Current Trends and Future Perspectives of Integrated Watershed Management

Abstract

The significance of Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) has increased in recent years due to its ecological, economic, and social implications. To align with these principles and achieve efficiency, watershed management necessitates the evaluation and integration of numerous diverse factors. This literature review aims to examine the current research trend in IWM and its association with various thematic elements. The identified thematic elements include water resources management, decision-making processes, agricultural and forested watersheds, soil management, natural hazards, stakeholder involvement, climate change, policy frameworks, cost management and risk analysis, livelihoods, ecosystem services, habitat and biodiversity conservation, and tourism. The predominant thematic elements were water resource management, decision-making, and agricultural and forested watersheds. The countries that were most frequently referred to in the examined literature were Ethiopia, China, the USA, and Iran. A synthesis of data obtained via the analysis of scientific research trends in the specified domain can serve as a basis for the establishment and strategizing of comprehensive watershed management. While it is important to consider all these aspects combined in IWM practice, it is also essential to have a comprehensive grasp of each factor as a vital step in integrating them. The participants involved in this endeavour, hailing from diverse professional backgrounds, must engage in close collaboration to successfully integrate the aforementioned aspects. The collaborative method can only have a chance of success if all participants involved demonstrate a high level of dedication. The level of dedication required should be grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the difficulties and demands that are mutually shared by all involved parties.