Local Land Degradation Assessment meeting Mendoza, Argentina 1st LADA Local Assessment – South Africa Liesl Stronkhorst 26 January 2009

Presentation Layout LADA Local approach in SA 1st Assessment – Sekhukhune Lessons Learnt Conclusions

LADA Local approach in SA What do we want to achieve with LADA Local Assessments More detailed understanding of LD & LC in smaller area Assess success or failure of previous / existing inputs towards SLM Hypothesis Reporting Recommendations for SLM for technologies and approaches (WOCAT) Based on the objectives and the LADA TOR, need to decide how many assessments to do and where… Decided to test the methodology in the number of sites recommended by LADA (4)

LADA Local approach in SA Within LADA Limited verification leg of LADA-N In SA: 4 Assessments 2 Commercial, 2 Rural 1 completed 8-10 Sept 2008 (rural hot spot) 2 to 4 planned for March to October 2009

Assessment - Sekhukhune Area informed by LADA-N + Historical knowledge Chose area where previous projects have been implemented Provide valuable background information Objective: Test methods and techniques Set of relevant methods for each area Start with the answer needed Next area may be in the Western Cape – Conservation agriculture has been implemented for > 20 years – bright spot. Eastern Cape considered for another rural assessment, but also a hot spot. (Sterkspruit area) Existing or past projects provide valuable information and some even include socio-economic assessments that have already been done. Sometimes on a larger scale, so can do it on a smaller scale. Look at the available information and fill the gaps.

Assessment - Sekhukhune Align assessment strategy to achieve results with optimal financial and human capacity inputs Include local experts in team (also assessment methods) Build on existing relationship between extension / researchers and local community Answer needed: 1. Develop and provide methodology for conducting LD assessments 2. Deliver understanding of Biophysical and socio-economic causes Effectiveness of land management practices Important elements of the institutional, economic and policy environment that need to be in place for SLM 3. Provide approach for assessing and monitoring land degradation and land improvement 4. Recommend approaches for extrapolating between local and national level LADA assessments 5. Give guidance on presentation and reporting of LADA-L results

Assessment - Sekhukhune Sekhukhune District Map ID’d in LADA-N as highly degraded area Background information of larger district researched LandCare and Conservation project found Provide valuable information including socio-economic data LADA-L can fill the gaps

Transect (8km)

Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune Soil Vegetation LD Water Socio-Economic DPSIR

Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune Soil Analysis – VS-Fast

Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune Vegetation Survey

Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune LD Assessment – Stocking Method

Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune Water Analysis

Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune Socio-Economic Assessment

Summarized Results Various LUS Highly degraded area Savanna (Grazing land) Rainfed crop production Urban Irrigated crop production Open water Highly degraded area vegetation and soil erosion low water use efficiency

Summarized Results Lack of reliable rainfall – most NB driver behind LD Some LandCare projects have been implemented Not all successful

Points for discussion What worked well Transect selection - reconnaissance VS-Fast Using local experts Building on existing relationships National informing local assessment sites Livelihood analysis guidelines

Points for discussion What didn’t work well Issue of scale for assessment and link to detail of assessment Hot and bright spot in same area not always applicable Doing VS-Fast methods in field Manual - Following a recipe or using the ingredients?

Points for discussion What didn’t work well Training of assessment team Using new techniques? No clear assessment guidelines for vegetation and water resources How rapid is rapid? How should the assessment serve as a benchmark? Can’t compare different sites due to internal variation Is this a once off assessment or a monitoring exercise?

Suggested Future Process Determine area from national results and trends Situation analysis with key stakeholders Recon survey and interviews with other stakeholders and determine transect

Suggested Future Process Decide on assessment methods and tools Training in local assessment approach and techniques Assessment Data analysis using DPSIR framework Reporting and feedback

THANK YOU!!!

South Africa

Limpopo Province

Sekhukhune District Municipality

Fetakgomo Local Municipality Mankotsana area 7 Return