Code
A10
Sector
Agriculture
The complete description of the NWRM
Summary

Traditional terraces consist of nearly level platforms built along contour lines of slopes, mostly sustained by stone walls, used for farming on hilly terrain.  By reducing the effective slope of land, terracing can reduce erosion and surface run-off by slowing rainwater to a non-erosive velocity. This also increases the degree if infiltration and improves soil moisture.  However, abandonment of traditional terracing can result in high levels of erosion and run-off due to the lack of maintenance of stone walls. Abandonment can also change the nature of local flora and fauna; this may not be beneficial, for example the spontaneous regeneration of vegetation can present a risk of wild fire spread on sloping land.

This measure focuses on existing or traditional terracing as it involves less disturbance of the terrain than modern terracing such as significant levelling or cutting using heavy machinery. As the measure is highly labour intensive and costly to implement the focus of the measure would be in maintaining existing terracing rather than expansion.

Illustration(s)

 

Traditional terracing in montane area

Source: Gonzalo Delacámara’s presentation, NWRM Workshop 1 (Spain)

Possible benefits with level
Benefits Level
BP1 - Store runoff
High
BP2 - Slow runoff
High
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery
High
ES7 - Flood risk reduction
Medium
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control
High
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants
Medium
ES11 - Aesthetic/cultural value
High
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements
Medium
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration
Medium
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks
High
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure
Medium
PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry
Medium
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss
Medium

Case studies per NWRM