Educational and Research Programs to Develop Sustainable Watershed Management

Abstract

The educational objective of the study program for watershed management (SPWM) at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) is to develop professionalism and deepen graduates' understanding of basic, applied and advanced sciences so that they may: a) identify watershed characteristics and functional linkages of the components, b) identify problems in watershed systems, c) formulate integrated watershed management plans to increase productivity, stability and sustainabilty of natural resources, and d) carry out both interdisciplinary and highly specialized research (IPB, 2008).
The main competencies required of graduates of the master of science program are: (a) capability to manage watersheds through problem identification and quantification of land management issues in watershed areas (i.e., floods, droughts, erosion and sedimentation, reduction of land productivity), (b) capability to identify and measure the effect of watershed management strategies and techniques designed to overcome problems stemming from the misuse of land resources, and (c) capability to design sustainable watershed managment plans. For doctorate programs, the target competency is the ability to identify and answer gaps in scientific knowledge so as to improve the planning and application of strategic watershed management for maintaining sustainable watershed resources.
Integrated watershed management and sustainable agriculture are explicitly described in the curriculum of SPWM through subjects that include: soil and water conservation; analysis of hydrological systems; land use planning; sustainable agricultural systems; water resource planning; watershed management; and watershed management technology, strategy, and policy.
The majority of research efforts have been directed at maintaining and increasing watershed functions to support the dynamics of life, incorporating ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Projects have been designed to: (a) select soil and water conservation technologies (site specific), (b) explore several indigenous integrated conservation farming systems, (c) study land use change, (d) design watershed management plans, (e) minimize flooding (magnitude and frequency), (f) increase water availability (spatially and temporally), (g) estimate the effects of floods and flood mitigation, (h) increase and develop institutional roles in watershed management, and (i) develop and apply hydrological and erosion models. Sustainability indicators examined in these research programs have included enhanced farmer outcomes (economic viability), increased adoption of technology by farmers using locally available resources (technologically appropriate), and no significant degradation of natural resources (ecologically friendly).