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)

Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (ProSo(i)l)

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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

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:

Crop exclusion means establishing sanctuaries where landowners and the surrounding population agree to no longer cultivate, opting instead for natural environmental regeneration (passive exclusion) or for land enrichment, mainly by planting forest species (active exclusion).

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Crop exclosures are created on hilltops and steep slopes where cultivation is not recommended due to erosion risks. Passive crop exclusion comprises leaving a forested area uncultivated and encouraging the natural regeneration of the environment, while protecting it from fire and roaming livestock. Active exclosures, on the other hand, consists in supporting natural regeneration through restoration (enrichment and reforestation). When applying this technology, preference should be given to indigenous species (Harungana madagascariensis, Albizia lebbeck, etc.) over fast-growing species (Eucalyptus spp, Acacia spp) in order to maintain the biological diversity of the environment.
The various stages involved in establishing either passive or active crop exclosures are as follows:
- organisation of a general information meeting to raise awareness and canvas the concerns of the surrounding population;
- participatory delineation of the area to be protected (local authorities, owners and users concerned, etc.);
- creation of a management committee;
- preparation of a crop exclusion plans;
- public consultation and validation of the projects;
- formalization in the Fokontany and commune;
- implementation.

The development of surrounding areas and the installation of fascines (vegetative checkdams) to control gullying may also be incorporated into the clearing process, as per the agreed-upon local arrangement. Crop exclusion helps downstream areas from silting up, preserves soil fertility and regenerates degraded lands. It also improves infiltration and reduces erosion and soil loss.
The branches of regenerated trees can be sustainably harvested according to specific needs, such as fodder, wood, or organic matter for mulching purposes. Additionally, non-wood products can be gathered on these plots, including honey, medicinal plants, and species used for traditional knowledge-based or "ady gasy" products.

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:

2020

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.):

ProSoil Project

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• preserve/ improve biodiversity

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
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management

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

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):

Ariary

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

4300.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Delineate the exclosure area
2.	Draw up a development plan with the local authorities (Fokontany) and landowners concerned	January-March
3.	Establish a management committee for mass outreach sessions	No later than 1 week after harvesting
4.	Implement the local convention
5.	Create a firewall
6.	Install signposts
7.	Plan the location of the nurseries	Before the rainy season
8.	Plant nursery seedlings	Rainy season

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	Hole digging and seedling planting	man-days	6.0	5000.0	30000.0	100.0
Equipment	Seedlings	number	100.0	700.0	70000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					100000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					23.26

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

The seedlings were procured by the GIZ ProSoil project.

Comments:

The listed costs pertain to active exclosures, as passive exclosures primarily involve maintaining the site free from livestock and fire.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding out the firewall area	Before the rainy season
2.	Protection against cattle grazing (optional)	All year round
3.	Reseeding	The rainy season for the following year

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	Creation and maintenance of a firebreak	man-days	26.0	5000.0	130000.0	100.0
Labour	Pruning	man-days	22.0	10000.0	220000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					350000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					81.4

Comments:

Daily labor costs amount to 5,000 ariaries for half a day and 10,000 ariaries for a full day.

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?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

This region boasts a wide array of plant and animal species, some of which are native. The fencing creates a habitat for both above-ground and below-ground fauna.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

All village residents can identify owners of plots of land within the village.

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

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

These are estimates provided by the users interviewed.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

These are estimates provided by the farmers.

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 rainfall		decrease	not 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

• single cases/ experimental

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
Restoration of soil fertility
Production on infertile lands
Protection of downstream farmland from silting up
Wood production

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?
Heavy workload and high expenses in the first year
Livestock grazing in the protected area	Monitoring of the exclosure area

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Région Boeny, 2016, "Schéma Régional d’Aménagement du Territoire de la Région Boeny"

Available from where? Costs?

Boeny Region Hotel

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Raharinaivo S., 2008, "Les techniques de correction des ravines et de stabilisations des Lavaka", tirés des acquis du PLAE Marovoay

Available from where? Costs?

PLAE Marovoay, https://wocatpedia.net/wiki/File:Solofo_Raharinaivo_(2008)_-_Les_techniques_de_Correction_des_ravines_et_de_Stabilisation_des_Lavaka_.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

GRET, 2015, "Pratiques agroécologiques et agroforestières en zone tropicale humide", Fiche N°20 Régénération naturelle assistée

Available from where? Costs?

GRET, https://gret.org/publication/pratiques-agroecologiques-et-agroforestieres-en-zone-tropicale-humide/