Replicating models of institutional innovations for devolved, participatory watershed management

Watershed management is one the focal issues in the debate about sustainable development. Contemporary innovations in watershed management focus on involving community people in the protection and conservation of these resources, using a variety of participatory approaches. Use of participatory watershed management began in the Philippines after passage of the decentralizing, devolving Local Government Code (LGC) in 1991, which provides the legal framework for local governments to initiate institutional innovations. Although the number of LGUs proactively responding to environmental and resource degradation issues is increasing, the majority remain complacent about their devolved responsibilities in NRM. This led us to search for ways of understanding the methodological and policy hurdles impinging successful watershed management.