THE VETIVER SYSTEM

MITIGATING STORM INDUCED DISASTERS IN THE

CARIBBEAN REGION

2008 CARIBBEAN ALL-HAZARDS CONFERENCE

DECEMBER 15 – 17, 2008
ROSE HALL RESORT, MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA

ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ AND RICHARD GRIMSHAW O.B.E

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 JAMAICA
THE END RESULT OF UNPROTECTED CATCHMENT AREAS

Devastating impact on economy, social

structure and infrastructure.

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 SEDIMENT FLOWS TO POLLUTE COASTAL
WATERS IN OAHU, HAWAII

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 EROSION PROBLEMS
UPPER CATCHMENT SLOPE SLIPPAGE

Jamaica - Many upper

watersheds are already
eroded, releasing large
amounts of sediment.

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 HUMAN ACTIVITIES
MAJOR SOURCE OF SEDIMENT FLOWS

China - Mine tailings stabilized

with Vetiver grass

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 NATURE EVENTS
TROPICAL STORM FLASH FLOODS RESULT IN BLOCKED
BRIDGES

Riverbeds become elevated due to

sediment deposition.

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 THE VETIVER SYSTEM CAN SIGNIFICANTLY
MITIGATE THESE DISASTERS

The plant – Chrysopogon zizanioides

a.k.a. Vetiveria zizanioides

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VETIVER GRASS CHARACTERISTICS

Grows under extreme and wide range of conditions

Long living perennial grass
Air temperatures: -14 º C to >55º C (6 º F to >131º F)
Soil pH from <3 to >10
Annual Rainfall <300 mm to > 5,000 mm
Tolerant to all heavy metals
Saline tolerant (salinity threshold ECse = 8 dSm-1)
Fire tolerant
Tolerant to long and total submergence in water
Resistant to most pests and diseases
Powerful (75 MPa root strength) and deep root system
Non competitive and non invasive. According to the PIER
level of invasiveness criteria, non-fertile vetiver cultivars are
rated - 8. An acceptable level for plant importation by the
strictest countries is +1

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 THERE ARE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF VETIVER
USE THE RIGHT ONE!!

Just to underscore the differences between vetiver grass species, this

photo from Vietnam compare Chrysopogon zizanioides (non fertile, south
India cultivar) top with Chrysopogon nemoralis - bottom. You can see
why we promote the south Indian cultivars!! These are the same that
came to the Caribbean more than 100 years ago and are grown on every
island and throughout Central America (including Venezuela, Guyana,
and the Gulf states of the USA)

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 THE VETIVER SYSTEM

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 THE VETIVER SYSTEM

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 CASE STUDIES
ALL LOCATED IN CYCLONE
TROPICAL STORM LOCATIONS

• FIJI - UPPER CATCHMENT - EROSION CONTROL

• MADAGASCAR - MID CATCHMENT - SLOPE AND SEDIMENT CONTROL -

RAILWAY PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION.

• VIETNAM - UPPER CATCHMENT HIGHWAY STABILIZATION - COASTAL

PLAIN - RIVER, CANAL, SEA DYKE, SAND DUNE PROTECTION AND
STABILIZATION.

• VANUATU - COASTAL UPLAND AND RELATED REEF PROTECTION

• POLLUTION CONTROL - LANDFILL AND WASTE WATER TREATMENT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 FIJI
UPPER CATCHMENT ON FARM EROSION CONTROL
A VETIVER HEDGEROW ON A 20% SLOPE

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 FIJI
UPPER CATCHMENT - GULLY REHABILITATION USING
VETIVER GRASS
40 YEARS AFTER PLANTING

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 FIJI
COASTAL UPLAND
FIFTY YEAR OLD VETIVER HEDGEROWS

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 MADAGASCAR
REHABILITATION OF FIANARANTSOA RAILWAY
MIDDLE/UPPER CATCHMENT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 MADAGASCAR
REHABILITATION OF FIANARANTSOA RAILWAY USING THE
VETIVER SYSTEM

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 MADAGASCAR
REHABILITATION OF FIANARANTSOA RAILWAY

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 MADAGASCAR
REHABILITATION OF FIANARANTSOA RAILWAY
THE FINAL AND STABILIZED PRODUCT THAT INCLUDED THE
COMMUNITIES

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
UPPER CATCHMENT SLOPE STABILIZATION
SOME TYPICAL PROBLEMS

A D

B C

They get 2000 mm/year (80 in/year), but half of it

concentrated over 10 days in summer
December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference
The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
UPPER CATCHMENT SLOPE STABILIZATION

Many embankments of 3000 km Ho Chi Minh

Highway are now stabilized

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
UPPER CATCHMENT SLOPE STABILIZATION

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
COASTAL PLAIN
RIVER DIKE (LEVEE) STABILIZATION USING VS

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
COASTAL PLAINS
RIVER DIKE (LEVEE) STABILIZATION USING VS

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
LOWLANDS

RIVER BANK
PROTECTION

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
SEA DIKES

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
SEA DIKE PROTECTION

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
COASTAL PLAINS
CANAL BANK REHABILITATION AND PROTECTION USING VS

B
A

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM COASTAL PLAINS
SEA DIKE PROTECTION

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
COASTAL SAND DUNE PROTECTION USING VS

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VIETNAM
COASTAL SAND DUNE PROTECTION USING VS

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 SOUTH CHINA, GUANGDONG PROVINCE
VETIVER PROTECTED SLOPE RECOLONIZED BY NATIVE
TREES AND SHRUBS AFTER 5 YEARS

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

Five years later, native species are re-established.

Today it is fully reforested.

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VANUATU - SOUTH PACIFIC
SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 GUANGDONG PROVINCE CHINA
LANDFILL STABILZATION

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 VENEZUELA
BAUXITE MINE REHABILITATION USING VS

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 AUSTRALIA - QUEENSLAND
SMALL SCALE WASTE WATER TREATMENT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 AUSTRALIA - QUEENSLAND
SMALL SCALE WASTE WATER TREATMENT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 AUSTRALIA - QUEENSLAND
SMALL SCALE WASTE WATER TREATMENT

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 HAITI
ROAD SIDE STABILIZED WITH VETIVER

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX
BYPASS ROAD CONSTRUCTION

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX
BYPASS ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Funds from US Federal Highway Administration

Vetiver grass specified for erosion control
Considered a bioengineering project
Agriflora supplying 68,000 plants from Puerto Rico

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX
BYPASS ROAD CONSTRUCTION

1.2 mile road

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions
 THANK YOU!!

Acknowledgements:
Criss Juliard (Madagascar); Tran Tan Van (Vietnam), Don Miller (Vanuatu), Paul Truong
(Wastewater) and Alberto Rodriguez (St. Croix), and all others of The Vetiver Network
International who generously share their information and images.

The Vetiver Network International

www.vetiver.org
Richard Grimshaw – r.grimshaw@comcast.net

The Vetiver SOLUTIONS BLOG

vetiversolutions.blogspot.com
Alberto Rodriguez – agriflora312@gmail.com

December 2008 2008 Caribbean All-Hazards Conference

The Vetiver Network International and Vetiver Solutions