Integrated watershed management has come to be recognized internationally as an important holistic approach to natural resources management, which seeks to promote the concept of sustainable development. Such an integrated approach has been recommended in Agenda 21 for all sectors dealing with the development and management of water resources. The present publication was initiated as part of the ongoing effort of the Water Resources Section of ESCAP towards the sustainable, integrated development of the water resource systems of the region. Such effort requires a systematic and strategic integration of water resources development and management activities into the social and economic development process. In that context, sustainable land use forms an overall planning framework, whilst sound land-use planning concepts, together with the adoption of appropriate land-use practices, provide key guidelines for land and water resources development and management, which should be undertaken with the integrated objectives of reducing natural disasters, boosting productivity and achieving sustainable development.

The publication also attempts to make an overall, state-of-the-art review of appropriate land-use practices, in order to provide key information about watershed management and hazard assessment techniques as a basis for establishing future land-use options. In addition, the publication includes some details and references regarding advanced planning techniques.