tana-beles watersheds develop - monitoring past and present, challenges for tomorrow veli pohjonen...

Tana-Beles watersheds developTana-Beles watersheds develop- monitoring past and present, challenges for tomorrow- monitoring past and present, challenges for tomorrow

Veli PohjonenVeli PohjonenTana-Beles WME projectTana-Beles WME project

Team leaderTeam leader

Discussion in Discussion in

World Bank & Embassy of Finland World Bank & Embassy of Finland missionmission

8 May 20138 May 2013

Watershed management aimsWatershed management aims

At improved production ecology: At improved production ecology: erosion control, water harvesting, erosion control, water harvesting, nutrients retentionnutrients retention

At raising crop yields, and At raising crop yields, and consequentlyconsequently

At reduction of povertyAt reduction of poverty

Tana-Beles B1 areas 2009-2013Tana-Beles B1 areas 2009-2013

Gully rehabilitation - special caseGully rehabilitation - special caseprogress in Tana-Beles B1 areas 2009-2013progress in Tana-Beles B1 areas 2009-2013

Crop production on a rising trendCrop production on a rising trend

B1 Woredas development agents B1 Woredas development agents estimate annual crop yields per haestimate annual crop yields per ha

More crop data neededMore crop data needed

Baseline survey Baseline survey 20102010

First follow-up First follow-up survey 2013survey 2013

Has poverty been reduced? Has poverty been reduced?

Poverty reduction is an impact Poverty reduction is an impact following soil & water conservation, following soil & water conservation, rising crop yields and increasing farm rising crop yields and increasing farm salessales

Impacts are followed in baseline and Impacts are followed in baseline and follow up surveysfollow up surveys

Tana-Beles B1 baseline survey was Tana-Beles B1 baseline survey was done in 2010; follow up survey 2013 done in 2010; follow up survey 2013 is ongoing (by Bahir Dar University)is ongoing (by Bahir Dar University)

Three cornerstones for poverty reductionThree cornerstones for poverty reduction Tana-Beles B1 areas baseline situation in 2010Tana-Beles B1 areas baseline situation in 2010

After present Soil & Water ConservationAfter present Soil & Water Conservation

Present SWC raises crop yieldsPresent SWC raises crop yields How about after reaching the area targets, How about after reaching the area targets,

how to raise the crop yields further?how to raise the crop yields further? Fertilization is the standard wayFertilization is the standard way Another way: increase the soil carbonAnother way: increase the soil carbon Convert the present eroded red soils into Convert the present eroded red soils into

more fertile black soils, into ”Terra preta”more fertile black soils, into ”Terra preta” Agent: biocharAgent: biochar

Poor soil (left) transformed into Poor soil (left) transformed into fertile fertile Terra pretaTerra preta, using biochar, using biochar

(source Wikipedia : Biochar)(source Wikipedia : Biochar)

Biochar stores carbonBiochar stores carbon

Biochar was invented by Amazonian indians Biochar was invented by Amazonian indians 2000 years ago (2000 years ago (Terra preta Terra preta soils)soils)

Biochar is added to cultivated soils like limeBiochar is added to cultivated soils like lime Biochar remains in the soil without Biochar remains in the soil without

decomposing, similarly to coaldecomposing, similarly to coal Biochar makes permanent carbon sinkBiochar makes permanent carbon sink Made via pyrolysis from forest residuesMade via pyrolysis from forest residues Increment of biochar to smallholder farm soils Increment of biochar to smallholder farm soils

can be added to International Carbon Tradingcan be added to International Carbon Trading

Biochar – ultimate Watershed Biochar – ultimate Watershed Management agentManagement agent

Soil acidity decreasesSoil acidity decreases Cation exchange capacity increases, leaching of Cation exchange capacity increases, leaching of

nutrients decreasesnutrients decreases Soil microbial activity increases, more nitrogen Soil microbial activity increases, more nitrogen

is retained in the soilis retained in the soil Fysical soil particle structure for crops improvesFysical soil particle structure for crops improves Soil water retention capacity improvesSoil water retention capacity improves

=> Crop yields are raised in sustained manner=> Crop yields are raised in sustained manner

Watersheds get greenerWatersheds get greener

Thank youThank you

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