Project properties |
|
Title | Modelling the impact of agroforestry practices to inform a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme in the Rukeri water catchment, Rwanda |
Group | Soil Physics and Land Management group |
Project type | thesis |
Credits | 24-39 |
Supervisor(s) | Luuk Fleskens |
Examiner(s) | Coen Ritsema |
Contact info | Luuk Fleskens |
Begin date | 2021/04/01 |
End date | |
Description | Organization
Dutch International Business cooperative (DIBcoop) offers several services in the agri(-business) sector, whereby they focus on business development, provide technical expertise and raise funding for projects. Technical expertise is required for one of their projects in Rwanda. In this project, sustainable land management (SLM) practices are introduced to restore ecosystem services and increase the resilience of the landscape to climate variability. Topic A Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme will be introduced in a pilot area in the Rukeri watershed in Rwanda in to establish a holistic water catchment approach. Previous studies show that introducing uphill agroforestry practices will result in a decrease in soil erosion in the uphill areas and reduction of downhill soil deposition in the downhill tea plantation. Therewith, the agroforestry practices will make the catchment area more resilient to climate change. However, not all aspects have thoroughly been examined. Combinations of various up- and downhill interventions might be the key to a more effective PES approach to be introduces in the entire watershed. DIBcoop is seeking a student to conduct a sediment transport and/or water balance study that includes various interventions to further develop a model to quantify the PES approach for the whole Rukeri water catchment. The results will be used for the expansion of the PES approach in the area to encourage agricultural development and food security status of Rwanda. |
Used skills | |
Requirements |