Technical Session 2: Use of treated waste water in forestry and agroforestry systems

(GCP/RAB/013/ITA)Alberto Del Lungo,

FAO Forestry Department

Near East & North Africa15-18 December 2013

World DrylandsNENA Countries

• Evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation – no matter the amount

• Water scarcity limits the production of crops forage, wood and other ecosystem services

Forestryin some Mediterranean countries with arid zones

Country Total forest area

Planted forest area

mill ha mill ha % tot for

Libya 0.2 0.2 100

Sudan 70 6.1 8.7

Turkey 11 3.4 30.2

Spain 18 2.7 14.7

Egypt 0.07 0.07 100

Tunisia 1 0.7 70

Source: FAO Forest Resource Assessment 2010

Non-conventional waters

• Alternative sources of water to be utilized in support of fresh waters (mainly agriculture and domestic uses)

• To be used, need – either to be generated as by specialized

processes (e.g. desalination) or– suitable pre-use treatment and/or appropriate

soil–water–crop management strategies when used for irrigation

Use of non conventional waters in arid zones, why?

• To improve availability of water in arid zones

• To reduce forestry and agroforestry degradation

• To reduce soil erosion and low water retention capacity

• To combat Desertification• To improve land productivity• To strengthen country capacity

building• To ensure food security and poverty

alleviation

Non-conventional waters

• Seawater

• Brackish water

• Harvested rainwater

• Ground water

• Agricultural drainage water

• Urban-wastewater

• Is an unconventional and non-competitive water resource with fresh water

• Is often the most available water resource in dry areas and areas with low availability of fresh water

• Provide environmental benefits to receiving water bodies and reduce CO2 emissions

Urban wastewater

• Arid zones countries are lacking of fresh water and are “reach” of untreated waste water

• Wastewater discharged in the environment creates serious problems of environmental pollution and increase of soil salinity and desertification

BUT• If treated well can provide an alternative source of water and

reduce competition for fresh water

• Can be safely used on fruit trees and in forestry systems for provision of wood and biomass

• Can be used on integrated landscape management: forestry and agroforestry systems

Treated wastewater, why?

FAO Forestry priorities on TWW

• Support food security through the safe use of non-conventional water in forestry/agro-forestry systems of arid zones

• Respond to the request of technical support from NENA countries

• Transfer knowledge and technology on the safe use of non- conventional water in agriculture

• Develop partnerships among country research institutions

• Expand to other countries that have already requested to participate these activities (Bahrain, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen…)

• One year of activities through project GCP/RAB/013/ITA

• Building partnerships with national/international scientific research institutions

• Transfer/sharing knowledge on the safe use of treated waste water in forestry/agroforestry

• Implementing pilot projects in 4 Mediterranean countries

Testing the use of TWW in forestry/agroforestry

• Ferti-irrigation system: wastewater used is only partially treated. Most of the organic matter is re-used for irrigation to increase carbon storage in the soil (University of Basilicata, Italy)

Innovative methodologies adopted for treating water:fertirrigation

• Phyto-depuration: wastewater is filtered by vegetation. The System is cost-effective, affordable and sustainable for rural communities in remote dry areas (University of Tuscia, Italy)

Innovative methodologies adopted for treating water: Phyto-depuration

Project Activities – Algeria

Provide support to the establishment of a phyto-depuration plant in the oasis of Brézina for woody biomass production

Design and set up of phyto-depuration plants to improve water quality and availability and to fight sand encroachment in the oasis of Taghit

Project Activities – Egypt• Provide support to the

Government of Egypt to develop a Forest Management Plan for a 1,000 feddans (420 ha) plantation irrigated using treated wastewater, located in Ismailia, Serapium

• Provide training support to national forestry professionals

• Ensure sustainable forest management and future increase to planted forest area

Project Activities – Morocco

• Design and development of a system that will use partially treated wastewater for fertirrigation of a 10 hectares palm tree section of the Green Belt of Marrakech

• Establishment of a buffer zone of planted forests species to protect the green belt and reduce soil erosion

Project Activities – Tunisia

• Design of a phyto-depuration plant in Ouechtata to improve water quality for domestic consumption and agricultural needs

• Design of a fertirrigation system for olive trees and biomass production in Haffouz

Strengthening transfer of knowledge through networking and communication

• PhD student University of Marrakech – University of Basilicata

• Training in Egypt• Workshop in Marrakech,

Morocco• Workshop in Cairo, Egypt• Workshop in Potenza, Italy• Project website as document

repository of the activities

Strengthening national and international partnerships

FAO expected impacts on the use of TWW in forestry/agroforestry

• Increased quality and availability of water for agro-forestry production

• Increased food security• Enhanced income opportunities • Desertification control and improvement of soil

quality and productivity• Facilitate networking and exchange of information

on the use of TWW• Transfer of knowledge and integration within

participant countries

THANK YOU

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