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[[Image:gabions icon.png|right|80px]]
[[Image:gabionStructure.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Gabion structure in a stream bed. Photo: SAI.]]
__NOTOC__ <small-title />A '''gabion ''' is semi permeable barrier, made of boulders in a mesh of steel wires and anchored to the stream bank, to slow but not stop, the flow of storm water in a small watercourse so to favour water infiltration to groundwater and help prevent soil erosion.
The height of such structures is around 0.5 m and 1m wide, and is normally used in the streams with width of less than 10 m.
Women in the community were trained to build gabion baskets (cages weaved from wire) and men filled them with stones, ensuring full community participation in the process. The gabions were then used to build a wall that would reduce the damage caused by flooding to the community.
...read more on [httphttps://www.unops.org/englishSiteCollectionDocuments/whatwedoFactsheets/UNOPSinactionEnglish/PagesSuccess%20Stories/Natural-disaster-mitigation-afghanistanGBL_PJFS_EDPER_EN_0911.aspx pdf Afghan villagers pilot disaster risk reduction scheme.]
===Manuals, videos and links===
===Acknowledgements===
* [httpftp://wwwftp.fao.org/agagl/magazineaglw/9812sp2docs/misc32.htm Gabions in water developmentpdf SMALL DAMS AND WEIRS IN EARTH AND GABION MATERIALS.] FAO, 19982001.
* Rufino, L., [http://www.saiplatform.org/uploads/Library/Technical%20Brief%202%20%20Rainwater%20harvesting%20%20artificial%20recharge%20to%20groundwater.pdf Water Conservation Technical Briefs: TB 2 – Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge to Groundwater]. Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI). August 2009.
* [http://www.ehow.com/how_7832350_make-gabions.html#ixzz1tdwhja5y How to make Gabions]. eHow.com.