A payments for environmental services scheme at Sasumua watershed could help farmers to implement sustainable land management practices in the area, which in turn, will ensure the reliable flow of clean water into the Sasumua Dam reservoir.
Rewarding upland farmers for environmental services in Sasumua watershed
1. Gathenya, John Mwangi, John Mwangi, Hosea Namirembe, Sara Presentation to Stakeholders Meeting to Discuss PES implementation in Sasumua 22 nd February 2010
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4. Land use changes Woodlots and wetlands converted to agriculture Forest encroachment now under control Conversion of agricultural land into commercial plots Wetlands, river banks and drainage waterways are used for cultivation.
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7. Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) can enhance water quality and flow BMPs reduce sediment yield significantly , cause some increase of base flow (and dry weather), have minimal effect on total water yield BMP Impact on surface runoff & sediment yield Impact on total water yield Impact on baseflow Terraces reduced Not significant Increased Contour farming reduced Not significant Increased Grass filter strips reduced Not significant Not significant Grass waterway reduced Not significant Not significant
8. Cost of interventions - BMPs Cost of grass strips = grass + labour + manure Cost of terracing = setting + excavation + grass + manure Agroforestry = seedlings + manure + labour In PES implementation, the farmers could provide labour while the beneficiary provides materials and technical staff costs. The implementation can be phased, e.g. over 5 years Implementation should target hotspots Technology Establishment cost per farmer (Ksh) Annual maintenance cost per farmer (Ksh) Total establishment costs for 1000 farmers (Ksh) Total maintenance costs for 1000 farmers (KSh) Grass strips 15,000 1,000 15,000,000 1,000,000 Terraces 50,000 5,000 50,000,000 5,000,000 Agroforestry 15,000 2,000 15,000,000 2,000,000