A watershed is an area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. The importance of healthy watersheds is explained by John Wesley Powell, scientist geographer:
“that area of land, a bounded hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community”.

Therefore, the animals, the plants, the trees, the insects, the humans and all other living creatures that live on a common watershed are in a symbiotic relationship and depend on each other to ensure that all have access to a healthy environment, including water. What we do on the land affects water quality for all communities living downstream.

Consequently, our activities under the Watershed Development program encompass a range of interventions, in sectors that, if poorly managed, could affect negatively watershed development. These activities include forestry, fodder, soil and water conservation, agriculture, drinking water supply and livelihoods.

We are currently working on developing the Pirna watershed, situated in Bageshwar district. In the past, we also worked on developing the Ghangal Kuluwa watershed, in Nainital District and provided technical support to Grassroot Development Organizations (GDOs) working on watershed development.