Lesson 1.3 Principles

Lesson 1.
3: Guiding Principles in Watershed Management & Development
Lesson Summary
Watershed Management requires guiding principles so that every manager

will understand how watersheds could be managed properly. There are
various resources needs of the society which have associated challenges in
terms of their sustainability. As we go over this lesson, we will learn
important and broad guiding principles in watershed management
enumerated by PCAARRD-DOST et al. 1990. Students in this class are also
expected to read related articles from various sources. There are a number of
materials on watershed management that can be obtained from the internet
which provide certain principles including concepts in Forest Landscape
Restoration. They can also help students broaden their knowledge on this
topic.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this class, students are expected to:

1.Enumerate the guiding principles in watershed management and
development; and
2.Explain these guiding principles and relate them in watershed management
and development.
Motivation Question
Why guiding principles are important in watershed management?
Discussion
Watershed management and development, as pointed out by PCAARRD-
DOST et al. 1999, should be anchored on the following key guiding principles:
1. Holistic, integrated, and multiple-use management and development

A watershed is a hydrologic system which normally contains one or more
ecosystems. The properties and behaviors of a given watershed are the
products of the interactions between its components as influenced by other
systems and factors around it, including human activities and climate. In
return, its properties and behaviors influence human activities and climate. A
watershed is a complex natural system which easily responds to the alteration
of any one of its components. To manage it sustainably, it is therefore
essential to treat all components with equal importance, and ensure that the
integrity of the system and its biophysical as well as socioeconomic
processes is maintained. Thus an integrated approach is essential whereby
among other considerations, management strategies are chosen on the basis
of its impacts on the entire system and not solely on a particular system
component.
Multiple-use management is likewise an important principle to consider in

watershed management in view of the multiple demands for goods and
services in a given society. It is a strategy of managing watershed resources
for the optimum and sustained production of goods and services for the
benefit of the greatest number of people.
2. Multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary planning

Watershed management is an interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral undertaking
as it normally involves planning, appraisal, implementation and monitoring of
a wide of development activities. This includes not only forestry and
agriculture but, depending on a specific watershed, also fisheries, mining,
water supplies (for irrigation, livestock, and domestic use), energy generation
(hydro, geothermal and fossil fuels), infrastructure development (roads and
settlements). Typically, planning teams will include economist, agronomist,
forester, and sociologist. Other experts will also be needed depending on the
development activities to undertake.
Successful watershed management should recognize the multi-dimensional

nature of the tasks. Along with the biophysical dimension, the social, cultural,
financial and economic dimensions must be equally considered. While
biophysical processes are more natural to the watershed than the other
dimensions, the later can be influential in determining the state of the
watershed. There is therefore a need for cooperation of the various sectors or
groups to come up with a realistic and successful watershed management.
Different groups (like the government, communities, ethnic groups,
households, and others) have different needs and their voices should be
heard and considered during the planning, implementation and monitoring.
3. Sustainable management and development

Good watershed management requires the identification, development, and
dissemination of improved technologies and land management practices that
are both productive and conservation effective. It likewise requires that both
technologies and land management practices will provide sustainable
economic benefits to the various sectors not only for the present but also for
the future generation. The sustainable production of goods and services
beneficial to the various groups or sectors should therefore be considered.
The Philippine Strategy for Watershed Resources Management defined
“sustainable development” as the management and conservation of
watershed’s natural resource base and the orientation of technological and
institutional change to ensure the present and future security in attaining basic
human needs. Such sustainable development (whether forestry, agriculture,
fisheries or power generation) could conserve land, water, plant and animal
genetic resources, which is environmentally non-degrading, technically
appropriate, economically viable, and socially acceptable.
Below are sustainability criteria to consider in watershed management:
A. Ecological sustainability-- management and development activities

should maintain or enhance ecological processes, biological diversity, and
the natural resources base (soil, water, air, food, fuel, wood, and others).
B. Social and cultural sustainability- management and development

activities in the watersheds should be compatible with the culture and
values of the people, as well as maintain, strengthen and ensure that
benefits are equitably shared within the watershed communities or
sectors or groups involved.
C. Economic sustainability- utilization and development activities should

be economically efficient by optimizing tangible and intangible benefits for
the greatest number of people on a sustainable basis.
D. Institutional sustainability- organizations be it local people, Non-

Government Organizations, Government Agencies, and others should
sustainably deliver their services for the watershed. This requires the
sustainable and coordinated cooperation among sectors who are directly
and indirectly involved in watershed management.
E. Political sustainability- management and development activities should

promote political balance between and among various watershed users
and beneficiaries
4. Participatory and equitable watershed management and development
Sustainable participation of major stakeholders is essential due to the

magnitude of tasks to undertake and complex nature of watersheds. Benefits
derived from the management and development should be shared equitably
among the stakeholders specifically forest communities who may have less
influence in policy and governance.
5. Efficient resources utilization
Watersheds have various resources like land, water, timber that are
socioeconomically valuable and therefore must be utilized efficiently and
effectively in a sustainable manner through appropriate accounting and
pricing. Accounting and pricing are quite complex and should be done
properly. Then, the environmental and economic benefits from the watershed
resources should be maximized with cost minimized.
Learning Tasks/Activities
1. Try to document linkages or network of organizations manifesting
interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approach in watershed management
within your locality.
Assessment
1. Relate and explain the relevance of each principle mentioned above
based on the prevailing watershed situation in your municipality?
2. How can you promote the four sustainability criteria within the identified
municipal watershed?
Instructions on how to submit student output

Submit your answers on the learning tasks and assessment above one week
after I posted this module in our virtual classroom or after you receive this
module.

Lesson 1.3 Principles

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Lesson 1.

3: Guiding Principles in Watershed Management & Development

Watershed Management requires guiding principles so that every manager

At the end of this class, students are expected to:

1. Holistic, integrated, and multiple-use management and development

Multiple-use management is likewise an important principle to consider in

2. Multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary planning

Successful watershed management should recognize the multi-dimensional

3. Sustainable management and development

A. Ecological sustainability-- management and development activities

B. Social and cultural sustainability- management and development

C. Economic sustainability- utilization and development activities should

D. Institutional sustainability- organizations be it local people, Non-

E. Political sustainability- management and development activities should

4. Participatory and equitable watershed management and development

Sustainable participation of major stakeholders is essential due to the

5. Efficient resources utilization

Instructions on how to submit student output

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