You are invited to an interactive on-line debate and discussion: 2nd - 25th of June

The World Bank Africa Environment and Natural Resources Unit and the Water Resources and Watershed Management Thematic Group invite you to participate in an online debate on watershed management that will run throughout June.

Watersheds are ideal systems for natural resource management. A watershed is one of the few natural systems that we can accurately map, and where we know water flows connect upstream and downstream communities.

As the unit that regulates the flow of water across the landscape, watersheds will be the place where we see the acute effects of climate change. They will be a barometer of the combined effect of our natural resource use as we move to warmer, drier times. The large size of most watersheds also makes them able to deliver real environmental and economic outcomes if their management were improved.

As always there are challenges. Watersheds rarely align to our geo-political boundaries or with the size and shape of our land management units.
The World Bank Africa Environment and Natural Resources Unit and the Water Resources and Watershed Management Thematic Group invite you to participate in an online debate on watershed management that will run throughout June.

Watersheds are ideal systems for natural resource management. A watershed is one of the few natural systems that we can accurately map, and where we know water flows connect upstream and downstream communities.

As the unit that regulates the flow of water across the landscape, watersheds will be the place where we see the acute effects of climate change. They will be a barometer of the combined effect of our natural resource use as we move to warmer, drier times. The large size of most watersheds also makes them able to deliver real environmental and economic outcomes if their management were improved.

As always there are challenges. Watersheds rarely align to our geo-political boundaries or with the size and shape of our land management units.
Anything larger than a farm or forest block requires a collective will and control that does not fit with our dominant socio-economic paradigm of individual resource ownership. Africa’s mixed and complex status on land and water access and local control of natural resources makes this an even more important need.

So what is the key to effective watershed management? How should it best be implemented? What are the right incentives? What are the barriers and who controls them? Do we ever have enough information to know when management is working?
The discussion will offer ideas, opinion and suggest some answers to these questions. Set as a series of mini-debates, watershed management experts from governments, development agencies, science and business, all with a wealth of practical experience will debate four propositions on watershed management in Africa and a dedicated website will provide the opportunity for public comment and feedback. Moderation and daily summaries of the discussion will be provided throughout the discussion.

This is your opportunity to engage in a debate that has critical outcomes for Sub-Saharan Africa.

To participate in the discussion go to www.africawatershed.org

We look forward to your contributions.