Simone Verzandvoort, Erik van den Elsen, Rudi Hessel, and Coen Ritsema (Alterra-WUR), on behalf of the DESIRE consortium

The DESIRE Project: Desertification Mitigation and Remediation of Land a Global Approach for Local Solutions

LANDCON1010, October 11-15, Xián, China

Contents

• Motivation• Objectives• Approach• Snapshots of results• Outreach

LANDCON1010, October 11-15, Xián, China

Motivation

• Perceived lack of impact of the UNCCD on the ground

• Need for scientific proof of performance of SLM strategies

• Need for communication of scientific research across and within groups in the desertification regime

LANDCON1010, October 11-15, Xián, China

“The UNCCD is often referred to as the “African poor convention”

(M. Bakharr, GEF)

DESIRE Integrated Project

• Co-funded by the European Commission* (9 M€) in FP6

• 26 partners• Run-time 2007-2012

* DG Research-Environment Programme

LANDCON1010, October 11-15, Xián, China

www.desire-project.eu

Objectives

1. Give SLM measures a sound scientific basis

2. Improve definition of indicators

3. Assess and develop promising SLM strategies with stakeholder groups

4. Evaluate SLM measures on regional scale

5. Disseminate results, guidance and decision support tools in suitable formats for all relevant stakeholders

LANDCON1010, October 11-15, Xián, China

Turkey (ESOGU ©)

China (ISWC ©)

Chile (INIA ©)

Morocco (Gudrun Schwilch,©)

LANDCON1010, October 11-15, Xián, China

16 sites with different biophysical manifestations of desertification

Approach• Local for global• Start from available• Science-based• Stakeholder involvement• Integrate economic value of SLM• Emphasize benefits of SLM• Connect to policy

LANDCON1010, October 11-15, Xián, China

“Stakeholders are more confident to promote or try new ideas if they see evidence of success demonstrated in scientific experiments” (Nicky Geeson, DESIRE)

“Benefits of SLM are of many kinds, not just agricultural productivity, and are of importance of each individual in every society” (Hanspeter Liniger, DESIRE-WOCAT)

Establish context and

goals

Identify, evaluate & select SLM

options

Trial SLM options &

model regional effects

Apply SLM options – monitor -

disseminate

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Snapshots of resultsBiophysical and human-environmental context of desertification described and mapped (WB1)

Snapshots of resultsIndicator data sets collected

Relationships to desertification risk and land management derived (WB2)

Indicators affecting desertification as a function of land degradation process. Source: AUA (2010)

Snapshots of resultsSLM technologies and approaches assessed and selected in a structured participatory process (WB3)

Photo: G. Schwilch

Snapshots of results

Photo: Rick Skahesby ©

INIA ©

Selected strategies implemented and under assessment in the field (WB4)

Photo: Christian Prat ©

INIA ©

22 SLM technologies57 field experiments 13 countries

6

2

35

4

2

SLM Technology groups tested in DESIRE

Reduced & zero tillage

Contour tillage

Traditional water harvesting

Mulching

Strip cropping & barriers

Controlled grazing

4

10

5

1Tree cropping

Annual cropping

Grazing

Forest

Green manure (dryland almond, Guadelentin, Spain)

A crop grown to be ploughed into the ground to increase organic matter content, thereby improving fertility and reducing erodibility

Prescribed fire (extensive grazing, Góis, Portugal)

Controlled burn to reduce fuel build-up and decrease the likelihood of serious hotter fires

No tillage (annual cropping, Chile)

Seeding crops without disturbing the soil through tillage, involving one pass during which a part of the soil surface is “opened” and the seeds are placed concurrently

No tillage machine

Rangeland resting (grazing, Tunisia)

Land closed by fencing (or other means) for control of grazing or resting during a specified period to reconstitute its plant cover

Snapshots of results• Biophysical PESERA model

adapted to simulate effects of SLM technologies

• Socio-economic DESMICE model developed to

– assess regional effects of local SLM techs

– identify areas of intervention

Snapshots of results

• Multi-lingual Harmonised Information System as a track record of project outputs

• Various forms of dissemination (newsletters, booklets, video, podcast, powerpoint) (WB6)

INIA ©

UA ©

Outreach

• Scientific:– PhD work, conference contrs (100 in 2010),

papers (30 in 2010)

• Communication to target groups– Local/regional: stakeholder meetings – National: connecting DESIRE teams to National

Focal Points & linking results of WB4/5 to NAPs– Global: joint involvement in UNCCD process

(COP, CST, CRIC) with LADA and WOCAT– Any group: HIS & offered formats

LANDCON1010, October 11-15, Xián, China

Thank you for your attention!

For more information, visit:www.desire-his.eu

www.desire-project.eu Thanks to all colleagues having provided photos for this presentation

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Establish context and

goals

Identify, evaluate & select SLM

options

Trial SLM options &

model regional effects

Apply SLM options & monitor

Identify, document and evaluate SLM options

Stakeholders & their goals (WB1,6)

Context and drivers of change (WB1)

Status of LD and SLM and risk (WB1,2)

Prioritize & select

Trial SLM technologies in field experiments (WB4)

Disseminate for extension & (inter)national policy (WB6)

Model biophysical and economic effects at field & regional scale (WB4,5)

Apply in longer-term programs & monitor progress to goals

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