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Description of solution
Many pastures in the mountain areas of Azerbaijan are in bad condition. High numbers of livestock and bad management practices lead to a loss of vegetation and subsequent soil erosion. Degraded pastures result in a loss of biodiversity and livelihoods and a rising risk of landslides. Estimated temperature rise and an increase in extreme weather events will accelerate land degradation. Even though a rise of rainfall might be beneficial for pastures, changing land uses and increased evaporation will amplify soil erosion. The government and district administration lack coordination and finance for the sustainable management of public pastures. Local communities are aware of the erosion problem, but no incentives and clear examples for erosion control are given by the authorities. To combat overgrazing, farmers have to be provided with alternative income generating practices, e.g. through an integrated management concept proving the economic value of sustainably used ecosystem services.Implemented erosion control measures contribute to the conservation of biodiversity through the protection of natural resources from anthropogenic induced erosion processes and through the rehabilitation of degraded areas. Special attention is paid to the causes and underlying drivers of erosion in order to develop strategies to improve erosion control at local level. Together with national partners Ismayilli district of Azerbaijan was selected as a pilot region.Different erosion control measures are conceptualized and implemented through the cooperation of national and local partners, involving relevant stakeholders, international and local experts and local villagers. In order to rehabilitate the eroded lands and avoid further land degradation locally applicable erosion control measures are introduced to the land users. Measures include ‘grey’ measures (terraces, fences) as well as ‘green’ measures (afforestation, orchard management) and are combined with alternative income generating practices.Socio-economic and ecological benefits of better land management and erosion control measures are monitored, documented and demonstrated to surrounding communities.
The solution fostered the knowledge of decision makers and farmers on erosion processes and the sustainable management of biodiversity. Through various workshops, trainings and excursions the value of ecosystem services was explained and translated into the realities of the participants. The mainstreaming of biodiversity was strengthened through the facilitation of an inter-sectoral steering group on district level.Impact of different erosion control measures is being measured through a monitoring system. The implemented measures are used to demonstrate effective erosion control to stakeholders and neighbouring communities, to raise interest of politicians and local communities in ecosystem-based erosion control.The aim was to make the construction of erosion control measures affordable and easy to undertake. In Ehen village in Ismayilli region, several bioengineering and engineering measures have been implemented: steep hills have been stabilized with terraces and fruit trees, several check-dams and a gabion have been constructed in eroded river beds, areas with gully erosion have been fenced and afforested and eroded pastures have been re-established as hay-meadows. Alternative income generating practices have been supported through trainings and funding: orchard management, beekeeping and hay production.Lessons learned<ul><li>A strong understanding of the social structure of the community as well as the local environment is key for the development of an erosion control concept.</li><li>Measures should be locally applicable and tangible for the farmers. -> Reliable results are necessary to convince farmers (shown on the pilot sites and monitoring plots of the project).</li><li>It is vital to test and demonstrate different erosion control measures to showcase what measures have the most impact on which erosion situations and foster understanding for the solutions.</li><li>Involvement of local communities in the construction of the measures (manpower and material).</li><li>Develop an upscaling concept, making local experiences sustainable, e.g. an erosion control handbook for the South Caucasus region.</li></ul>
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GIZ
Ehen, Ismailli, Azerbaijan