Similar names: level bunds, contour stone bunds, earthen bunds

Contour bunds (also known as contour bunding) are a form of micro-catchment technique and are a very simple and cheap form of water control. The bunds are created along the contour lines. There are also small earth ties, perpendicular to the bunds, that subdivide the system into micro-catchments. Contour bunds are very similar to Negarim in that they aim to slow down runoff and improve water infiltration in the soil. For this reason, contour bunds are often associated with the cultivation of crops, fodder or trees which are grown between the bunds. Contour bunds also help to control soil erosion. Contour bunds for tree planting is suitable in arid and semi-arid areas with rainfall rates between 200 and 750 mm. They can be applied on slopes of up to 5% but they require even terrains, without the presence of gullies or rills. The soil should preferably be 1.5 to 2 m deep in order to ensure proper root development and water storage.

Contour bunds are also a cost-effective nature-based solution, which is relatively cheap, especially on a larger scale and on even lands because less earth is moved. The intervention could be combined with machinery, which additionally enables the technique to be scaled up to larger areas. Finally, fodder crops can be grown before the trees become productive, which as a result could lead to a reduction in the amount of runoff that can reach the trees.