Rapid Hydrological Appraisal (RHA): An Integrated Approach to Assess Watershed Functions and Management Options

The circulation of water through rainfall, evapotranspiration, river and groundwater flows and its storage as clean, freshwater is essential for life. Protecting the cycling and storage is at the heart of 'watershed functions'. In practice, however, watershed management can mean different things in different situations, to different stakeholders. There is still a lack of clear criteria on the functions that can be expected from 'good' watersheds in a given climate and landscape, and of indicators of the hydrological functions that can be used to adjust management. In some interpretations 'watershed management' includes the totality of livelihood options and management of vegetation cover. We focus here on the 'hydrological' subset that relates directly to water flows.