This project seeks to promote effective implementation of integrated watershed management (IWMA) thereby enhancing local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and partners’ research capacity. The project seeks to overcome problems of: (1) Limited adoption of integrated approaches to land and water resource management due to inadequate guidelines and institutional arrangements at the local level;(2) Biodiversity and hydrological function threats resulting in the loss of many species of wild food resources due to conflicting uses; (3) Conflicting policy and regulation frameworks. The project complements current research initiatives (under AgFor and Kanoppi Projects), leveraging existing social capital and building upon key recommendations. Project objectives include:(1) Assessment of a variety of institutional arrangements for more effective IWMA; (2) Development of approaches for implementation of landscape-level biodiversity conservation in remaining natural ecosystems that are key habitats of endemic endangered plant and animal species; (3) Promotion of IWMA for enhancing local livelihoods supported by policy and regulation frameworks at national and local levels based on good governance principles. Participatory action research will be the main research approach employed to ensure engagement with key stakeholders, capacity development and greater impact of project objectives. Adaptive co-management will also be integrated into the project design as an approach for governance of social- ecological systems.