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THE WOCATEER (No. 6- Autumn 2002)
(WOCAT Newsletter)

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Dear reader

This issue of the WOCAT Newsletter only contains a report of the recent Annual Workshop and Steering Meeting in Rome. More news on other activities will follow in a next newsletter, presumably early next year. The full proceedings will soon be available on the Website.

The 7th WOCAT Annual Workshop and Steering Meeting (WWSM7) took place in Grottaferrata, just outside Rome, from 28-10 (workshop) till 4-11 (Steering Meeting, at FAO). Over 40 participants from 21 countries attended the workshop, which is close to double the number of previous meetings. This was partly due to a strong delegation from China (4 persons) and Cen-tral Asia (4 participants from Kazachstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgizistan), but also some (other) newcomers: ICIMOD, Syngenta, IAEA, FAO-SNEA (N. Africa).

Participants of the Workshop in Grottaferrata (Photo: Dirk Pretorius)

It was reported under Topic 1 (global progress) that SDC has adopted WOCAT as a long-term programme (10 years) with an annual budget of 400.000 CHF. It was noted that WOCAT is now being taken up spontaneously in several places rather than still being pushed. With an expanding programme however, the need for better-quality data and the demonstrated beneficial use of WOCAT at various levels becomes urgent. The combination of personal and institutional com-mitment is at the basis of WOCATs success and acceptance, but the former also sometimes a liability (person leaves institution and WOCAT activity goes into hibernation, as previously happened with ICARDA and ICIMOD). Establishing MoU's with more involved institutions would formalise the commitment.

Various actual and potential links were noted in both geographical and topical sense. WOCAT will be paying more attention to the water component in its SWC inventories.

The reports on national and regional activities revealed considerable progress in most countries / regions and a strong commitment and institutionalisation (NB: during the meeting a MOU was signed with the SWC Monitoring Centre of P.R.China, a preliminary agreement reached with LDD - Thailand, and a draft contract for research collaboration - with ISRIC representing WOCAT - received from IAEA). Some of the goals set at last years meeting in Nyeri were not achieved due to lack of finance or too high ambitions.

The reports on Task forces also showed significant progress for some tasks, but little or none for a few others, either due to a low perceived priority or insufficient communication and follow-up. Communication could be improved for all Task forces, since frequently communication took place between just a few of the TF members rather than including all. It was emphasized that enthusiasm during the workshop does not guarantee efficient functioning of the TF, and that a minimum level of commitment is required. During the previous annual meeting in Nyeri the tasks themselves had not been sufficiently identified, and therefore this time proper Terms of References were to be drafted for new (or continued) Task Forces, as a start for their activities in the coming year.

Jose Benites from FAO gave an interesting presentation on Conservation Agriculture, followed by a just as lively introduction by Edward Chuma of the African Tillage Network. For both there appeared considerable scope for collaboration. Felipe Zapata presented the work programme of the joint FAO/IAEA division in particular with regard to the use of radio-nuclides for soil erosion monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of SWC measures.

Two Chinese participants enjoying an enthusiastic presentation (Photo: Hanspeter Liniger)

Topic 2 focused on assuring the quality of data, which is an issue of growing concern, with an increasing number of case studies in the database. The question was raised whether WOCAT should indeed strive for "perfect data" or should live with some deficiencies. It was noted that this depended on the use(r) of the data and that for an average overview the standard summary sheets would suffice. Related "key" questions in the questionnaires have now been marked by shading so that other questions can be omitted if only a more general description of a technology or approach is required. A task force was formed (ToR still to be drafted) to continue further elaboration of guidelines. It was further noted that more emphasis should be placed on the documentation and evaluation character of a WOCAT exercise rather than on the data collection per se.

Workshop participants concentrating on data quality (Photo: Hanspeter Liniger)

Topic 3 concerned the development of digital products, in particular further improvement of the databases (software) and the production of a new version of the CD ROM. All WOCAT data are now in one file instead of three separate ones (for Technologies, Approaches and Map). A CD ROM with the new version was distributed among the participants. Only this version should now be used for adding/editing data instead of older ones in order to avoid the need for again updating afterwards. It was decided that a new version of the CD ROM would only be worthwhile with sufficient new and quality-checked data and with thoroughly tested new software. Therefore, the deadline was moved to next years' meeting, while in the meantime updates of software and data can be made available through the WOCAT Website. The task force on digital products was continued, with responsibility for development of these products mainly in Bern (CDE) and Rome (FAO), and testing to be done by other TF members abroad. There was no clear response to the question whether institutions saw possibilities of making staff (time) available to assist part time in database development.

The WOCAT mapping exercise was discussed under Topic 4. The WOCAT Map currently consists of two components. Following the recent National Geographic publication, a "quick and dirty" world map is being developed to show major achievements in SWC as coloured (to indicate main type) dots of different sizes (to indicate approximate extent) on a small scale. Contributions are not restricted to countries actively involved in WOCAT, and consist of filling in a single matrix table per country with 8 -10 technologies for large countries and only 1-2 for small ones. See the Website for more information (and a first map).

The second component is the ongoing "QM" exercise, in which countries or regions fill in the information for every polygon of a base map of their region. Here also considerable progress was booked (after many years of low activity), a.o. in the Philippines, Thailand and a modest start in Ethiopia. China and S. Africa had been somewhat stagnant, but indicated to reinitiate the mapping activities. No task force was formed on this subject but an Email list was established for the exchange of experiences.

Example of a WOCAT map output from the Philippines (Mindanao)

Topic 5: "Other products" was a bit compressed due to time constraints but a draft of the joint UNEP/WOCAT book on SWC success stories was briefly presented and an outline for "overview books" was discussed and taken up by a task force.

Topic 6 covered the planning for the coming year at various levels: global (Management Group, Secretariat and Task Forces) and regional/national activities. The various task forces were given some time to draft a work plan and Terms of References. Some came up with very concrete and precise proposals while one or two other concentrated on technical details. Meanwhile the Management Group convened to discuss distribution of responsibilities (topically and geographically). It was agreed that the MG has the following overall responsibilities:

• Organisational: overall coordination, linkages with institutions, MoU's, overseeing the secretariat, communication, organization of international workshops and training
• Technical: motivation and coordination of Task Forces
• Implementing the "global vision" as agreed by the WWSM, monitor progress
• Fincances and funding acquisition

It was noted that better communication between and among the MG members was required for matters of general interest (examples: recent proposals with Syngenta, IAEA, etc.). Samran Sombatpanit (WASWC) and Rod Gallacher (FAO) indicated they wished to leave the MG and were thanked for their long collaboration. As replacement, a representative from China and from FAO was suggested. This was later agreed upon by the meeting, which welcomed Mr. Niu Zhiming (China, Soil and Water Conservation Monitoring Centre) and Freddy Nachtergaele (FAO-AGLL) as new Management Group members.

On Wednesday a half-day visit was made to Telespazio in Rome, a Remote Sensing Institute specialized in agricultural applications. Interesting, but a bit too many and too long presentations instead of discussions. The field trip on Thursday led to the East coast of Italy, across (or rather through) the Abruzzi Mountains. The goal of the visit was a planned field site for the Syngenta GECAP project, which is similar (for Mediterranean countries with vineyards and olives) to the SOWAP proposal in which WOCAT also takes part (for N.W. European countries with cereals and sugar beets). The site had not yet been developed due to some organizational problems, but different conservation-friendly and -unfriendly practices were observed in the area and discussed with Prof. Michele Pisente from Teramo Agricultural University and the farmer of the site. The local agricultural products were extensively tested (and appreciated) during lunch.

A participant from Thailand enjoying the field trip (Photo: Hanspeter Liniger)

Sunday was largely spent on preparations for the Steering Meeting on Monday at FAO in Rome. Although the latter was useful as a wind-up meeting for the participants of the workshop, the Steering Meeting as such only enjoyed the presence of two additional participants from SDC and a few part time participants from FAO. It was therefore decided that there was no urgent need to hold the WWSM every other year in Europe for the sake of donors (who would not come for a one-day meeting in Africa or Asia) and that alternatives should be explored (e.g. MG cum TF meetings coinciding with discussions with donors).

Some follow-up activities:

• ICIMOD: 24 Feb. - 7 March 2003: Soil Erosion Symposium (with Michael Stocking) + three days field visit, WOCAT meeting and country coordinators meeting (Nepal, Bolivia, Uganda): WOCAT resource persons invited. ·
• Next WWSM meeting: there were two (long standing) offers from ICIMOD and China. In view of the new strong national involvement of China and possible security problems in Nepal, the meeting voted for China (Shaanxi Province), probably November 2003.
• WOCAT Training and follow-up activity together with NCCR (National Centre of Competence in Research North South): supported by SDC and Swiss National Science Foundation (early April: WOCAT Coordinator and one more resource person to attend)

LADA workshop

Nine participants of the WWSM attended the subsequent meeting of the Land Degradation in Dryland Areas (LADA) project at FAO (5-8 November). WOCAT was frequently mentioned as one of the major methodologies to be used in this project. At the end of the meeting an outline for further collaboration with LADA was presented on behalf of WOCAT by Dirk Pretorius (see below). This was received positively by the (LADA) participants. For more information on LADA in general and (soon?) on the workshop in particular, see the LADA Website: http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/lada/default.stm.

Synergies, complementarities between LADA and WOCAT (Table)

• A standardised methodology to assess degradation and conservation at various scales: WOCAT mapping tool through participatory expert consultation. WOCAT map is comple-mentary with technology and approaches case studies at field and subnational level. Challenge: to be complemented by other methodologies such as remote sensing, modelling,….. ·
• Training (5 days) for national or regional institutions in the above methodology: documentation, storage and use of data
• Assisting national (or regional) institutions in using the data for decision/policy making
• A widespread and active, motivated, network in place
• 1 LADA pilot country (China) already strongly involved, other candidate country (S. Africa) idem.
• Endorsement/active participation by various international organisations and corporate business
• Spontaneous/voluntary uptake of the methodology by national and regional institutions (i.e. strong support by countries and regions)
• Active dissemination: WOCAT Website, CD ROM, brochures, conferences, publications, TV, workshops, National Geographic, newsletters.

• Identify existing programmes/activities in which WOCAT/LADA can be integrated (e.g. SWCMC and Desertification Monitoring Centre in China, Landcare programme in S. Af-rica)
• Training in WOCAT methodology in Argentina, Senegal. In China activities already on-going and more training planned under WOCAT annual plan, in S. Africa on-going activities. Time frame: mid-2003. Needs: national funds (p.m.) and external funds for WOCAT support (< $ 10000 / workshop)
• In-country follow-up in documentation and evaluation, with WOCAT backstopping - mainly through Email, or visit when required. Time frame: < 6 months (Oct. 2003?), depending on comprehensiveness and area coverage. Needs: national staff time allocation, minimum requirements for WOCAT support
• National workshop to evaluate and correlate the results
• ….???