Case studies on environmental governance are essential to improve comprehension on howto implement international agreements. This study focuses on seven social safeguards relevant toREDD+. The existence of these social safeguards is examined in Mexico’s watershed managementprogram in La Sierra Madre and La Costa of Chiapas. The watershed management program is anotherPayment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme similar to REDD+. Questionnaires and interviews wereused to conduct primary research with participants of the water management program. Upon theexamination of the collected data the safeguards were analysed on their sufficiency for REDD+.REDD+ itself could not be examined as it is still in the stage of preparation at the time of the research.Results varied between each safeguards. A complaint mechanism does exist but is underutilized andgenerally dysfunctional. Local knowledge is considered and used as the watershed managementprogram has a flat hierarchy of decision-making. However this is only the case at the lowestinstitutional level of the Comités de Cuenca. The higher the level the less likely it is that localknowledge will be considered. This is reflected in the social safeguard of full and effectiveparticipation, which is only fulfilled at the lowest level. There are no barriers to participation when itcomes to implementing and evaluating the mechanism on a local scale. However the design of it isdone on institutional levels beyond the reach of locals. The application of free, prior and informedconsent is upheld within the mechanism, as everyone participates by his or her own free choice.Marginalized stakeholders such as women, indigenous people and youth are also free to participate;unfortunately, little is done to encourage them to do so. As a result few to none are present, turning theComités de Cuenca into decision-making bodies for comparably wealthy and influential citizens at thelocal scale. The benefits acquired from the mechanism mostly go to e.g. work-committees where muchof the funds are distributed as income to temporary workers from the local community. According toparticipants of the Comités and managers alike, the decision-making process is equal to the waydecisions were made before the arrival of the mechanism.It could be observed that some social safeguards are in place, however, none of them sufficiently forREDD+. In regards to implementation of REDD+ the most challenging social safeguard will be theconcept of “free, prior and informed consent”. This holds true as long as REDD+ will be implementednationally. If that will be the case the government would have to convince locals across the country toparticipate in REDD+, including those that already announced their opposition in the Declaration ofPatihuitz (Declaration of Patihuitz 2011). Without legitimization there will be little participation andcommitment on the side of local people, which is crucial to make REDD+ work. Hence it isrecommended that the mechanism takes a process-oriented focus in order to legitimize the mechanism. / implement international agreements. At the 16th Climate Change Conference, the United Nationsformally agreed to launch a new Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme called ReducingEmission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). Controversy exists concerning socialand environmental safeguards, which are additional rules aimed at preventing harm to civil society andnature. This study focuses on seven social safeguards that could be identified through a review ofinternational law. These are: complaint mechanism; consideration and usage of local knowledge; fulland effective participation; application of free, prior and informed consent; inclusion of marginalizedstakeholders; equitable benefit-sharing; and the use of traditional methods for decision-making.This study examines the existence of these social safeguards in Mexico’s watershed managementprogram of La Sierra Madre and La Costa of Chiapas. The watershed management program is anotherPES scheme similar to REDD+. Questionnaires and interviews were used as a means to conductprimary research with participants of the water management program. Upon the examination of thecollected data the safeguards were analysed on their sufficiency for REDD+. REDD+ itself could notbe examined as it is still in the stage of preparation at the time of the research.It could be observed that some social safeguards are in place, however, none of them sufficiently forREDD+. In regards to the implementation of REDD+ the most challenging social safeguard will be theconcept of “free, prior and informed consent”. This holds true as long as REDD+ will be implementednationally. If that will be the case the government would have to convince locals across the country toparticipate in REDD+, including those that already announced their opposition in the Declaration ofPatihuitz (Declaration of Patihuitz 2011).As REDD+ is another governmental mechanism it needs to fulfil specific requirements in theChiapanecan context in order to function properly. One of the most important foundations is to createtrust between stakeholders which has been lost during decades of conflict and corruption. This trust canbe established by committing to the guidelines of the social safeguards with particular focus on theinclusion of marginalized stakeholders and transparency. Hence it is recommended that the mechanismtakes a process-oriented focus in order to legitimize the mechanism. Without legitimization there willbe little participation and commitment from local people, which is crucial to make REDD+ work.

In the process of pursuing economic growth as the national target for a long time, Taiwan has created an economic miracle but sacrificed ecological environmental sources. With increasing higher living standards, more living space is demanded such that providing clean and green spaces along riverbanks in addition to offering security becomes another important mission. In recent years, the global thinking of sustainable development has demanded more ecological and environmental protection such that efficient management of waters along river, drainage and seacoast will be emphasized tasks of watershed management. The main objective of pollution investigation and quantity estimation in Chiang-Chun River watershed is to effectively comprehend the sources of pollution to assist in establishing the water quality model to be used in simulation. The QUAL2E model developed by the US EPA is used to carried out estimating the carrying capacity of Chiang-Chun River, and drafting pollution control measures and waste reduction strategies so that the objective of improving Chiang-Chun River¡¦s water quality can be achieved. Chiang-Chun River has long been subjected to pollutions from industrial and domestic waste discharges resulting in serious water quality deterioration. Additionally the waste discharge from manufacturing plants along the creek has made the pollution even worse. Hence, various environmental protection authorities have actively promoted the checking and controlling industrial and pig-farming wastewater discharges and established a mechanism encouraging local residents to participate in the watershed pollution prevention and control. These measures will not only alleviate the water pollution in Chiang-Chun River with limited resources but also achieve the purpose of communing local residents and the river. V The livestock wastewater is currently treated in three-stage system including solid-liquid separation, anaerobic treatment and aerobic treatment. With good management, the effluent is expected to meet discharge standards. However, since most pig farmers, who may try to save costs, have not efficiently managed the treatment facility so that the treated effluent does not meet the standards. If directly discharged into surface bodies, the improperly treated effluent will cause serious pollution problems. A natural treatment and water purification system is currently being promoted. If implemented in the three-stage treatment system, the natural system (aquatic treatment system) will achieve energy savings, lower the difficulty to operate the treatment system and reduce the operation and maintenance costs. Additionally, effluent quality can be improved such that the possibility of water reuse is also expected. Providing adequate treatment for domestic wastewater requires the construction of sewage system, which is costly and may take a long time to complete. Additionally, since most residents are scattered in the watershed, the construction of conventional sewage system to collect domestic wastewater is not cost-effective. Hence, the natural system, e.g. constructed wetland, is proposed as the major method for treating the wastewater discharged from communities and for achieving water reuse such that multiple-functional benefits can be reached. Additionally, the concept and tasks of water pollution prevention and control can be deeply rooted in the community development so that a community possessing the capability of water self-purification and sustainable application is developed.

Abstract In Taiwan, non-point source (NPS) pollution is one of the major causes of the impairment of surface waters. The Kaoping River Basin is the largest and the most intensively used river basin in Taiwan. In the Kaoping River Basin, most of the upper catchment is used for agricultural activities including cropland and livestock farming. In this study, I-Liao Creek watershed, one the major sub-basin of Kaoping River Basin, was selected to study the impact of NPS pollution on river water quality. An integrated watershed management model was applied to investigate potential NPS pollution management plans in the I-Liao Creek watershed. Based on the results from the field investigation and model simulation, the overall ammonia-nitrogen loading to the I-Liao Creek watershed was approximately 92,117 kg/year. The following remedial strategies have been taken to reduce the impacts of NPS pollution on the water quality of Kaoping River and I-Liao Creek: application of best management practice for NPS pollutant control; application of natural treatment systems for stormwater runoff treatment; and construction of the watershed geographical information system (GIS) and real time water quality monitoring system to effectively manage the watershed. Linking land utilization information with the NPS pollution simulation model may further provide essential information of pollution potential of NPS pollution for all sub-regions in the river basin. Experience obtained from this study will be helpful in designing the watershed management and pollution control strategies for other similar river basins.

The Kaoping River watershed is the largest and the most intensively used river basin in Taiwan. It is 171-km long, drains a catchment of more than 3,250 km2. Both point and non-point source (NPS) pollutants are now the causes of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nutrients, and suspended solids (SS) in the river. The main water pollution sources are livestock wastewater from hog farms, municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, and NPS pollutants from agricultural areas. After the implementation of the hog ban in the Drinking Water and Source Water Protection Area (DWSWPA), all of the half million hogs have been removed or relocated in 2001. Thus, the municipal wastewater and NPS pollutants become the major concerns after 2001. In this study, the potential NPS pollution sources located in the Kaoping River watershed are investigated. Investigation results show that there are 827 potential pollution incidents, which cover 2,610 hectors in the Kaoping River watershed. Orchard farms are the major potential pollutant sources, which cover 60% of the total area of the potential pollutant sources. Moreover, results reveal that mango and betel palm farms dominated the illegal farmland areas, and are scattered around the river corridors. Field investigations indicate that major BOD, total phosphate (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and SS loadings came from the betel palm and orchard farms. The calculated total loadings of BOD, TP, TN, and SS are 69,000, 9,200, 58,500, and 487,500 kg/yr, respectively. Among the four major reaches (Lo-Non, Chi-San, Chu-Ko, and I-Lao creeks), the Lo-Non creek discharge the major pollutant loadings into the Kaoping River. Thus, the highest degree of protection is given to the Lo-Non creek. An integrated watershed management model was applied to investigate potential NPS pollution management plans in the Kaoping River watershed. Based on the results from the field investigation and model simulation, the following remedial strategies have been taken to reduce the impacts of NPS pollution on the water quality of Kaoping River: application of best management practice for NPS pollutant control; application of natural treatment systems for stormwater runoff treatment; and construction of the watershed geographical information system (GIS) and real time water quality monitoring system to effectively manage the watershed. Linking land utilization information with the NPS pollution simulation model may further provide essential information of pollution potential of NPS pollution for all sub-regions in the river basin. Results and experience obtained from this study will be helpful in designing the watershed management and NPS pollution control strategies for the Kaoping River watershed and other similar river basins.

In Taiwan increasing importance has recently been attached to non-point source pollution(NPS), primarily because of the deteriorated water quality and eutrophication of reservoir watershed that it can result in non-point source pollution. This study aims to understand the non-point source pollution load resulting from a large rain storm event in the Mu-dan Reservoir watershed. Most of the upper catchment of the Mu-dan Reservoir watershed is used for agricultural activities. This study established a database for the Mu-dan Reservoir watershed by using IWMM (Integrated Watershed Management Model), delineated for sub-watershed, and investigate the serious NPS pollution in the Mu-dan Reservoir watershed. Mu-dan Creek watershed and Ru-Reng Creek watershed, two the major sub-watersheds of the Mu-dan Reservoir watershed. A Geographic Information System (GIS) that was established in the watershed to (monitor OR gather) geographic parameter data was used IWMM to simulate the impact of NPS pollution on river water quality in the Mu-dan Creek and Ru-Reng Creek watersheds in 2003 and 2006. The simulation results by IWMM were applied to examine the potential of NPS pollution management plans in the Mu-dan Reservoir watershed. The simulation results for the Mu-dan Reservoir watershed during 2003 were as follows: the total pollutant load of ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) nearly 65699.4 kg/year, and the total pollutant load of nitrate ¡Vnitrogen (NO3-N) nearly 91100.5 kg/year. Meanwhile, the results for 2006 were as follows: the total pollutant load of ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) nearly 48168.1 kg/year, and the total pollutant load of nitrate ¡Vnitrogen (NO3-N) nearly43962.7kg/year. The simulation results addressed remedial strategies adopted to reduce the impact of NPS pollution on water quality, apply natural treatment systems for stormwater runoff treatment, and apply best management practice to control NPS pollutants. Finally, this study hopes make progress towards effective management of watersheds. KEYWORDS: Integrated watershed management model; non-point source pollution; BMPs

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-263).

Thesis--Auburn University, 2010. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references (p.94-113).

Watershed governance is an increasingly important policy area in the United States. Understanding what design elements of institutional arrangements tend to improve the outcomes of such governance is a major theoretical challenge. When governments cooperate at the regional level to govern shared use of watersheds that cross jurisdictional boundaries, how they do so is variable. This dissertation examines an apparently successful case of watershed governance, the New York City watershed governance arrangement, to understand to what degree it is integrative and reflective of broader federal structures and processes of governance. The results support the proposition that robust regional natural resource governance in a federal bargain includes mechanisms of correcting opportunistic behaviors, responding to natural phenomena, and institutional adaptation in the face of both.

It is difficult to assess rangeland management practices at a hillslope scale because of the spatial and temporal variability of ecohydrological processes across a landscape. The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) aims to provide a cost-effective method for quantifying benefits of conservation practices on rangelands. This study uses the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) to develop a framework to assess rangeland management practices by quantifying sediment yield and runoff. Kaler Ranch, located in Eastern Arizona, was used as a study site because of their recently implemented rangeland conservation practices. Vegetation parameters were developed based on field data collected across the ranch and used to represent various rangeland management scenarios in RHEM. Peak flow and sediment yield rates were determined for each scenario using RHEM and were used as metrics to evaluate rangeland condition. RHEM provided an adequate method to evaluate the relative differences between upland rangeland management scenarios; however, it was less effective at evaluating changes in management practices within a riparian area.

9 pp. / The Using Watershed Assessments to Inform Planning for Rural Watersheds publication provides a process for developing a baseline watershed assessment. In this guide we provide recommendations for engaging with stakeholders to assess natural resource conditions, as well as basic information to collect to create a baseline assessment. Watershed planning is not a simple, quick process. This guide addresses just the first steps of building a watershed assessment– understanding the current conditions and issues facing your watershed. Beyond the watershed assessment phase is the hard work of utilizing the information from the assessment, along with the results of additional stakeholder feedback, to develop an actual watershed plan. This guide provides an outline of how to complete the watershed assessment portion of your watershed planning effort, but does not provide a detailed step-by-step process. Rather, this document is intended as a resource to help guide you in your efforts by providing suggestions based on real-world watershed planning experience.