ADB Grant for Catchment Approach to Managing Soil Erosion in Asia. Knowledge of land use and soil erosion control in Asia will be increased by the Catchment Approach to Managing Soil Erosion in Asia project for which the Asian Development Bank today approved a US$1.3 million technical assistance grant.

"Unless people make investments in soil conservation now," says Frits Penning de Vries, Leader of IWMI's research on smallholder water and land management, "there is little doubt that many countries will find themselves facing serious degradation of fragile upland areas as these are developed for agriculture.

There are several examples of very rich ancient, traditional and some recent participatory experiences in watershed management which have facilitated development of cultures in the process or which used traditions and culture for sustainable watershed management in Asia.