Most developing countries need to improve or develop institutional and organizational arrangements for planning, funding, implementing and monitoring watershed programmes. Guidelines need to be established by countries that promote the systematic and comprehensive development of programmes, avoiding conflicting sets of objectives and administrative formats. Programmes must explicitly consider the welfare of watershed inhabitants; means of diversifying and increasing the income of rural poor is an important objective.
This session begins with a conceptual framework for planning, evaluating and implementing watershed management practices. Hufschmidt presents a conceptually sound and practical approach to guide the various stages of the watershed management process. It represents a comprehensive checklist of the critical elements and steps for planning and implementation. The framework and approach outlined may be useful as guidelines for field managers to determine "what needs to be done," and "how to do it." The framework needs to be tested, however, and a case study approach is suggested.
Ffolliott and Brooks present the multiple use approach as a management philosophy and as a practical means of achieving watershed management objectives, but with the aim of diversifying and increasing income of watershed inhabitants. Without the latter, the chances of achieving sustainable land use practices become slim.
A diversity of multiple use options including combined production systems (i.e., agroforestry practices) are available to increase the capacity of watersheds to provide needed goods and services without sacrificing the soil and without adversely impacting downstream dwellers. Ffolliott and Brooks discuss how the multiple use approach can be used to evaluate management alternatives. Improved technologies and more intensive, yet selective, application of inputs can help diversify mountain economies, develop new sources of off-farm income, and reduce the pressures on the more critically sensitive lands.
From the farmer's point of view, multiple use is a reality, a way of life. From a policymaker point of view, the multiple use concept must be demonstrated as a workable approach and must be supported by examples. Demonstration projects and case studies are needed.
Sheng, in the last paper of this session, presented a practical approach for planning watershed management projects or programmes. The challenges and constraints in developing countries are discussed. The needs for establishing sound data base and evaluation systems are emphasized. Points were made that planning is a continuous process and must be flexible, i.e., changes and adjustments in courses of action should be expected. Projects should have built-in and continuous monitoring and feedback mechanisms that facilitate needed revisions in a timely fashion. Monitoring should start early in a project and should include not only biophysical aspects, but should keep track of social/economic changes and institutional factors as well.
Sheng suggests that at the national level, quick reconnaissance surveys are useful to pinpoint major problem areas. More detailed surveys at the local or watershed level should concentrate on the critical watersheds that need more immediate attention by planners and managers.
