Status of research on watershed management

Watershed management is a single window, Integrated, participatory and sustainable area development programme of a geo-physically defined natural drainage unit of land. Integrated development of watersheds with community empowerment is expected to meet livelihood and environmental security of ever increasing population of India. Research on watersheds was focussed in 1954 with the establishment of a chain of Soil & Water Conservation Research. Demonstration and Training Centres. Research findings were tested initially in four actual village situations through people's participation from 1974 onwards and expanded further to 47 model watersheds in 1982-83. During 1980s, NGOs, stakeholders and grass root level Institutions also joined in the integrated management and conservation of all natural resources being promoted through multiple linkages with national and international agencies.

Bio-physical aspects of watershed research are relatively better understood than socio economic. community participation. people's empowerment. Institution building, conflict resolution, equity, gender issues, activities for landless, productive employment generation, etc. Data about the on-site effects is relatively richer as compared to off-site effects of flooding, ground water recharging, environmental externalities and hydro-ecological modelling.