Water in Sustainable Landscapes
Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS
Our Work Overseas
About Water in Sustainable Landscapes
WHAT WE DO
CRS supports U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 6, (advocates for application of the principles of integrated water resources management to achieve economic development, social equity, and environmental sustainability), recognizing the vital role that water plays for resilience and human development. We do this by working at the nexus of sustainable agriculture, watershed management, and water supply to support governments, partners, communities and all stakeholders. CRS adopts and applies integrated, improved and gender-responsive land and water resource management for more resilient and equitable agriculture systems and improved water security.
Drip irrigation system and crop diversification supported by RAICES project in Opatoro, Honduras. Before CRS intervention, the only thing García family planted was corn and beans and only in the wet season. Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS
HOW WE DO IT
We advocate for application of the principles of integrated water resources management by promoting and applying water- and climate-smart agriculture practices, deploying soil restoration and agriculture techniques that maximize water efficiency and productivity at both farm and landscape scales, while emphasizing and advocating for investment in rain-fed agriculture systems.
We support investments in nature-based solutions (e.g., increasing “green” water) to improve water retention in the soil, to stabilize and restore land, and, to increase water flow quantity and quality that support human development and the environment. CRS promotes source water protection action, so that users consider water cycle implications and establish socio-ecological protection mechanisms. We with local communities to convene stakeholders to collectively assess watershed health, identify critical areas of interventions and resource mobilization to provide truly sustainable solutions that increase production, improve water for human health and mitigate climate change.
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Research & Publications
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Papers/Reports
Agriculture Landscape Restoration
Working Definition of AGRICULTURE LANDSCAPE RESTORATION
The Agriculture Landscape Restoration Initiative is a long-term agricultural development program in western El Salvador, in the Department of Ahuachapan. Locally, the program is called “Raíces Ahuachapan.” Program partners developed a working definition of “agriculture landscape restoration,” which will serve to shape strategy and communications for More
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Evaluations/Assessments
Assessment of the "Wellness and Agriculture for Life Advancement" project in southern Malawi
How watershed development is affecting food security in rural Malawi
Learn about the impact of watershed development on rural household food security and resiliency in southern Malawi. More
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Guidelines
Pocket Guide 3: Managing Water Resources
This pocket guide is written for field agents working in agricultural extension. The concepts, information and practices in these guides are meant to support their work with farm families in helping them to reduce their risks from changes in the weather. More
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Papers/Reports
Agriculture and Environment Interventions in Support of HIV and AIDS Programming
Little practical advice exists on how agriculture and environment interventions can strengthen HIV and AIDS prevention and mitigation programs. This paper provides some ideas and options for integrating those programming sectors. More
