Land use policy in headwater catchments

Headwaters are the low order catchments found on the upper margins of river basins. Designing effective land use policies for headwater areas is challenged by uncertainties related to changes in environmental, political and socio-economic circumstances, and by extreme events. This special headwater issue explores the changing relationships between the endogenous and external drivers of land use change and how inappropriate policy frameworks contribute to deficient land use management. Case studies highlight how headwater services, notably water supply, when overexploited or mismanaged become major sources of social, political and environmental stress, leading to conflict and land abandonment and also how land abandonment may positively affect ecosystem services. Case studies also highlight how present short-termism and 'tunnel vision' lead to inaccurate research results and poor environmental management and also how the mind-set driving such problems might be resolved by the conative education of future generations. Effective headwater management and the sustainable utilisation of headwater services is a long term, whole system, whole landscape process.