The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is pleased to announce its first International Training Course on Participatory Integrated Watershed Management, which will be held from 5 to 15 October 2009 at Godavari, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Background
The Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Warming is higher than the global average and the mountain ecosystems are particularly vulnerable due to the rapid variation in altitude, the steep slopes, and the dependence on the monsoon system. The climate change impacts are embedded in a matrix of other environmental and social stresses, such as migration, population growth, changes in local land-use, and introduction and removal of species, adding to the complexity of the issues. The anticipated changes will have important implications for the livelihoods of those who live in the region. Ensuring sustainable use of natural resources is becoming crucial for maintaining the long-term stability of the fragile ecosystem and sustain the socio-ecological resilience that builds the basis for sustainable livelihoods – but it remains a major challenge.
Mountain watersheds provide the adjacent lowlands with water: more than half of the world’s population depends directly on mountain watersheds for water to grow food, generate energy, and for industrial and domestic use. But mountain areas are vulnerable. Infrastructure development and use of steep slopes without proper consideration of conservation needs, deforestation, and population pressure can lead to unmanaged runoff, land degradation, and landslides, and affect the provision of water and nutrients to downstream areas. Across the Himalayas, and in many other parts of the world, farmers and communities are paying increasing attention to finding ways of managing watersheds to ensure that soil, water, and other resources are conserved.
Experience in the Himalayan region and elsewhere has shown how holistic management of watershed resources can help address problems in mountain watersheds and arrest land degradation, and thus enable the water and food needs of the population to be met. In particular, there is increasing recognition that natural resource management in general, and integrated watershed management in particular, is only successful when the communities who live on the land are fully integrated into the process, from problem identification and recognition, through planning and implementation. The present training package builds on this experience to provide an intensive course for watershed managers which will provide them with a solid knowledge of integrated watershed management with communities that is specifically attuned to middle mountain conditions.
Course objectives
The course will enhance the conceptual and practical knowledge of participants in participatory integrated watershed management. In addition, participants will learn how to identify appropriate strategies to address sustainability issues in participatory integrated watershed management, and will learn to analyse and prepare community-based integrated watershed management plans.
By the end of the course, participants will:
- understand the concept of participatory integrated watershed management, its importance and issues;
- be familiar with the basic processes of working and planning with communities for participatory integrated watershed management;
- understand the role and importance of local governance, payment for ecosystem services, and an enabling framework for the participatory integrated watershed management.
Course duration and contents
The course runs for 11 days and is structured around the following modules.
- Module 1: Introduction to participatory integrated watershed management. Analysis of the role, importance and issues of participatory watershed management and familiarisation with conservation technologies and strategies.
- Module 2: Familiarisation with the processes and issues involved while working with communities in participatory integrated watershed management.
- Module 3: Introduction to integrated watershed management planning with communities. Basic knowledge of different tools for the community-based integrated watershed management planning.
- Module 4: Introduction to the enabling framework for participatory integrated watershed management such as policy, local governance, and payment for ecosystem services.
Training approach and trainers
The course uses a participatory training approach throughout. Classroom lectures are complemented by field visits and group exercises. The trainers are experienced professionals from ICIMOD and partner organisations engaged in watershed management. The training is coordinated by the Integrated Watershed Management Action Area of ICIMOD’s Environmental Change and Ecosystem Services Programme.
Who should attend?
Young and energetic managers working with the government or with international and local non government organisations (INGOs and NGOs) in the area of natural resource management, especially soil conservation and watershed management, at different levels (central, district, and communities).
Course prerequisites
- Participants should have a technical background related to soil conservation and watershed management (agriculture, forestry, civil engineering, and others; minimum education level is four years of college, or its equivalent)
- Participants must be able to understand and speak English, which is the medium of instruction.
- A minimum of 2-3 years working experience in natural resource management is preferred.
- Women participants are encouraged. Child care will be organised for women/men with children for an additional cost of US$ 150 (cost does not include food).
Where and when
Training will be conducted at various sites close to ICIMOD’s Demonstration and Training Centre at Godavari, on the southern slopes of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, from 5 to 15 October 2009.
Course fees
The fee is US$ 1,800 per person. This includes tuition fee, course materials, food, lodging (shared double occupancy), course-related local travel, and pick-up and drop from Kathmandu airport. Single room accommodation is available for an additional fee of US$10 per day. The cost excludes international travel from place of origin to Kathmandu, medical/travel insurance and other personal expenses. We suggest that participants budget for an additional $20 per day to cover incidental expenses.
Registration fee is US$ 50 per person.
Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organisations or donor agencies.
For more information please contact:
Keshar Man Sthapit, Training Coordinator, email: wsmtraining@icimod.org
Deadline for applications: 31 Jul 2009
Deadline for payment: 15 Sep 2009
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