Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Toolbox

Watershed Management

This module is intended for people involved in the conservation, use and sustainable management of forests, land and water at the watershed scale. It outlines the key principles and main planning steps involved in designing measures to preserve or restore the ecosystem functions of watersheds. The module also provides links to tools and case studies to guide users in the planning and implementation of watershed management initiatives.

The objective of this publication is to present the policy and management approach of each member country on its protective forests. The goal of the member countries is to increase the resilience of mountain forests and ensure the sustainability of their protective functions for society. Each country report covers the...
Several Andean countries have planned to restore forest cover in degraded land to enhance the provision of multiple ecosystem services in response to international commitments such as the Bonn Challenge. Hydrological services, e.g. water supply, hydrological regulation and erosion mitigation, are particularly important to sustain the life of more than...
This study reviewed the achievements, and also the shortcomings, of 12 watershed management projects technically supported by FAO over the past decade, with a view to learning from experience. Watershed management is best carried out as a step wise multi-stakeholder process. The review identified the following areas for moving forward:...
Discussions on the relationships between forests and water have primarily focused on the biophysical nature of these relationships. However, as issues such as land degradation affect the ability of forests to provide water-related ecosystem services resulting in water insecurity, the human dimension of the forest–water nexus has become more evident....
Climate change is predicted to have a marked effect on the agricultural sector in Eastern Africa. However, there is considerable potential to adapt to climate change. This can be done within the framework of the watershed management approach. There are compelling reasons for systematically integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation...
This documentary showcases Ethiopia's success in sustainable land and water management. It highlights how a landscape approach was used to manage land, water and forest resources to meet the goals of food security and inclusive green growth. The lessons drawn are relevant for other countries in the region and other...
Ce video presents le programme Interrégional de lutte contre la Pauvreté et la Désertification à la travers la Cogestion des Bassins Versants - Province de Midelt (FAO/GCP/INT/093/SPA).
This Watershed Toolkit Project provided an interactive knowledge transfer between community leaders, the scientific and academic communities and included: multiple community engagement sessions, capacity building, crowdsourcing input into a rural community resource toolkit, understanding accessibility needs of users, further resource and information needs of communities, and building relationships and strengthening...
The services that watersheds provide – such as quantity and quality of water – are decreasing, yet demand for these services is increasing. Can market mechanisms help to increase these services by offering incentives for improved land use in catchment areas? Can such mechanisms also bring benefits to poor people living...
The population in the Stung Siem Reap Watershed in Northern Cambodia is suffering from the declining quality and quantity of their water resources. A Watershed Inventory was undertaken to identify the main causes and to provide local planners with comprehensive information on watershed issues, including land use changes and their consequences. Hereby...
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