6 th Regional Coordination Meeting Amman - November 11-12, 2014 Water Management Strategies and potential impacts on Livelihoods in Jordan

WLI Goal and Intended Outputs Please insert a picture that represents your work Overall Goal: improve the livelihoods of rural households and communities in areas where water scarcity, land degradation, and associated problems are prevalent. Intended Outputs: 1.Integrated water and land-use strategies for policy-making, tools for sustainable benchmark management and organizational mechanisms for community inclusion at the benchmark site. 2.Enhanced knowledge, skills and qualifications for key stakeholders in the benchmark sites. 3.Improved rural livelihoods of farmers in the benchmark sites through the adoption of sustainable land and water management practices and livelihood strategies. National Policy Objectives in Jordan: 1. National Strategy for Agricultural Development : achieve a sustainable agricultural and rural development. 2. Jordan's Water Strategy : increase water use efficiency. 3. National Strategy and Action Plan to combat desertification–: natural resources rehabilitation and development.

(Muhareb & Majedya, Jordan) Benchmar Target population  2 villages  70 households  420 total inhabitants  55 % adult male, 45% adult female FTF Indicator: Number of hectares under improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance: (610 ha) or management practices as a result of USG assistance: (610 ha) Benchmark site (848 ha) Upscaling area (610 ha) Watershed (60 km2) Pilot area(s) for data collection(5 ha) Administrative boundaries

Mechanisms for Community Inclusion Site Advisory Group Members MemberNameInstitute Project TeamTeamNCARE Muwgar Municipality Muwgar Agriculture DirectorateMuwgar Agriculture Directorate/ MOA Representative of Farmer Interest Group (FIG) Awad Eswad MuharibMuharib community Nqera women cooperative Mrs. Samia Jbour Nqera women cooperative Muharib cooperativeHead of Muharib cooperative Al-Khudair Women Cooperative for Social Development, & Mrs. Magbouleh Kayed Head of cooperative Mawakeb Al-Noor Women Cooperative for charitable Causes Mrs. Khawlah Aqeel Head of cooperative

Improving Water and Land Management: Field Level The WLI In Jordan was implemented under two main components; Biophysical Demonstrate water harvesting techniques, evaluate its implications on different biophysical processes (water spreading, land degradation, runoff, crop and rangeland productivity). Socio economic Raise the awareness of local communities on the role of women in income generating activities for poverty reduction and development, Assess the different livelihood options available at communities areas and how much farmers are willing to pay to improve their livelihoods through adopting new technologies, and Assess the economics of alternative water harvesting techniques in the targeted areas

WLI Biophysical Achivements: Implementation of different water harvesting techniques to rehabilitate the degraded rangelands: Vallerani contour ridges, Check dams, Marabs, Terraces, Several demonstrations: Sabaha, Khanasri, Faa, Manshsieh, Karak/Eraq,

Activity 1: Watershed modeling, monitoring and management Main goal: Adapting the SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) Objectives: To Study the effect of selected water harvesting interventions on the sediment quantity and quality, run-off, and crop productivity. To Promote the out-scaling and dissemination of tested technologies in the Badia and similar regions Eng.Safa Mazahreh, Eng.Lubna Mahasneh, Eng.Mutasem Khresat, Lubna Qaryouti/ICARDA

 Study area:  Four sites, representing small sub-watersheds (hill slopes) were selected. The sites have close proximity to each other to minimize differences in climate, soils, vegetation, topography (elevation, aspect, and slope). Two small sub-watersheds (paired swales) were selected to measure soil erosion (sediment yield only), using geo-textile trap (silt fences) established at each outlet. Two small sub-watersheds were selected to measure runoff by establishing a weir as a control section at each outlet.

Conclusions SWAT can be adapted to simulate hydrology and sediment transport characteristics of hill-slope watersheds in Al-Badia of Jordan under arid conditions, so it can be applicable for outscaling to other arid environments with similar conditions. SWAT allows reliable prediction of the positive impact of the water harvesting interventions (Contour ridges and Vallerani intermittent) on runoff and soil erosion. Modeling is a powerful tool for decision makers and researchers in the fields of soil and water management in optimizing of rain water harvesting and soil erosion conservation.

Eng.Mohammad Mudabber, Eng.Nedal Afayfeh, Activity 2: Maintenance of demonstration sites for implementing water harvesting techniques, and disseminate findings focusing on Marab productivity Objectives: Test Marab systems capability in increasing productivity. Marabs are natural formations found in the Badia where water spreads naturally over a relatively wide stream beds which allow Barley cultivation.

Marab 1/ Majidyya (2010) Area: 50 dunum (watershed area 2.6 km 2 ) Marab2: Muhareb (2013) Area: 40 dunum consist of six plots (watershed area 6.5 km 2 )

Marab3: Muhareb Constructed in 2013/2014 Area: 20 dunum (watershed area 1.6 km 2 )

Activity 3: Mixed Barley and Vetch cropping using Terraces water harvesting technique Eng.Afaf Madadha, Eng.Awad Kaabneh, Eng.Rana Muhaisen, Location: Majidyya Location Area: 10 du Crop: mixed barley and vetch Plantation was done by conservative seeding plantation (8kg/du barley) Date of planting: Date of germination: Date of Barley tillering stage was in 12th of March, 2014

Activity 4: Evaluating new drought tolerant plants (Atriplex, salsola, alley cropping, introduce new forage plants Objectives: Increase water availability for crop/ fodder production Location:Majidyya Achievements The area of 50 du was planted by 3000 Atriplex Halimus as fodder shrub at Megbel Zayed Elghbeen farm. Maintenance for contour ridges for Atriplex Halimus and Salsola vermiculata shrubs at Majediah site at Ali Askar Alshushan farm. Planting the missing fodder shrubs at the site. Survival rate for the fodder shrubs was 80% Eng.Rana Muhaisen, Eng.Afaf Madadha, Eng.Awad Kaabneh,

Activity 5: Rangeland Productivity and Stocking Rate at Al-Majidyya Eng.Yahya Al-Satari, Eng.Zein khrist, Awad Kaabneh Objectives: To estimate forage productivity of the planted demonstration sites at Al- Majediah. To manage the fodder shrubs demonstration sites at Al-Majediah. Achivements Atriplex and Salsola shrubs productivity was estimated using Reference Unit Method (RU) in 3 locations (MJ12CRS, MJ18VS and MJ19VS), while others subjected to severe grazing or plowed by owners. No. of Grazing Animals Grazing Period (day) Animal Units (head/site) Yield (kg) Survival (%) Site MJ12CRS MJ18VS MJ19VS

Activity 6: Drought mitigation through monitoring beneficial range vegetation indices Eng. Muna Saba, Eng. Safa Jafreh, Eng. Wafa Abu Hammour Objective: Evaluation of the drought intensity, and evaluate impact of water harvesting intervention on productivity. Analysis made Normalized Deviation Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps of different seasons were mapped to compare vegetation growth. Intervention areas and marabs position were mapped Long term NDVI profile were extracted using a long term record of MODIS ( ) NDVI profile of different land uses (Water harvesting compared with farmer or control areas) were compared. Monthly rainfall data for nearby climatic station (Queen Alia Airport) were correlated to the NDVI profiles.

Results No difference was found between NDVI for Water harvesting areas and the farmers practices, this could be attributed to the low image resolution plus the sparse vegetation in study areas. The correlation between NDVI and rainfall was only less than NDVI analysis for marab, intervention, and farmer practices using MODIS 250 m Need for images of higher resolution

Other Activities: A field day concerned with "Grazing Management and water Harvesting for Sustainable Land Management" was conducted on 27 May, 2014 at Al Majidyya village, hosted by NCARE and ICARDA. 15 farmers attended and 15 participants from NCARE and ICARDA

Development and Use of Technologies (FTF Indicators) Associations Benefitted (FTF indicator) Indicator Number of hectares under improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance ha Soil related (stone walls) 8 ha Water Management (Vallerani, contour ridges, marabs, ponds) 238 ha Other (Contour, terraces)2.5 Number of farmers and others who have applied new technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance 62 farmer New2 Continuing60 Number of individuals who have received USG supported short-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training 54 person Producers 23 Farmer People in government 11 Trainee People in civil society 20 person in CBO

Development and Use of Technologies (FTF Indicators) Associations Benefitted (FTF indicator)Indicator Number of food security private enterprises (for profit), producers organizations, water users associations, women's groups, trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) 3 CBO Number of stakeholders implementing risk-reducing practices/actions to improve resilience to climate change as a result of USG assistance 62 person Male 62 Female 21 Number of new technologies or management practices in one of the following phases of development: (Phase I/II/III) 15 technologies

Summary of Enhanced Knowledge, Capacity Building Training titlePeriodParticipantsLocation Introductory workshop on SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) 5-6 January, 2014 Eng. Safa Mazahreh Eng. Muna Saba Amman, Jordan Catalyzing Change through the Impact Pathway and Theories of Change during the period 15-17/4/2014. Dr. Samia Akroush Eng. Omamah Hadidi Eng Muna Saba Amman, Jordan Cost Benefit Analysis and Economics of Natural Resources Management 24-25/6/2014 Dr. SamiaAkroush Eng. Omamah Hadidi Eng Muna Saba Amman, Jordan SWAT advanced workshop June, 2014 Eng. Lubna Al Mahasneh Eng. Safa Mazahreh Amman, Jordan Farm management strategies to improve Crop-Water Productivity using AquaCrop of August 2014 Eng. Muna SabaCairo, Egypt

Summary of Enhanced Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications - Student Advancement Student NameAffiliated University & institutions involved Degree Program Research TopicOutput Generated Lubna Mustafa Al- Mahasneh The University of Jordan M.ScAdapting SWAT Model to Assess the Impact of Water Harvesting Interventions on Runoff and Soil Erosion in an Arid Environment: A Case from Jordan SWAT model calibration Supervised by: Dr. Khaldoun Shatanawi and Dr. Feras Ziadat

Draft Workplan for 2015: Accelerated Schedule Improve Water Mgt Strategies - Drought monitoring - Watershed Modeling Improve Livelihoods - Maintenance of demo sites - Mixed Barley-Vetch cropping and conservation tillage - Rangeland productivity New drought tolerant plants Exchange Knowledge Field days Quarterly & Annual Reporting Monitoring WLI Indicators

Draft Workplan for 2015: Accelerated Schedule Design survey and various questionnaires Survey work Data collection with farmers and partners Data analysis Report writing Publications

Names of research team members Coordinator: Muna Saba Team: SWAT modeling team: Safa MazahrehEng.Lubna MahasnehEng.Mutasem KhresatLubna Qaryouti/ICARDA Water harvesting team Mohammad MudabberEng.NedalAfayfeh Rangeland and crop production team Awad KaabnehEng.Afaf MadadhaEng.Rana Muhaisen Rangeland carrying capacity team Eng.Yahya Al-SatariZein khrisat Drought Monitoring team Muna SabaSafa Al JafrehWafa Abu Hammour Socio economic studies team Samia AkroushOmamah Hadidi

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