1. Mounir Louhaichi & Rana Muhaisen,
Achievements managing agro-pastoral rangelands in Jordanian Badia
Mounir Louhaichi & Rana Muhaisen,

2. Activity summaries Activity Achievements Potential impact Location
Promoting spineless cactus as a multi-purpose species in the dry areas
Erak
Mchaqqar
Introduction of new germplasm from Mexico, Tunisia, Italy, and Brazil
Dissemination at farm level
Adoption study initiated
- Field day
- Factsheet
- At least 25 farmers had already planted cactus as a crop
Additional farmers are expected to adopt this practice
- Additional income due to selling of fruits and/or saving in commercial feed resources
Introduction of alley- cropping and/or inter cropping
Majdya
- Sites have been identified
- Seedlings were produced and transplanted in the field (on station and on farm)
- 15% increase in forage resources
- Adoption of alley cropping practices
Evaluation of the effect of WHT on vegetation cover and productivity on drought-resistant shrubs
(IWLM Program)
Measurement (data collection is complete)
Alleviate water and soil erosions
Increased rangeland productivity

3. Activity summaries Activity Achievements Potential impact Location
Sustainable intensification of low lands in pastoral ecosystems
Majdya
Site selected
WHT established
Testing dual purpose barley accessions
30% increase in forage resources
Biodiversity conservation
Restoration of salt affected rangelands
Jordan
- Assessment of selected halophytes under different salinity levels
Restoration of salt affected soils (Sebkha) in MENA region
Capacity building
NARS partners in Jordan
Group training courses
Field days
Students
Visiting scientists (ARIs)
Dissemination of technology at wider scale (training of trainers)
Higher adoption by farmers

4. Characteristics of Pastoral Ecosystems in Jordan
Causes of rangeland degradation
Consequences
Erak - Karak
Majidya - Mhareb
Solutions
TIPO

5. Cactus: a promising species

6. Cactus accessions were introduced from to Jordan
Enhancing the use of cactus (Opuntia focus indica) to promote better livelihoods of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in arid areas of West Asia
Cactus accessions were introduced from to Jordan
A new shipment is on the way from Brazil
Country of Origin No
Italy 46
Brazil 25
Tunisia 24
Mexico 13
Algeria 9
Morocco 6
New Mexico
Argentina 4
Others 18
 Total
151
Establishment of cactus gene field bank at NCARE Mchaqqar station with more than 150 accessions

7. Dissemination of cactus pads to farmers in Erak
Enhancing the use of cactus (Opuntia focus indica) to promote better livelihoods of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the dry areas
Dissemination of cactus pads to farmers in Erak
Erak - Jordan

8. Research Experiments on Cactus pear
The Influence of soil volume (Root Confinement) on root and canopy growth, root turnover and canopy versus root ratio of Opuntia ficus-indica
The influence of planting methods of Opuntia ficus-indica on root and canopy growth, root turnover and canopy – root ratio
Adoption study for cactus in Erak (SEPRP & Jutta)
Suitability map for outscaling cactus in West Asia (Geo-informatics, Sawsan and Kathryn)

9. Rangeland Rehabilitation through WHT & Shrub Plantations
Erak Site
Jordan

11. Sustainable intensification of lowlands in pastoral ecosystems
Alley-cropping Practices
Sustainable intensification of lowlands in pastoral ecosystems
Water harvesting
Shrub plantation
Introduction of forage legumes

12. Sustainable intensification of lowlands in pastoral ecosystems
November 2013
December 2013
January 2014
February 2014
May 2014
September 2014

13. Restoration of salt affected rangelands
For salt affected soils: Selecting salt tolerant fodders...
Study conducted at NCARE Research Station (Al Karama), Jordan
Treatments include 2 salinity levels and 6 shrub species
Preliminary results: Atriplex halimus showed great tolerance to salinity and has the greatest biomass, while Artemisia herba alba suffered even from the slightly saline soils.
Kochia prostrata
Mariana brevifolia
Atriplex nummularia
Atriplex lentiformis
Salsola vermiculata
Atriplex halimus

14. Restoration of salt affected rangelands
Assessment of salinity tolerance mechanisms of selected halophytes under different salinity levels in Jordan

15. From this… …to this. Approach: No quick fix solutions (time/space)
Multidisciplinary approach
Farmers, agronomists, animal nutritionists, ecologists, hydrologists and economists

16. Collaboration with IWLM Program:
Evaluation of the effect of water harvesting interventions on vegetation cover and productivity on drought-resistant shrubs in Majidyya - Jordan

17. LIDAR: LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING
Mapping and monitoring rangeland vegetation using latest technology
LIDAR: LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING

18. Capacity Building Group training courses Field days Students
Agro-ecological monitoring
Alley cropping
Field days
Cactus
Grazing management
Students
- 2 MSc and 1 PhD
- 1 internship
Visiting scientists (ARIs)
Paolo Inglese (U of Palermo - Italy)
Douglas Johnson (OSU – USA)
Steve Petersen (BYU - USA)
Robert Washington (U of Tennessee – USA)

19. Group training course on agro ecological monitoring
Capacity Building
Group training course on agro ecological monitoring

20. Group Training on Agro-Forestry Practices
Capacity Building
Group Training on Agro-Forestry Practices
Alley Cropping

22. Hima The Amman Declaration on Innovating Hima - May 2014
Hima is a comprehensive package of governance, conservation, science and markets that builds on and reinforces social, cultural and human capital.

23. Reinforcing best-bet grazing practices (DSIPS & IWLM)

24. Investing in Rangelands: Agro-Ecological monitoring of Jordanian ‘action sites’