This article by Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain in ILIEA newsletter discusses some of the water harvesting initiatives and explores how community-led natural resource management can be facilitated. India is in water crisis despite its relatively high average rainfall. Water harvesting can offer a solution. If 5-10% of the land were used for rainwater collection there would be enough water for irrigation and household needs. Recent initiatives, both at community and government level, have made use of long-neglected water harvesting traditions. The results show that reviving water harvesting systems stimulate rural development and restores local ecosystems.

The potential of water harvesting is enormous. The cases mentioned here show that improvements begin with increases in the quality and productivity of croplands as available water increases. This leads to better grass production from the local grasslands and slowly increased production of fodder and timber resources from tree and forestlands. But for water harvesting to support sustainable rural development, there will have to be a change in the governance of water systems.

Decentralized systems of water management are needed. These in turn demand a community-based system of natural resource management. The only way this objective can be achieved is by deepening systems of participatory democracy and expanding people’s participation at village-level. Every settlement must have a clearly and legally defined environment to protect, care for and use. It must also have an open forum in which all can get together to discuss problems and work to common solutions.

By strengthening and emphasising the importance of open forums, common solutions and common natural resources, the developing world can make a determined bid to revive dying community spirit and to rebuild its devastated environment.

Read the case study here