About this Research Topic
Sustainable watershed management (SWM) integrates the management of water, biota, land, and other resources to balance ecological, social, and economic objectives. This approach incorporates strategies addressing the interplay between natural systems and human activities.
SWM includes:
• Combining management practices/policies to address the interconnected nature of ecosystems.
• Employing strategies that adapt to new information and changing conditions.
• Utilizing remote sensing, GIS and big data to enhance understanding and management.
• Incorporating knowledge and practices of local communities.
• Working across political and administrative boundaries to manage watersheds as a single ecological unit.
Research in this area addresses challenges such as climate change, water scarcity/pollution, soil health and biodiversity loss, while also balancing the needs for economic and social welfare. SWM is an ever-evolving practice that requires continuous innovation and collaboration among scientists, practitioners, governments, and stakeholders. Advances in this field are crucial for watersheds to perform ecological, social, and economic functions sustainably.
The primary problem to address is the integrated management of watersheds in the face of increasing environmental pressures, such as climate change, water scarcity, water contamination, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic challenges. To achieve sustainable watershed resources management, several strategies can be implemented:
• Adopting Nature-Based Solutions: Implementing practices like reforestation, wetland restoration, and regenerative agriculture to improve water security, restore biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience.
• Utilizing Technological Innovations: Employing advanced tools such as hydrological models, remote sensing, and GIS for better planning and decision-making.
• Fostering Community Engagement: Involving local communities in the management process to leverage traditional knowledge and ensure the sustainability of interventions.
• Promoting Policy Integration: Ensuring that water management policies are integrated across sectors and scales, considering both environmental and socio-economic factors.
• Water Governance: Encouraging collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector, to address watershed issues comprehensively.
By focusing on these areas, the Research Topic can contribute to developing innovative approaches and practical solutions for the sustainable management of watershed resources. The goal is to balance ecological integrity with human well-being, ensuring that watersheds can continue to provide essential services for future generations.
The scope includes themes aimed at promoting the resilience and sustainability of watershed ecosystems, such us:
• Climate and Land Use Changes: the impact of climate variability and land use alterations on watershed hydrology and water availability.
• Water Quality Modelling.
• Eco-Hydrological Interactions: interactions among hydrological, environmental, and ecological processes.
• Technological Innovations.
• Local communities: Involvement of local communities in watershed management foster sustainable practices and ownership.
• Citizen science.
• Ecological Restoration: strategies for water pollution remediation and ecological restoration in watersheds.
We are interested in the following:
• Original Research Articles: detailed reports of data and findings.
• Review Articles: overviews of current knowledge, highlighting significant developments and new perspectives.
• Case Studies: in-depth analyses of specific instances of watershed management practices.
• Methodological Papers: descriptions of new methods or significant improvements to existing methods.
Contributions should aim to advance the understanding and implementation of sustainable watershed management practices, providing valuable insights for researchers, managers, and other stakeholders. Manuscripts that demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches and incorporate innovative techniques are particularly welcome.
SWM includes:
• Combining management practices/policies to address the interconnected nature of ecosystems.
• Employing strategies that adapt to new information and changing conditions.
• Utilizing remote sensing, GIS and big data to enhance understanding and management.
• Incorporating knowledge and practices of local communities.
• Working across political and administrative boundaries to manage watersheds as a single ecological unit.
Research in this area addresses challenges such as climate change, water scarcity/pollution, soil health and biodiversity loss, while also balancing the needs for economic and social welfare. SWM is an ever-evolving practice that requires continuous innovation and collaboration among scientists, practitioners, governments, and stakeholders. Advances in this field are crucial for watersheds to perform ecological, social, and economic functions sustainably.
The primary problem to address is the integrated management of watersheds in the face of increasing environmental pressures, such as climate change, water scarcity, water contamination, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic challenges. To achieve sustainable watershed resources management, several strategies can be implemented:
• Adopting Nature-Based Solutions: Implementing practices like reforestation, wetland restoration, and regenerative agriculture to improve water security, restore biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience.
• Utilizing Technological Innovations: Employing advanced tools such as hydrological models, remote sensing, and GIS for better planning and decision-making.
• Fostering Community Engagement: Involving local communities in the management process to leverage traditional knowledge and ensure the sustainability of interventions.
• Promoting Policy Integration: Ensuring that water management policies are integrated across sectors and scales, considering both environmental and socio-economic factors.
• Water Governance: Encouraging collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector, to address watershed issues comprehensively.
By focusing on these areas, the Research Topic can contribute to developing innovative approaches and practical solutions for the sustainable management of watershed resources. The goal is to balance ecological integrity with human well-being, ensuring that watersheds can continue to provide essential services for future generations.
The scope includes themes aimed at promoting the resilience and sustainability of watershed ecosystems, such us:
• Climate and Land Use Changes: the impact of climate variability and land use alterations on watershed hydrology and water availability.
• Water Quality Modelling.
• Eco-Hydrological Interactions: interactions among hydrological, environmental, and ecological processes.
• Technological Innovations.
• Local communities: Involvement of local communities in watershed management foster sustainable practices and ownership.
• Citizen science.
• Ecological Restoration: strategies for water pollution remediation and ecological restoration in watersheds.
We are interested in the following:
• Original Research Articles: detailed reports of data and findings.
• Review Articles: overviews of current knowledge, highlighting significant developments and new perspectives.
• Case Studies: in-depth analyses of specific instances of watershed management practices.
• Methodological Papers: descriptions of new methods or significant improvements to existing methods.
Contributions should aim to advance the understanding and implementation of sustainable watershed management practices, providing valuable insights for researchers, managers, and other stakeholders. Manuscripts that demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches and incorporate innovative techniques are particularly welcome.
Keywords: Watershed, Biota, Water, Management, Nature-Based Solutions, Communities, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Water Contamination
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
