Erik Slingerland Email and Phone Number

Supporting Agricultural Productivity in Burundi (PAPAB)The PAPAB project aims to sustainably increase food production in Burundi by promoting market-oriented, climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural techniques, supported by targeted fertilizer subsidies. The project uses a participatory approach centred on integrated crop/soil/farm management and cooperation between stakeholders at all levels. PAPAB aims to improve the food security of at least 480,000 farming families.Projet d’Appui à la Productivité Agricole au Burundi (PAPAB)Le projet PAPA vise l’augmentation durable de la production agricole au Burundi par la promotion d’une agriculture orientée vers le marché, soutenue par des techniques agricoles durables, résilientes aux effets du changement climatique et par un système de subvention des engrais. L'approche participative du projet est axée sur la gestion intégrée de l'exploitation agricole et sur la collaboration à tous les niveaux, ce qui permettra à PAPAB d’améliorer directement et indirectement la sécurité alimentaire d'au moins 480.000 familles d'agriculteurs.

Providing a 6-day Geographical Information System (GIS) training to national staff ofCaritas Switzerland.Course focussed on mapping for agricultural and water projects in Eastern Africa.

Assignment aiming at:-Assessing the interaction between, and the challenges and needs of InternallyDisplaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities in South Sudan, and-Assessing the impact of food security, WASH, and education projects implementedby Caritas Switzerland since the last 5 years in Eastern Equatoria State.Methodology used included: interviews and field observations with various stakeholders,including beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, local government and NGOs.Main output includes recommendations on implementing projects which steerbeneficiaries towards independence from external input and increase capacity andempowerment of governmental bodies.

Based in Quetta, Balochistan province where MSF supports a 60 bed paediatric hospital as well as a Mother-Child-Health facility. Support of 4 Health Centers and response to emergencies in the region. Project in high security context.Logistical activities consisted of managing the technical logistical, HR, financial and supply department. Mainly focused on rehabilitation of hospital, health centre and bases, (preventive) maintenance, monitoring and performing recruitment process, salary and financial administration, budget control, stock management, international order management, local/national purchasing.In the time span of 1.5 months, 2 projects were administratively and physically merged into one project (stocks, HR, budget and logistical admin).Directly supervising 6 staff, indirectly supervising 60 staff.

Back from a 9 months mission in DR Congo, South Kivu.

Based at Kimbi Project, Lulimba village, South Kivu, DR Congo (project start October 2011). Activities: support of MoH Hospital and 3 health centers, response to emergencies in the health zone.Logistic activities were based at the hospital (maintenance, rehabilitation, construction and support of construction site) 3 Health Centers (in one HC major constructions took place), and at the MSF base (construction of 5 buildings, several semi-permanent structures, radio room and construction of mechanic workshop). First 7 months consisted mainly of hands-on activities which shifted to management activities.Supervising around 35 national staff.To provide technical logistical support to the MSF-OCA activities in the project. This is done through day to day execution of tasks, supervision and training as well as bearing witness to the fate of people facing humanitarian crisis. This contribution gives meaning to the MSF-H medical humanitarian policies, principles and values.

Teacher of BSc. course ‘Design in Land and Water Management 2’ in which 55 students make a social and technical assessment of an area in Tanzania. Furthermore they develop a 5-year intervention plan for this area. Tasks varied from giving lectures, guiding practical, supervising and assisting in group processes and assessing reports.­Head of course ‘Land Degradation and Soil and Water Conservation’ in which 50 students are introduced to land degradation processes in technical as well as social aspects. Furthermore they get familiar with measuring techniques during several practicals. The course also includes a 10-day excursion to Morocco. Responsible for organization, finance and French-English/Dutch translation. ­Guest lecturer in course 'Research Approaches to Land and Water Management' regarding development of sampling plan of MSc. thesis fieldwork.Guest lecturer in course 'Land and Water Engineering'. Lecture topics; 'Design of terraces in steep areas' and 'Slope stability'.Developing a research proposal for 4 year PhD project.­Responsible for allocation and supervision of internship students.

Adapting a practical of the master course ‘Impact Assessment in Land and Water Management’. During this practical students are getting familiar with, and develop a project in which the offsite impact of Land Use changes is analyzed in a small watershed. The new practical contains a GIS component and an economic analysis of possible changes.Adapting Intake Test for new MSc. students. This test will be used to give potential students a better insight in the exact content of the Masters program ‘International Land and Water Management’ and to assess the student’s level of knowledge.

Extensive data collection campaign for a wind erosion model validation in the framework of a PhD research. Based at ICARDA (International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas), Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic. Mainly working in rural arid areas south of Aleppo.

Course IWE-32306 - Research Approaches to Land and Water ManagementPresenting own thesis proposal and assessing MSc. thesis proposals of 15-20 students.

Due to an increase in food demand and decrease in available agricultural land, steep agricultural areas in Northern Vietnam are likely to be used more intensive. The use of these marginal lands makes them more vulnerable to degrade. The objective of this study was to explore the optimal land use practices and their limitations in this context for the Thu Cuc watershed, located in the mountainous area of Northern Vietnam. The LUPAS system was used as framework to reach this objective. The land evaluation tool LUSET was adapted and used to estimate suitability classes for the cultivation of crops. This data, together with the results of a household survey were used in a multiple goal linear programming (MGLP) model to explore the boundaries of the watersheds agricultural capacity. Using this MGLP model, three different scenarios were analyzed; 1) maximizing watershed income, 2) maximizing rice production and 3) minimizing potential erosion risk. In order to analyze these scenarios, different situations regarding sharing of resources and market access were modelled. The outcome of these simulations shows that capital is the main constraint within the watershed. If no resources are shared the requirements of the villages can only be fulfilled by external capital. Sharing resources between villages increase the capacity of the Thu Cuc watershed. Potential erosion risk of the agricultural fields is lower when farmers do not share resources outside their village, but this results in a more intensified use of the available land. The model results showed that land which is currently used for agriculture has a higher potential or might require lower external input.

Course LDD-30306 - Sustainable Watershed ManagementSupervising and assessing 24 students during three practical weeks in which they analyzed and developed a watershed management plan.

Forest fires in Portugal are a major problem. One of the techniques that are used to reduce the fuel load and wildfire risk in summer are prescribed fires in which the fuel load of an area is reduced.Extended research has been done to the effects of wildfires on the soil properties. However, the available literature on prescribed fires regarding the main soil characteristics is limited. Moreover, no literature has been found on the comparison between prescribed and wildfires. The objective of this research was to analyze the effect of the two types of fire on soil characteristics.Five wildfires were studied in summer 2008 and five prescribed fires were studied in winter 2008/2009 in central Portugal. The soil samples were analyzed for soil moisture content, water repellency, organic matter content and bulk density. For the prescribed fire also aggregate stability, critical soil shear strength, litter moisture and litter thickness were measured. During the prescribed fires the temperature was measured over the vertical profile.The wildfires decreased the organic matter and soil moisture content in the upper 2.5cm. Furthermore the dry bulk density slightly increased and increased water repellency from non/slightly repellent to more repellent classes. During the prescribed fires no significant changes were observed. Although high temperatures (657°C) were measured at the top of the litter layer, the top layer of the mineral soil remained cool (14°C). This can probably be explained by the fact that the moist litter acted as an insulator and therefore protected the mineral soil from heating. Since the soil remained cool during prescribed fires, the soil characteristics were not altered. From this it was concluded that regarding the analyzed soil characteristics, prescribed fires are a sustainable method in controlling the fuel load of an area susceptible to wildfire.

Preparing calculations and representations of complex, mostly international dredging works. Required fast adapting to situations, office and project systems. Working abroad on ad hoc base.

Hydrographical and land surveys. Preparing surveys, performing surveys, processing data and preparing documents for supervisors, dredging vessels and clients. Mainly working abroad in international teams.

Preparing calculations and representations of complex, mostly international dredging works. Required fast adapting to situations, office and project systems. Working abroad on ad hoc base.

Preparing asbestos control documents for governmental owned buildings. Gathering data and constructing database. Database was used for progress checks of the removal of asbestos in these buildings.

Calculating requirements of air-control and water supply systems in large scale buildings using national requirement systems in order to minimize health risks and increase comfort. Preparing drawings and calculations for internal use and deliverables to commercial and governmental clients.

HSL Drechtse Steden

Design of sub-surface waste containers in urban areas. Inspection of suitable locations. Local governmental permit requests. Preparing drawings of construction locations for sub-contractors. Supervising installation of containers.