Watershed degradation is acute in most developing countries, with the most serious problems occurring in mountainous and tropical regions. The livelihood of millions of people living in these watersheds is being threatened. Upland development of natural resources and the downstream development of agriculture, hydropower, and water resources -- so essential to the growth of a nation's economy -- also are threatened.
Policies and strategies must urgently be developed at the highest levels of government to reverse present trends of watershed degradation and forest removal estimated to be 11.3 million hectares/year in the tropics. To do so will require high level planning and implementation that must be based on technical knowledge of watershed management practices and their effects on upland productivity of multiple resources, soil erosion, streamflow quantity and quality, and downstream impacts. Programs and specific projects need to recognize and directly deal with the biological, physical, economic and social linkages that exist between upland watershed inhabitants and downstream dwellers. Key considerations include:
Governments must recognize that programmes to correct watershed abuse must begin with changing/modifying existing land use practices by people living in these areas to achieve a balance between the level of land use and the environmental carrying capacity of the watershed. This calls for strong measures varying from the control of population growth, which may include resettlement schemes, to the development of appropriate measures to increase productivity of uplands. There is a sense of urgency in striking such a balance, particularly in mountainous ecosystems like the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, which needs a significant policy and programme response within the next 10 to 15 years.
Downstream dwellers should recognize that many of their problems of sedimentation and flooding are not only caused by upland degradation, but also are largely the result of their unplanned occupancy and construction on the flood plain.
In the first paper of this session, Botero reviewed the origins of watershed management and highlighted FAO's current watershed management programmes in training, extension and research. He indicated that the acceptance and application of watershed management has had mixed results in developing countries. Some of the problems relate to a lack of appropriate research, training (particularly in French speaking countries), and pilot projects which demonstrate to decision makers and local people alike, the benefits of watershed management. He also emphasized that watershed management should be considered as an integral part of rural development projects in general, and not be viewed in isolation.
Pereira followed with a detailed review of hydrology in tropical regions and emphasized the need for "enlightened land use policies" for conserving forest cover on critical, steep mountainous areas. Greater supervision and control of upland use, including grazing and logging, must be accomplished soon. He suggested the need for long-term strategies to control human and livestock populations in the uplands in addition to developing means of producing needed fuelwood and developing community organizations to restore wastelands. Nondestructive forest management practices need to be developed.
Hamilton pointed out that professional foresters and watershed managers should be realistic when stating the watershed benefits derived from trees and forests. Many of the adverse effects of deforestation and subsequent land use are due to actions such as road construction. Although natural, well managed forests are usually associated with minimal erosion and high quality water, the planting of trees alone does not necessarily result in reduced flood damages, reduced droughts, increased rainfall or the control of erosion and sedimentation. Reforestation and afforestation efforts should continue, where appropriate, but with a good understanding of their hydrologic effects.
