First International Conference on Sustainable watershed management (SuWaMa)

This objective will be accomplished by:

• integration of existing expertise and advancing knowledge,
• strengthening scientific and technological excellence,
• increasing scientific acceptability through publications,
• organizing training programs,
• establishing web-based platforms.

The series of Conferences will be structured to address these issues. Pre-conference courses will be offered to provide technical training for conference participants who are unfamiliar with tools for integrated watershed management.

The First Conference will provide participants with an opportunity to develop understanding and skills in advanced decision support tools and models for sustainable management of watersheds. Participants from all over the world will exchange knowledge on how to use advanced tools for assessment and decision-making that provide the ability to manage watersheds to balance economic and environmental considerations. Participants will benefit from applying the sustainable use and development models to minimize and mitigate anthropogenic effects on the natural capital of water resources, watersheds, and socioeconomic systems. This will lead to recommendations based on an ecosystem approach for decision-making directed at protection of human security and peace. Further, group sessions will result in the identification and harmonization of terms and principles of integrated watershed management as well as recommendations for application and implementation of sustainable use and development practices in developing countries.

On the whole the outcome will be sharing of knowledge, ensuring lasting integration of information and data, networking of experts and stakeholders across and throughout the participating countries, expanding use of scientific tools to promote sustainability on a watershed basis, and to spread sound watershed management practices worldwide.