Table 12. Best Practices and global environmental benefits (GEB) to be applied to field sites.
BP Items
SLM Best Practice
Global Environmental Benefits (GEB)
Direct Benefit
Sustainable soil management
(Category/Item I)
Palisades
Soil conservation and recovery of degraded areas that reduces soil erosion (furrows and gullies), combined with re-vegetation, restoration of biodiversity, carbon sequestration and improved water flow.
The Palisades decrease soil loss by 75%, preventing soil loss in micro-basin runoff.
Contour curves/stone contour
Soil conservation and recovery of degraded areas (moderated level of degradation) when combined with re-vegetation; restoration of biodiversity; carbon sequestration; improved water flow
1m of contour curves have potential to impact 0.01ha, improving superficial layer (20 cm) of productive plateaus and resulting in 20m³ of total soil retained after 2 years of implementation (~54 tons of total soil per linear metre implemented; 18C tons/m; ~7,000L of water).
Dry stone dams/successive dams/Zero-Base dams – BBZ
Recovery of accentuated and severe degraded areas; reverse high erosion process (gullies and rills); improved water flow, no soil salinization, sustainable production in semi-arid environments, elimination of poverty, water and food security, conservation of natural resources.
1m3 of dry stone dam has the potential to form 100m² of new productive plateaus in 2-4 years (variation depending on rainy season), retaining about 270 tons of total soil (including water – 94.500L; and organic matter – 90C tons).
Planting of Atriplex sp.
Recovery of salinized areas, production of fodder for livestock in hostile environments, food security possibility to plant crops
After 5 years, total recover of salinized areas, if planting were applied to agroecosystems/crop rotation.
Sustainable Water Management
(Category/Item II)
Trench tanks
Water conservation, preventing sheet soil erosion and providing fresh water supply for livestock, water security of production, sustainable production systems and access to water for livestock; Should be implemented associated with water diversion techniques.
Storage 500m³ of water (500,000L) for livestock maintenance along 8 months (~40 heads of milk cattle or 250 heads of goat/pig/lamb/sheep), within a maximum area of 125m² to avoid water losses by evaporation.
Drip and micro-aspersion irrigation (Xique-Xique system)
Reduced soil alkalization, salinity and erosion; improved soil quality; increased productivity; improved water availability; no runoff; reduced siltation of river courses.
Reduce the use of water in 60%-70%.
Total soil recover after 4 years of integrated system implementation (crop rotation/Atriplex planting)
Runoff cisterns
Less degradation of soil and improved water conservation in sustainable production systems adapted to areas susceptible to desertification should be implemented associated with water diversion techniques to avoid erosion processes in vulnerable areas.
Storage of 52,000L of water for production maintenance of 0.25ha (a productive backyard for example) during 8 months.
Sustainable agriculture management
(Category/Item III)
Integrated System
Management Plan
Focused on cultivation of crops in properties <100ha, presents a high linearity with agroecology systems, less need for clearing, lower use of chemicals, less pollution of soil and water, less production costs, more income, better health;
Tree density > 1500 tree/ha after 5 years, forming steeping stones between forest fragments; To improve productivity (about 30% production improvement by integrated system implementation after 2 years).
Peridomestic agroforestry
Productive Backyards
Productive environments in semiarid areas promoting food and energy security, about 85 different vegetal sps, including medicinal plants; enhancing the role of women in production systems and strengthening family autonomy.
Improve the familiar income (U$50/month in areas of 0.25 ha) and/or reduce familiar expenses with food; provides food security.
Sustainable livestock management
(Item IV)
Integrated System
Management Plan
Conservation of biodiversity through the appropriate use of native vegetation, use of adapted breeds, elimination of poverty, food security and biodiversity conservation, landscape maintenance, ecosystem services, improved water flow, reduced soil loss, reduced siltation of reservoirs. Can take place in community areas and private areas.
Sustainable forest management
(Category/Item V)
Agroforestry with management of native vegetation
Productive environments in semiarid areas promoting food security, revegetation, densification, food and energy production, carbon capture and maintenance of ecosystem services; mulching improvement, incorporating organic matter;
Tree density 2000-4000 tree/ha; 150st/ha of fuelwood production (60m³) in 12 year; No carbon emission (zero balance – growth rate 5m³/ ha/year); fallow period of 10-12years enabling RL use in properties <100ha and/or communitarian RL.
Integrated Systems
Management Plan
Conservation of biodiversity through appropriate use of native vegetation, sustainable biomass for energy, non-timber forest products, use of adapted breeds, elimination of poverty, food security, biodiversity conservation, landscape maintenance, ecosystem services, improved water flow, reduced soil loss, reduced siltation of reservoirs.
Sustainable use of biodiversity
(Category/Item VI)
Beekeeping
Native sps –Meliponiculture
Exotic sp - Apiculture
Proper management of native vegetation, guarantee pollination ecosystem functions, conservation of plant biodiversity, food security, income generation, reduction of poverty; The production depends on the maintenance floral resources of vegetation. The activity should be implemented with to productive Backyards and agroforestry systems.
The Native sps can be handled by all family (stingless bee), produce less honey (3-6 kg/hive/year) but with higher nutrient quality and more expensive (~U$30.0/kg).
The exotic sp (Apis mellifera - sting bee) need a special preparation by famers for management, including protective individual equipment for safety handle, but honey production is higher than native sps (50-70kg/hive/year); the medium price is ~U$ 5.0/kg.
Potential of pollination to support ecosystems functions is still unknown/not evaluated.
Others
(VII)
Eco-efficient stoves
Peridomiciliar management of fuelwood; Energy efficient technology, mitigation of carbon emissions, reduced deforestation, respiratory health through reduction of indoor smoke
Reduce to 3h/week the time of firewood collection by women (~80% reduction rate); Reduce 92% radium of collection area (6km to radium of 500m), when associated to peridomiciliar agroforestry; Reduce the fuelwood consumption to 14st/year (family of 5 individuals) (~60%), representing 10.35t CO2e/year of avoided emissions per technology implemented.
