Watershed Management
Watershed management is a comprehensive approach to managing the natural resources within a watershed to ensure sustainability and protect water quality. It involves the integrated management of land, water, and other resources within a specific geographic area.

Importance of Watershed Management
- Watershed management plays a crucial role in sustaining development by ensuring the availability of clean water for various purposes such as drinking, agriculture, and industry.
- It helps in preventing soil erosion, reducing sedimentation in rivers and streams, and maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems.
- Proper watershed management can also help mitigate the impacts of natural disasters such as floods and droughts by regulating water flow and improving water retention capacity.
- It promotes sustainable land use practices, forest conservation, and biodiversity preservation, which are essential for long-term environmental health and economic development.

Role of Watershed Management in Sustaining Development
- Watershed management can contribute to sustainable development by fostering community participation and cooperation in natural resource management.
- It promotes the use of environmentally friendly practices that enhance the resilience of ecosystems and support sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
- By ensuring the availability of clean water and healthy ecosystems, watershed management can support economic activities such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
- It also helps in addressing climate change impacts by promoting carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities to climate-related risks.