Ecological and Socioeconomic Benefits of IWSM in Ethiopia

Integrated watershed management (IWSM) is the integrated use of land, vegetation and water in a geographically discrete catchment or drainage area for the benefit of its residents, with the objective of maintaining the hydrological services that the watershed provides with a focus on upland and lowland areas of the watershed by reducing or avoiding negative downstream or groundwater impacts. It includes soil and water conservation (SWC), exclosures, income generating technologies and other activities formulated by the local farmers in the watershed. This implies also monitoring other ecological services such as soil productivity, woody plants diversity and socio-economic benefits such as household’s income, crop and livestock production.