| Summary, etc |
Watersheds are natural waterscape resulting from the combination of the hydrology and<br/>topography of the landscape with a human perspective. While they project different<br/>contexts under natural, political or demographic framework, watersheds are, nonetheless,<br/>ubiquitous units that can be seen as the physical foundation of our nation state. They are<br/>logical divisions or regions of the natural landscape, and for some purposes they are<br/>ultimately the best framework to use for management. The human perspective, in an effort<br/>to factor in his interests, imposes an additional dimension to this definition to extend it<br/>beyond the boundaries of the physical watershed. As a result, we are inclined to perceive<br/>watershed space as a domain that transcends physical delineation.<br/>Considering the historic transformation in the Bhutanese politics with power devolved to<br/>the people and authority decentralized to the local levels, the central government must<br/>stand up to the new roles and challenges posed in accommodating local-level, peopleoriented<br/>imperatives while being resolute in safeguarding and representing the overall<br/>interests of the general public and the nation as a whole. Realization of the four pillars of<br/>Gross National Happiness (GNH) is squarely anchored in the collective resolve of all citizens,<br/>researchers and scientists, resource managers and decision-makers to focus on a vision of<br/>sustained peace and prosperity through integration of ecological, sociocultural, economic<br/>and to environmental objectives. Adopting a watershed perspective to the whole<br/>development strategy can provide a balanced framework for effective integration across<br/>management systems and administrative levels.<br/>The watershed approach is one panacea with the real prospect of addressing coupled<br/>human, resource and environment related problems, in particular those related to water<br/>resources rapidly being exposed to competing demands. Most of the time, we get caught<br/>into the dichotomy of economic development and environment, and well-conceived<br/>participatory, integrated watershed management in the upper catchments may become an<br/>important tool. The watershed approach acknowledges linkages between upstream and<br/>downstream areas and between “Green” and “Blue” water, and reduces the risks of trading<br/>problems in space and time. Watershed management is an integrative way of thinking about<br/>various human activities that occur on a watershed that have effects on, or affected by,<br/>water. With this perspective, we can plan long-term, sustainable solutions to many natural<br/>resource problems, and find a better balance in fulfilling the current needs while leaving a<br/>sound resource legacy for generations to come.<br/>Watershed approach cannot be impressed through regulations, changes in law, more<br/>money or any normal bureaucratic measure; but through integrative and participatory<br/>actions. Watersheds constitute a coherent and systematic basis for deliberation and action<br/>in natural resource management as those constituents relate to each other with minimal<br/>scientific ambiguity within their natural boundaries. A single nationalized solution is unlikely<br/>to succeed in an environment as complex as the human-associated diversity, and these local<br/>variations are the key to the growing demand for local actions and solutions. Unfortunately,<br/>watershed science in general has not yet developed an effective interface between what we<br/>know and how we use that knowledge. Good science is not enough; we need useful science.<br/>As a result, watershed management is perceived to be both institutionally and scientifically<br/>A Roadmap for Watershed Management in Bhutan 2011<br/>W a t e r s h e d M a n a g e m e n t D i v i s i o n<br/>Page ES 2<br/>complex, and thus inherently difficult to implement. Given the benefit of recent advances in<br/>watershed science in terms of new knowledge and experience, we are offered with<br/>unprecedented opportunity to embark upon a program of synergizing environmental and<br/>sociocultural safeguards with economic and consumptive imperatives while fostering the<br/>natural resource potential.<br/>There are also challenges posed by the development pathway that the nation has cautiously<br/>chosen to tread. The proliferation of market-based economic activities have fueled<br/>accelerated demand for natural resources all too often leading to overexploitation and<br/>unsustainable practices. Problems associated with water scarcity, deforestation and land<br/>degradation are manifest. The urgency for achieving a watershed vision is related to both<br/>the need to protect an expanding network of major hydropower installations in the country<br/>and the relatively small but productive river valleys for improving food security situation of<br/>the largely agrarian-based rural communities. The approach envisioned is one of integrating<br/>watershed management practices with environmentally sound land-use management<br/>activities and effective community development efforts through comprehensive local<br/>institutional movement, emphasizing focus on best practices (Box 1).<br/>In 2009, the Watershed Management Division (WMD) was established under the<br/>Department of Forests and Park Services, and designated as national focal agency for<br/>operationalizing the watershed management program as a part of larger a initiative in<br/>developing integrated frameworks for major river basins in the country. In close<br/>consultation with managers, stakeholders and communities, WMD has developed three<br/>broad goals underpinning the common program objectives and practical measures<br/>contributing to the overall development vision of GNH by sustaining the flows of natural<br/>resources and better stewardship of watersheds. These goals and objectives are grounded<br/>in providing the country and its people with goods and services in ways that maintain the<br/>long-term productive capacity of natural resources without damaging the environment. |
