Resource information
A watershed is an area that supplies
water by surface or subsurface flow to a drainage system or
body of water. Watersheds vary from a few hectares to
thousands of square kilometers. Watershed management (WSM)
is the integrated use of land, vegetation, and water in a
specific drainage area with the objective of conserving
hydrologic services and reducing or avoiding damage
downstream or underground. The first generation of WSM
projects emphasized engineering and civil works. By the end
of the 1980s, the comparative failure of this top-down
approach was clear. Since the 1990s, WSM programs have
integrated livelihood improvements and poverty reduction
objectives with soil and water conservation.
