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)

Community-based sustainable land and forest management in Afghanistan

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

FAO Afghanistan (FAO Afghanistan) - Afghanistan

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:

An integrated community-led initiative has been established to restore the degraded forests in Paktya province. This initiative focuses on setting up nurseries and incorporates both indigenous and scientific knowledge to cultivate climate-resilient species, such as Cedrus deodara and Pinus gerardiana. These efforts have enhanced the community’s knowledge and skills in sapling production and transplantation, leading to significant improvements in the productivity of these key species, which holds substantial ecological, social, culture, and economic value.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is being applied in the communities of Ahmad Aba and Sayed Karam districts in the province of Paktya focusing on restoration of high conservation value forests. It is implemented through direct support of 13 Forest Management Associations (FMAs).
Key members of forest management associations participated in capacity building focused on community -based natural resources management (CBNRM), establishment of community-based nurseries and restoration of degraded forest .The aims of the capacity building initiative were to enhance the ability of the associations to restore the degraded area and implement sustainable practices, particularly through establishment of community-based nurseries, production of saplings and subsequent planting of these saplings in targeted restoration sites .
Over the past three years, 67 nurseries have been established, focusing on climate- resilient species such as Cedrus deodara and Pinus jerardiana, walnut among others species by integrating both indigenous and scientific knowledge. Indigenous knowledge includes practices such as pre-irrigation, the use of animal-powered initial plowing with hand-held hoes, weed removal, and other traditional techniques. Scientific recommendations include improvement of sapling production, adaption of soil inoculation with Mycorrhiza, species-specific sowing methods, controlled temperature management in greenhouses, effective watering/irrigation techniques (manually and using sprinklers).
The project has significantly enhanced sapling production and transplantation for reforestation purposes. The community-based nurseries were established using carefully selected seeds, chosen based on seed quality, sowing timing, and the process of breaking seed dormancy. Saplings were then raised in the nurseries for the first 2 to 3 years until, they are ready for transplantation. These saplings are then transplanted to the degraded forest areas. The land preparation and digging of pits was carried out in the restoration sites before the transplanting has started. After the successful transplanting of saplings, they are taken care of by the forest management associations. Additionally, mechanical pests and diseases control measures were taken to produce saplings in community-based nurseries. These interventions have raised community awareness regarding forest condition and management and thereby enhancing their capacities to improve the forest cover.
Major activities include: site assessment and pre-planning, selection of high conservation value tree species, site selection, technical training on site management (preparation of soil, sowing method, irrigation management, greenhouse) and capacity building of the communities and beneficiaries on nursery soil mixture preparation, breaking of dormancy using different techniques, sapling production and transplantation.
The 13 Forest Management Associations (FMAs), are legal institutions for the management of natural resources, hold a license for reforestation activities in degraded forests and are officially registered with Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). FMAs are responsible for the implementation of the measures and the communities have committed to the transplantation, irrigation and regular patrolling of the saplings.
The goal of the reforestation efforts is to restore biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, enhance the capacity of local community on methods of in-situ and ex-situ biodiversity conservation, creation of a recreational site, raising the awareness towards mitigation of climate change, ultimately, to improve the life condition of rural populations. The application of technologies offers cost-effective and eco-friendly restoration of the high conservation value forest especially of pine nut (Pinus jerardiana) and deodar (Cedrus deodara). Additionally, it provided work opportunities and income generation for 100 families. The technology is well-suitable for replication and adaptation in the local context. As a result, the local community consistently produce the necessary saplings for reforestation and supply them to the project with reasonable cost every year.

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:

2021

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

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

Comments:

Nurseries irrigated through full irrigation. However, after the transplantation of saplings, supplementary irrigation is required till to five years. when they have established may be rainfed irrigation enough.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• forest plantation management
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• water harvesting

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 unit

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Site assessment and selection for establishing nurseries	October
2.	Land preparation and filling of polybags with soil mixture	November
3.	Purchasing of local seed (walnut, Pinus jerardiana, Pinus eldarica, and Cedrus deodara)	November
4.	Breaking dormancy of seed in soil bed or in room using different techniques	December
5.	Irrigation after seeds are sown in raised beds and polybags	15, 30, 45 DAY
6.	Construction of plastic tunnels, seeding in raised beds and polybags	November
7.	Transplantation of saplings after 2 to 3 years to the restoration area	March

Comments:

In this section the establishment of nurseries and production of saplings is in focus and not the transplantation of saplings to the areas to be reforested.

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	Land preparation (plowing of land, filling of polybags)	Man-days	4.0	5.0	20.0	100.0
Labour	Irrigation (using jerry can for irrigation)	Man-days	8.0	5.0	40.0	100.0
Labour	Construction of tunnel	Man-days	2.0	5.0	10.0	100.0
Labour	Sowing of seeds	Man-days	2.0	5.0	10.0	100.0
Labour	Metal worker	Mand-days	2.0	5.0	10.0
Equipment	Shovels	PC	4.0	3.0	12.0
Plant material	Seed (Pinus jerardiana)	Kg	2.0	12.5	25.0
Plant material	Seed (Pinus elderica)	Kg	2.0	12.5	25.0
Plant material	Seed (walnut)	Kg	52.0	4.0	208.0
Plant material	Seed (Cedrus deodara)	Kg	1.0	12.5	12.5
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer (UREA & DAP)	Kg	26.0	1.0	26.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Mycorrhizal affected soil	Kg	1000.0	0.05	50.0	100.0
Construction material	Green net	Kg	25.0	7.0	175.0
Construction material	Transparent plastic	Kg	25.0	5.0	125.0
Construction material	Steal bar (12 mm)	Kg	330.0	1.0	330.0
Construction material	Polybags	Kg	30.0	3.0	90.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1168.5
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1168.5

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

The project offered material support

Comments:

Fertilizer applied at beginning one time

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weed management	frequently
2.	Pest and disease control and management	Frequently
3.	Dead plants are replaced by cultivating seeds in the nurseries (10%)	Second year of cultivation of seeds (spring)
4.	Irrigation	Frequently

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	Weed management	Man days	6.0	5.0	30.0	100.0
Labour	Pest and disease control and management	Man days	3.0	5.0	15.0	100.0
Labour	Reseeding for exchanging dead seedlings	Man days	3.0	5.0	15.0	100.0
Labour	Changing plastic and green net seasonally	Man days	3.0	5.0	15.0	100.0
Labour	Irrigation (using Jerry can)	Man days	10.0	5.0	50.0	100.0
Construction material	Transparent plastic	Kg	25.0	5.0	125.0
Construction material	Green net	Kg	25.0	7.0	175.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					425.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					425.0

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

The project covered 100% of the costs for tools and services.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most important factors that affecting the cost is material needed to construct the plastic tunnel and cost of seeds.

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

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Source of off-farm income for land users are private business, livestock, government salary and foreign country employment.

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:

• open access (unorganized)
• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• leased

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

Land use rights are based on the local system. Each village holds land use rights based on their tribal structure, referred to as "contribution," allowing them to derive benefits from their land. The land used for the nursery is privately owned, while the restored area belongs to the community and is accessible only for those with user rights.

Comments:

N/A

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

Comments:

N/A

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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	summer	decrease	moderately
annual rainfall		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:

The initial cost of restoration is high when seedlings are purchased from local markets, which increases the cost per hectare. However, if the seedlings are produced in community-based nurseries, the restoration cost decreases significantly due to the lower expenses associated with establishing the nursery and transplanting seedlings from local sources

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?

• 11-50%

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 establishment of nurseries and transplanting of saplings in reforested area was easy to adapt to the local context and has been successfully replicated by others to produce seedlings and support
The application of this technology has made it easier to restore the high conservation value forest species at a cost-effective price and created income generation opportunity for the local people
The local community has learned and gained experiences in afforestation and reforestation efforts, becoming familiar with restoration of important species that hold significant economic and ecological value
Livelihood of local community has diversified, beyond reliance on private business and traditional agriculture.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Prior to the introduction of this technology, saplings were not available in the local market. Now, sapling of high conservation value forest species can be found, although the price remains high at 500 Afghani (AFNs) for each sapling
Costs of afforestation have decreased compared to purchasing saplings from neighboring districts
The saplings species used were more adaptable to the local climate and have survived well after transplantation

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?
Initial capital for investment and purchasing goods	Providing subsidy to local community
The high price of seed and scarcity to be purchase from local market	The solution is to collect the seed locally by the community and propagate in own nureseries

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Nursery management required continuous care and regular follow-up by technical staff.	Regular visit and follow up
Insufficient care of the nurseries, such as inadequate weeding and untimely irrigation, can affect the quality saplings.	Precautions and care should be the responsibility of the owners.
Irrigation management is most crucial in the nurseries and need extra knowledge of water requirement of the planted species	Conduct water management training for the owners.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

There is information available online related to FLR in Afghanistan

URL:

URL https://www.fao.org/in-action/forest-landscape-restoration-asia/country-profiles/afghanistan/afg-gef-project/en#