The article discusses the critical importance of globally sustainable watershed development amidst increasing anthropogenic pressures and environmental changes. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive research that intersects water engineering advancements with sustainable development, particularly in understanding environmental impacts on water supply, biodiversity, and food security. It introduces the concept of Environmentally Oriented Watershed Sustainable Development (EOWSD) and highlights the importance of distinguishing various EOWSD issues across different geographical zones.
The study categorizes EOWSD issues in 62 global watersheds and uses a zoning approach based on environmental variables to map and analyze these issues. It finds significant interactions between climate variation and vegetation growth affecting watershed sustainability. The research shows that while human activities and water engineering significantly influence local watershed conditions, they do not uniformly impact EOWSD issue distribution globally. Instead, environmental changes, especially from climate evolution, play a considerable role.
Future scenarios predict shifts in geographical zones due to climate change, necessitating adjustments in water management approaches. Ultimately, the article calls for interdisciplinary research to enhance sustainable watershed management strategies informed by a thorough understanding of local and global environmental dynamics.
