Estimates indicate that around 20-25 percent of the active population of Lebanon derives at least part of its livelihoods from agriculture. Nevertheless, the majority of farmers live below the upper poverty line of 4 USD per day. The enhancement of food security, rural development and sustainable resources management are, thus, imperative and they are targeted as key priorities. In order to bring effective improvements at field level, however, the joint efforts of all stakeholders are required, from decision-makers to agricultural practitioners. The current Field Guide has been prepared as a practical and technical tool that can well respond to the current challenges in land reclamation for soil and water management and, ultimately, support final beneficiaries and agricultural agents through the provision of clear indicators and potential costs. The Guide, thus, should be considered not simply as a compendium of land reclamation and water management practices, but also as a manual for implementers and specialists. The Guide provides a complete set of instructions to implement an extensive range of land reclamation and water management solutions to achieve optimal employment of resources, and it also takes in due consideration the constraint represented by the availability of resources for farmers willing to improve their practices. The illustrated techniques are presented together with realistic estimates of required manual work, labor employment and financial costs, for a correct evaluation based on local and individual needs and priorities and the subsequent direct implementation.

This field guide is organized to identify visual signs of problems associated with CAUSES and SOLUTIONS for the most commonly encountered road problems.

"In the United States it is estimated that 75 percent of all roads are low volume roads maintained by some 35,000 local agencies. Low volume roads often omit surface slope protection, and this can lead to slope failure, erosion, and maintenance, safety, and ecological issues. This report presents information on cost effective and sustainable road slope stabilization techniques, with a focus on shallow or near surface slope stabilization and related erosion control methods used on low volume roads. To fully address this topic, planning and site investigation are discussed, as well as erosion control techniques, soil bioengineering and biotechnical techniques, mechanical stabilization, and earthwork techniques. Information presented in this report was obtained through an extensive literature review, and from survey and interview responses. From the survey responses, 30 individuals were interviewed based on the information they made available in the survey. A total of 25 interviews were conducted over the phone, and in two cases written responses were received"--Preface.

Improperly constructed or maintained roads near riparian and wetland areas may degrade these valuable sites. Degradation affects many aspects of the riparian and wetland ecosystems. This field guide presents information in a practical, user friendly format to help resource managers and professionals. Well-documented evaluation and monitoring strategies are critical in riparian road restoration projects. Learning from mistakes as well as successes helps to improve and protect valuable riparian and wetland sites. This two-volume field guide covers the management and techniques for riparian restoration near roads. The field guides cover the following topics: (1) riparian area considerations, (2) monitoring, (3) planning projects, (4) laws and regulations, and (5) techniques to use in the field.