Role of hydrology in natural resources conservation and management

Abstract

The main mission of natural resources conservation and management (NRCM) is to restore and protect the productivity of land through technical conservation practices, education, and outreach activities. Pursuit of this mission improves soil health, water quality, air quality, wildlife, wetlands, and local economy; and should promote partnership among farming community, and provincial and central government agencies. In other words, NRCM helps keep the entire ecosystem healthy by keeping farms, ranches, forest lands, rivers, lakes, wetlands, wildlife habitats, and the environment healthy. This is accomplished through planning and execution at the watershed scale or watershed management. Fundamental to watershed management is hydrology and hydrologic modeling. This paper attempts to sketch the role of hydrology in NRCM through watershed management.