Watershed Management and Governance in a Changing Climate

Watershed are critical to economic development and environmental protection in Southeast Asia. Thus, managing them effectively is a key in the pursuit toward sustainable development. Watershed management, however, is a complex decision-making process. The threat brought by climate change further puts stress on the already-stressed watersheds in the region, and would further complicate the already-complex process of watershed management and governance. Extensive research is therefore needed to provide an emprical database that will predict the future changes in watersheds.An integrated watershed management framework must also be developed to synchronize the development of all land and water uses. The roles of multiple stakeholders involved in watershed management and governance should be harmonized in order to achieve effective watershed management and governance in a changing climate.

A watershed is a physical system that extends from the mountain ridge all the way to the coastal area. It is a continuum of ecosystems and landscape units encompassing human and natural systems that are critical to economic development, environmental protection, and to the security of human well-being. Watersheds underpin the security of agriculture and fishery, public health, commercial industry, energy and transport, as well as recreation and tourism.