Gestion Durable des Forêts (GDF) Boîte à outils

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.

Focusing on freshwater systems, this course inspires managers, scientists, and community members to work across disciplines and watersheds. The course coaches learners to understand, monitor, and manage watersheds as integrated systems.

This course presents the basic principles and concepts related to resilient watershed management, and, through the description of a case study, practically illustrates the process for formulating a resilient watershed management plan, from the analysis of the enabling environment to the definition of the risk management measures to implement.

This course is intended to provide on overview of forest and water relationships, and an understanding of the impacts of changing landscapes on water resources. It can be used as a stand-alone course for those interested in learning about the forest-water nexus, or as an introduction for those who will engage in workshops using the FAO capacity development facilitation guide on Advancing the Forest and Water Nexus.