Tana-Beles watersheds develop - monitoring past and present, challenges for tomorrow Veli Pohjonen Tana-Beles WME project Team leader Discussion in World Bank & Embassy of Finland mission 8 May 2013

Watershed management aims At improved production ecology: erosion control, water harvesting, nutrients retention At raising crop yields, and consequently At reduction of poverty

Tana-Beles B1 areas

Gully rehabilitation - special case progress in Tana-Beles B1 areas

Crop production on a rising trend

B1 Woredas development agents estimate annual crop yields per ha

More crop data needed Baseline survey 2010 Baseline survey 2010 First follow-up survey 2013 First follow-up survey 2013

Has poverty been reduced? Poverty reduction is an impact following soil & water conservation, rising crop yields and increasing farm sales Poverty reduction is an impact following soil & water conservation, rising crop yields and increasing farm sales Impacts are followed in baseline and follow up surveys Impacts are followed in baseline and follow up surveys Tana-Beles B1 baseline survey was done in 2010; follow up survey 2013 is ongoing (by Bahir Dar University) Tana-Beles B1 baseline survey was done in 2010; follow up survey 2013 is ongoing (by Bahir Dar University)

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

After present Soil & Water Conservation Present SWC raises crop yields Present SWC raises crop yields How about after reaching the area targets, how to raise the crop yields further? How about after reaching the area targets, how to raise the crop yields further? Fertilization is the standard way Fertilization is the standard way Another way: increase the soil carbon Another way: increase the soil carbon Convert the present eroded red soils into more fertile black soils, into ”Terra preta” Convert the present eroded red soils into more fertile black soils, into ”Terra preta” Agent: biochar Agent: biochar

Poor soil (left) transformed into fertile Terra preta, using biochar (source Wikipedia : Biochar)

Biochar stores carbon Biochar was invented by Amazonian indians 2000 years ago (Terra preta soils) Biochar was invented by Amazonian indians 2000 years ago (Terra preta soils) Biochar is added to cultivated soils like lime Biochar is added to cultivated soils like lime Biochar remains in the soil without decomposing, similarly to coal Biochar remains in the soil without decomposing, similarly to coal Biochar makes permanent carbon sink Biochar makes permanent carbon sink Made via pyrolysis from forest residues Made via pyrolysis from forest residues Increment of biochar to smallholder farm soils can be added to International Carbon Trading Increment of biochar to smallholder farm soils can be added to International Carbon Trading

Biochar – ultimate Watershed Management agent Soil acidity decreases Soil acidity decreases Cation exchange capacity increases, leaching of nutrients decreases Cation exchange capacity increases, leaching of nutrients decreases Soil microbial activity increases, more nitrogen is retained in the soil Soil microbial activity increases, more nitrogen is retained in the soil Fysical soil particle structure for crops improves Fysical soil particle structure for crops improves Soil water retention capacity improves Soil water retention capacity improves => Crop yields are raised in sustained manner

Watersheds get greener

Thank you