Extended Abstract
Introduction: Despite the increasing trend of crises related to natural resources, it is important to provide a model for integrated management in watershed areas that is accepted by experts, brokers, policymakers, and planners of the country. Watersheds face a series of risks, each of which alone can cause environmental, economic, and social crises. Developing an integrated management model for watersheds is necessary because, without such a model, it will not be possible to achieve comprehensive management of watersheds. Applying this model can lead to organizational coherence and cohesion, improving the health and resilience of the area, coordination of decision-making institutions, improving the effectiveness of policies and laws, adaptation of watershed residents to environmental changes, resolving conflicts, wide participation of stakeholders, and finally achieving sustainable governance in watershed areas.
Materials and Methods: This research, which is practical in its purpose and descriptive-analytical in its nature and method, involved field investigations, analysis of policy documents, and library resources related to integrated watershed management models. A decision-making institution is proposed alongside a process-based model for integrated watershed management, consisting of six steps. Process models are designed based on field and experimental investigations, goals, time, and place scales, and the needs and concerns of stakeholders. The steps of preparing this process model include: 1) examining and understanding the current situation, 2) identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, 3) zoning sub-areas, 4) participatory planning and decision-making, 5) monitoring and evaluation, and 6) adaptive management and conflict resolution. The ideal goals were explained with stakeholder participation, and the proposed model was designed by forming a panel of experts.
Results and Discussion: Based on the results of previous models, one of the challenges in implementing integrated management is the lack of organizational coherence and the absence of a centralized decision-making body. Before presenting the process model for integrated management, a decision-making body called the "Strategic Watershed Management Council" is suggested. This council would consist of governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations, influential political institutions and individuals, universities and research centers, elected representatives of the Islamic councils of the city and village, and a consultant for developing a strategic plan for the watershed's management. This council will be responsible for decision-making, coordination, and supervision, ignoring political borders within the natural boundaries of the area. The council will be formed by the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization of the country for each secondary watershed. To strengthen inter-organizational cohesion, the council's chairmanship will be held by the plenipotentiary representative of the governor, located in the General Directorate of Natural Resources of the province. The organizational chart and implementation process of the proposed integrated watershed management have also been presented to this council. According to this model, after selecting the consultant for developing the strategic plan, and forming the strategic council, the first to fourth steps of the process model are carried out by the consultant in interaction with the strategic council, followed by the completion of the fifth and sixth steps.
Conclusion: Watersheds often have diverse capacities of natural and human resources. However, they suffer from limitations caused by conflicts of interest at different decision-making levels. The results of this research can be used as a suitable, accurate, scientific, and systematic model for comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated management in watersheds and similar areas in the country. Given this potential, it is suggested that the basis of integrated management practices be considered in watersheds. The steps presented in this research provide a suitable approach for watershed management by considering a decision-making institution. Implementing the proposed process model in the watershed area can lead to sustainable watershed governance over five to ten years by influencing key drivers. This model attempts to involve all stakeholders in decision-making, policymaking, planning, and implementing related programs. Therefore, its implementation will reduce environmental destruction and the depletion of basic water and soil resources, ultimately improving the living conditions of watershed residents and the sustainability of these natural ecosystems. The characteristics of this model include: 1) comprehensiveness and inclusiveness of stakeholders, 2) being council-based with real and practical stakeholder participation in all stages, 3) adaptability to different time and place conditions, 4) applicability to similar watersheds in other regions of the country, 5) a cyclic rather than linear nature, and 6) the simplicity of the proposed process.