Area under intense agriculture use and limited adoption of sustainable soil management and conservation practices; Accentuated level of land degradation and soil erosion (misused mechanization and irrigation, failure to use contour lines, increased monocultures and total clearing, etc.)
For Caatinga biome under intense agriculture uses with no soil conservation practices there is a loss of approx. 10 tons of soil per hectare (3 carbon tons/ha) every year.
Soil erosion control techniques such as dry farming, zero-tillage, crop diversification, mulching systems, contour curves and stone curves (renque de pedra), dry stone dams, use of cover crops in agroecology systems/integrated management systems with no-tillage
Reduced soil losses; higher soil moisture and increased water availability; improved soil biological and chemical quality and productivity
The integrated implementation of soil conservation practices (proposed by the project) have potential to reduce about 50% of soil loss in 3 years after intervention (variation related to rainy season, land degradation levels and main area use – crop/consortium/livestock) – should be confirmed for each field site.
Excessive and inappropriate use of chemical inputs (herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers)
Biological control; adherence to requirements for chemical inputs; mulching systems; crop rotation/agro ecologic systems to reduce pests; management of fallow to restore nutrients.
The fallow period for agriculture uses in SAS is <3 years (rural establishment <100ha).
The recommended fallow period for soil nutrient recover is >5 years, to be implemented and optimized by management plans adoption.
Misuse of irrigation techniques (flooding and aspersion are not adequate for areas with potential for salinization)
It is estimated that 25% of irrigated areas in ASD are under salinization process; SAS has high density water (Brackish water) due to soil characteristics and high evaporation rate (2.000 mm/year), which speeds up the salinization process and water loss where flooding or aspersion systems are applied.
Micro-aspersion and drip irrigation (Xique-xique system); efficient use of water runoff; crop rotation; Atriplex sp. cultivation to recover soil properties.
Reduced soil alkinization, salinity and erosion; improved soil quality; increased productivity; improved water availability; reduced siltation of river courses
Total soil recover after 5 years of integrated system implementation (crop rotation/Atriplex planting)
Introduction of less drought resistant species for animal husbandry
Tree density in areas with accentuated or severe level of degradation or areas is under intense use <800 tree/hectare
Maintenance/protection of existing LR and APP and appropriate fencing; environmental recovery program for restoration of forests including where appropriate alternative production, such as agro-forestry systems and beekeeping for honey; appropriated fallow periods in usable areas (RL)
Reduced deforestation (0.14% per year); improved connectivity; reduced soil erosion; reduced pressure on threatened species
Tree density >1500 tree/hectare; Natural recover in Caatinga biome areas with a preserved soil seed bank take up 5 to 10 years, just by fencing; Areas with soil loss, it is recommended to mix SFM and soil conservation practices to start up the recovery process, which can take up 8 to 13 years (total recover).
Uncontrolled burning to clear land
Prescribed burning; rehabilitation of lands subjected to excessive burning
This project will provide significant direct socio-economic benefits in the project lifetime to 1,000 smallholders in Sergipe's ASD, which comprises 74.2% of the state, with the establishment of a strengthened state-level and national governance framework to promote SLM. In addition, the project will work more directly to benefit the rural population of the Segipe ASDs as a result of the demonstration of best practices in SLM, strengthened extension services and increased capacity to access funding opportunities. The increased adoption of SLM practices will increase well-being through:
Greater food security resulting from increased agricultural productivity, crop diversification and adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices;
Increased water security from improved ecosystems services in river basins through land restoration/recovery;
Reduced vulnerability to climate change and extreme climatic events such as drought with the adoption of more sustainable approaches that are adapted to changing conditions;
Reduced economic vulnerability and increased incomes through diversified activities (including cover crops, crop diversification, beekeeping, fish farming, sustainable forestry management, silvopastoral activities, etc.), increased productivity, enlargement of markets and increased access to credit for SLM activities, which could also reduce rural-urban outmigration.
