Bioengineering for Slope Stabilization

ADB Timor-Leste SC 109396 TIM 2017: Bioengineering on Roads. Transport Workshop Bioengineering for Slope Stabilization (ADB HQ). Drawing on 15 years’ experience with Bioengineering for Slope Control on road projects in Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. Dr. Green provided technical assistance and inputs for the preparation of ADB brochure (2017) that reviewed bioengineering interventions, successes and lessons learned as applied through Environmental Management Plans for roads being upgraded in Timor-Leste (since 2013). A selection of differing slopes were presented with a range of bioengineering treatments designed by international consultants and installed (after training) by international contractors. Roads are the primary mode of transport Timor-Leste and the core network of national roads that connects the capital Dili, 13 districts, and 900km of district roads linking major population centers to the national roads. About 80% (1,800km) of core roads are paved. The road network that deteriorated in the period that preceded independence in 2002 has undergone significant improvement with substantial and coordinated assistance from Timor-Leste’s development partners. The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Ministry of Public Works (MPW) developed the Medium-Term Road Network Development Program which started in 2010. ADB, World Bank (WB) the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) the Government of Australia, and the European Union (EU) support is closely coordinated. Frequent landslides and road closures caused by intense rainfall and geotechnical instability in mountainous areas continue to provide significant challenges to both road improvements and road maintenance. Dr. Green, working within PMU promulgated Bioengineering for Slope Stabilization (since 2013), now recognized for some years in Timor-Leste; as a cost effective method of controlling preventing land slips. The Bioengineering Working Group was formed in 2014 with collaborators from ILO, UNTL, MPW and other agencies as a think tank for groups interested to preserve and extending the life span of engineering structures using augmentation with biological slope control measures. By 2024 bioengineering works have been included at more than 300 slopes spanning 20 road improvement contracts for MPW since 2014. Dr Green and the Bioengineering Working Group conducted monthly discussion and training sessions in Timor-Leste from 2014 to 2018 and since 2021 project specific Bioengineering Compliance and Awareness Training sessions for each new Contractor to encourage practical and functional installation of bioengineering. Monitoring of the bioengineering measures is carried out periodically by PMU.