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)

FAO Saudi Arabia (FAO KSA)

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:

Plantation pits are water harvesting structures which capture rainfall runoff for planting trees and shrubs. They can also be manually watered. Their size varies, but each plantation pit is approximately 2 metres x 1 metre wide and up to 1 metre deep.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Plantation pits are water harvesting structures which capture rainfall runoff for planting trees and shrubs. They can also be watered manually. The pits are dug within national parks managed by the National Centre for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC). They may be located within wadis and sheyhib (small wadis) ranging from ten to several hundred metres in width, but also on high plateaux. Each plantation pit is rectangular, measuring 2m long, 1m wide, and up to 1m deep (depending on the depth of the soil). They are excavated by mechanical diggers. Pits are dug up to two years before planting, and they collect both runoff and the rich organic and mineral matter material carried in the runoff. After one year, many annual and even perennial plants have usually colonised the bottom of the pit. Trees and shrubs (including Acacia spp., Ziziphus spp. and Haxloylon spp.) are planting in the middle of the pit, without disturbing the existing vegetation as far as possible. These species attract bees, and beekeeping has been promoted alongside tree planting.
This water and nutrient harvesting technique is effective even in the very arid conditions – where rainfall may be less than 100 mm per year. However, some supplemental irrigation is needed, and each pit is watered, for example, around 7 times over the following year and a half, with a volume of water ranging from 20 to 100 litres each time per pit, depending on availability. Watering helps the plant to survive and the large quantity of water penetrates deep into the soil. As it moves downwards, it draws the roots downwards until they reach the water table. This is when watering can be stopped, often after 3 or 5 years. This is why the interval between watering is important, to effectively "pull the roots down" while leaving the plant enough water in the soil to survive. Although the costs are high, the results are generally very satisfactory in terms of planting and survival. The local impact is significant when there are enough pits per hectare, i.e. around 100 or more. Over the last five years one and a half million pits have been constructed. The technical design of the pits was formulated by Abdulla Al Eissa, the park manager, but FAO has been responsible for technical advising on planting operations. The activities are part funded by the NCVC, while local donors and volunteers contribute the remainder of the costs.
This activity is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), project: Strengthening MoEWA's Capacity to implement its Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development (SRAD) Programme (2019-2025) UTF/SAU/051/SAU.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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:

2019

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

It is a project to develop vegetation to protect the environment in the National Parks and to support tourism in the region, partly financed by the NCVC (workmen's salaries, etc. ) and local donors (trucks, machines) and volunteers planting.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

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

• natural and semi-natural forest management
• water harvesting
• beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry, rabbit farming, silkworm farming, etc.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

with plantation

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

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.	Identify the site.	Dry season
2.	Mark the pits with stakes	Dry season
3.	Dig the pits	Dry season
4.	Produce the seedlings in a nursery	Dry season
5.	Plant the seedlings	Dry season
6.	Watering the seedlings (and replacing the dead ones).	Dry season
7.	Checking the pits during the first rain.	Rainy season
8.	Checking the pits during or after floodings	Floodings

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	Technician					100.0
Labour	Worker					100.0
Equipment	Truck					100.0
Equipment	Excavator					100.0
Plant material	100 seedlings per ha					100.0

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

3000.0

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

NCDC and local donors as well as some volunteers

Comments:

All is given by the administration, National Centre for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, free of charges.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Checking the pits after the first rain.	One time, after the first rain.
2.	Checking the pits after the floodings.	After the floodings.
3.	Replace the seedlings when necessary: the watering truck driver get 5 seedlings everyday to replace dead plants.	During watering.
4.	Watering with a truck, 20 to 100 litres per pit = 2,000 to 10,000 litre per ha.	7 times in 1.5 year, during 3 to 5 years.

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
Plant material	30 seedlings per ha		1.0			100.0

Comments:

The system is basically maintenance-free apart from tending to the plants, including watering

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

When supported by local donors and villagers, costs are relatively low. When the administration covers the cost, contractors are brought in and that makes it more expensive

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

This technology is specific to the Thuwayq wadis and plateau

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.

Rocky limestone soils, sometimes sandy.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

One to three floodings a year.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Arid ecosystems, sometimes rich for the region.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The land user is the Government, National Centre for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, to facilitate tourism and picnic in the park and protection of the environment (all genders and ages of tourists).

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:

• open access (unorganized)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

Comments:

National Park, government property

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

Comments:

Tourism with guides and Tour operators

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

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Expert estimates

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Expert estimates

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 rainstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
flash flood	well

Comments:

The impact depends on the density of pits per hectare. - experimentation with spacing of 3 metres apart could be tested and evaluated for costs and the results.

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:

It depends on the case, but the success rate is generally very high.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

Costs paid by communities or administration.

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
1) Radical change to the ecosystem
2) Change of landscape.
3) Attractive to tourists after 5 years.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
1). Adapting to climate change (rising temperatures, increased flash flooding).
2). Necessary if we want to turn desert into forests and steppes.
3). The best way to revegetate the desert.

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?
High costs	Use climate change budgets or convince donors and the Government and Vegetation Centre to finance it.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information