In 2002–2003, FAO led a global review of watershed management with the aim of reviewing the past generation of watershed management programmes and laying the foundations for the next generation. The review was initiated during the International Year of Mountains in 2002 and completed during the International Year of Freshwater in 2003. This process included several activities and involved a range of agencies and experts. The Forestry Department of FAO led the review, with inputs from other FAO divisions. The objectives of the overall review were to:
- Review the state of watershed management programmes, policies and knowledge base;
- Identify key achievements and lessons learned during the last 15 years;
- Identify key gaps;
- Develop guidelines for the “next generation” of watershed management programmes.
The African regional watersheds workshop was co-hosted by FAO and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), with funding from the Government of the Netherlands. Workshop objectives focused on watershed management issues specific to the African continent.
