The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) held the first International Training Course on Participatory Integrated Watershed Management from October 5 to 15th 2009 at Godavari, Kathmandu, Nepal. There were total 20 participants who came from total 12 countries, such as Afghanistan, Burma, and Bhutan and so on. Dr. FAN Jihui from the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, CAS was invited to participate this training.

The purpose of this training course was to enhance the conceptual and practical knowledge of participants in participatory integrated watershed management. In addition, participants was expected to learn how to identify appropriate strategies to address sustainability issues in participatory integrated watershed management, and learn to analyze and prepare community-based integrated watershed management plans.

The course lasted for 11 days and was structured around the following modules.

Module 1: Introduction to participatory integrated watershed management. Analysis of the role, importance and issues of participatory watershed management and familiarization with conservation technologies and strategies.

Module 2: Familiarization with the processes and issues involved while working with communities in participatory integrated watershed management.

Module 3: Introduction to integrated watershed management planning with communities. Basic knowledge of different tools for the community-based integrated watershed management planning.

Module 4: Introduction to the enabling framework for participatory integrated watershed management such as policy, local governance, and payment for ecosystem services. 

The course used a participatory training approach throughout. Classroom lectures were complemented by field visits and group exercises.