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

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

3. 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)

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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Transect (8km)

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

10. Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune
Soil Analysis – VS-Fast

11. Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune
Vegetation Survey

12. Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune
LD Assessment – Stocking Method

13. Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune
Water Analysis

14. Assessment Tools - Sekhukhune
Socio-Economic Assessment

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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?

19. 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?

20. 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

21. 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

22. THANK YOU!!!

23. South Africa

24. Limpopo Province

25. Sekhukhune District Municipality

26. Fetakgomo Local Municipality
Mankotsana area 7
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