Delivering integrated catchment management through the bottom-up approach: a critical analysis

Abstract

Managing our water is essential to support life and protect our ecosystems. Integrated catchment management= (ICM) is about bringing water issues, people and organisations together at the right scale in order to achieve effective management solutions that benefit all stakeholders. It incorporates what legislation says we need to do (i.e. from the top down) with the aspirations of the community (i.e. from the bottom up). It integrates environmental, economic and social issues within a catchment into a coherent management strategy. Expert guidance can help communities to participate in the development and implementation of an agreed vision of sustainable land and water use for their catchment.