The term “watershed” strictly refers to the divide separating one drainage basin from another. However, over the years, the use of the term watershed to signify a drainage basin or catchment area has come to stay. Hydrologically, watershed could be defined as an area from
which the runoff drains through a particular point in the drainage system. Watersheds exist naturally and due to human intervention for agricultural purposes the changed ecology and management practices affect the well equilibrated ecologies. If watersheds are not
managed properly then the natural resources are degraded rapidly and in due course cannot be used for betterment of humans. Soil, water, air, and vegetation are the most important natural resources for the survival of human beings and animals.

For maximum production of vegetation all the resources have to be managed efficiently and effectively. Efficient management of these resources is possible through a suitable unit of management so that these resources are managed and handled effectively, collectively, and simultaneously. Watershed management can be defined as rational utilization of all the natural resources for optimum production to fulfill the present need with minimal degradation of natural resources such as land, water, and environment. Water can be managed if a watershed is taken as a unit. Since soil and vegetation can also be conveniently and efficiently managed in this unit, a watershed is considered the ideal unit for managing the vital resources of soil, water, and vegetation.

In a watershed, people and animals are the integral parts of the watershed community. Humans and animals depend on the watershed for their survival and in turn are responsible for the good or bad use of the resource. Participation of people is essential for the success of watershed programs. Participatory watershed management is a process which aims to create a self-supporting system which is essential for sustainability. The concept of participatory watershed management emphasizes a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional approach. The process begins with the management of soil and water which eventually leads to the development of other resources. Human resource
development and large-scale participation is essential since finally it is the people who have to manage their resources. People’s or farmers’ participation is the key to the success of any integrated watershed development program. Moreover, the watersheds should be used as an entry point for convergence of various natural resource management-based activities for improving the livelihoods rather than soil and water conservation programs.

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