A demi-lune in Burkina Faso.

A semi-circular bund (also known as a demi-lune or half-moon) is a rainwater harvesting technique consisting in digging semilunar holes in the ground with the opening perpendicular to the flow of water.[1][2]

Background

These holes are oriented against the slope of the ground, generating a small dike in the curved area with the soil from the hole itself, so they capture the rainwater running downhills.[3]

These structures allow water to seep into the soil, retaining in the subsoil a greater amount of moisture. But also, it prevents the loss of fertile soil.[4]

Semi-circular bunds are used to reforest arid zones with irregular rain patterns, allowing the growth of plants and trees, such as in the Sahel.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Semi-circular bunds". United Nations. Convention to Combat Desertification.
  2. ↑ "Water harvesting techniques". FAO.
  3. ↑ "Semi-circular bunds". Freie Universität Berlin. 2 August 2016.
  4. ↑ Peter, Kathuli; Itabari, J.K. (January 2015). "In Situ Soil Moisture Conservation: Utilization and Management of Rainwater for Crop Production". Adapting African Agriculture to Climate Change. Climate Change Management. pp. 127–142. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13000-2_11. ISBN 978-3-319-12999-0.
  5. ↑ Page, Thomas (18 July 2022). "Greener pastures: Can ancient eco-engineering help fix our degraded landscapes?". CNN.
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