FROM PROBLEM ANALYSIS TO POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS AND A

TERRITORIAL VISION

For problem analysis the first step is to identify areas for protection and production
interventions across all land-use categories in watershed management planning.
Following are the main areas to problems requiring solution and intervention.

 Areas that are ecologically sensitive

 Areas that are protected by national legislation (nature reserves, national parks and
other categories of protected area as classified by IUCN)
 Areas that are degraded or threatened by misuse, overuse or contamination
and that need restoration, regeneration or rehabilitation
 Areas of crop production that could be converted gradually into less
intensive, agroforestry
 Areas that are prone to erosion or at risk of landslides, flooding and other
natural disasters
 Areas where crop production is no longer feasible or profitable and where a
switch to livestock grazing or other extensive use could be beneficial
 Areas that need to be maintained for local food security, e.g. home gardens,
community forestry woodlots or fish ponds, to ensure healthy,
 nutritious and diverse food for current and future generations
 Areas that are the object of conflict between different land users, for which
agreements need to be negotiated

Identifying areas for Intervention

In Pakistan, the watershed management component was added to a large
livelihood rehabilitation project to address the impacts of earthquake and
long-term unsustainable management practices. In AJK region the slides
occurred to due to earthquake and seepage which was resolved not only
technically but with the participation of stakeholders.

Lessons Learned
Project experiences related to watershed zoning showed mixed results. Some
projects did not divide their intervention areas into zones that had the same
characteristics or that were suitable for the same types of intervention.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Instead of thoroughly analysing the whole watershed territory and evaluating all
potential land uses and development options, it may be more appropriate and less
time consuming to focus on the articulated priorities of the local stakeholders and
on selected problems or existing land-use conflicts that need an urgent solution.

RESULTS OF THE REVIEW

In Pakistan, major problems were identified and prioritized activities to handle
each problem independently. What was missing was the localization of areas
experiencing the problems. Since the project did not define or map geographical
areas for specific interventions or undertake a complete watershed zoning, it is
difficult to notice the reasoning that guided the selection.
LESSONS LEARNED
Whenever activities are selected, it is important to involve from the beginning the
technical agencies that will assist with their implementation, local government
planning will help in facilitate resources. A district forestry officer given a target to
reforest a certain number of hectares, for example, would do well to consult the
eventual watershed management plan to see whether any critical areas have been
identified and designated for reforestation. Since the plan will have been negotiated
with the local population, it is likely that reforestation activities can be implemented
without major opposition and with the direct financial, technical and personnel
support of government authorities.

The potential environmental and social impact (positive or negative) and risks of
each selected intervention must be assessed to prevent and mitigate undue harm to
people and the environment at all scales, even in small-scale investment activities.
Interventions that may have negative environmental effects (e.g. water or air
pollution, habitat disturbance) and/or social effects (disadvantaging or unfairly
preferring particular groups of people) should ideally not be pursued or must be
closely monitored. The capacity of stakeholders to identify, understand, monitor and
mitigate any emerging environmental degradation
or social disruption must be strengthened.