Ecosystem services comprise supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural services and forests contribute to all these categories. The services provided by forests in head watersheds range, among others, from erosion control, clean water to biodiversity and recreation. These multiple roles and the high sensitivity of head watersheds to environmental and socioeconomic changes encompass the need of balancing the different demands on forests by sustainable forest management. A shared understanding of how watershed management activities contribute to mitigate adverse impacts of these changes, as well as a sustainable use of the ecosystem services provided by forests is required.

In this session the Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds wants to highlight the importance of these services, and show best practice examples on how to balance this provision and use.