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Kühne et al. 2018: Hecken und Raine in der Agrarlandschaft- Bedeutung, Neuanlage, Pflege

Available from where? Costs?

ble-medienservice.de, download: https://www.ble-medienservice.de/1619-1-hecken-und-raine-in-der-agrarlandschaft.html , free

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Weber, E. 2003: Gebüsche, Hecken, Krautsäume

Available from where? Costs?

ulmer.de

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

SMUL Sachsen 2021a: Anlage von Hecken, Feldgehölzen und Ufergehölzen (RL NE/2014)

URL:

https://www.smul.sachsen.de/foerderung/download/MB_Anlage_Hecken_Feld_Ufergehoelze_01.11.2021.pdf

Title/ description:

NABU Niedersachsen: Hecken pflegen - so geht's

URL:

https://niedersachsen.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/pflanzen/hecken/04719.html

Title/ description:

Thünen 2021: Hecken sind Klimaschützer

URL:

https://www.thuenen.de/de/fachinstitute/laendliche-raeume/lebensverhaeltnisse-in-laendlichen-raeumen/aktuelles-und-service/pressemitteilungen/detail-1-5/hecken-sind-klimaschuetzer

Title/ description:

Wasserhaushaltsportal Sachsen: KLiWES 2.1 IST-Zustand 1988-2015

URL:

https://whh-kliwes.de/mapview

Title/ description:

SMUL Sachsen 2021b: Gehölzsanierung Hecken, Feld- und Ufergehölze (RL NE/2014)

URL:

https://www.smekul.sachsen.de/foerderung/download/MB_Gehoelzsanierung_Hecken_01052022.pdf