Conceptual analysis of integrated watershed management in Río Indio for the natural environment and climate

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in a basin requires the intervention of various disciplines and the active participation of citizens, decision-makers, and all key stakeholders in the watershed. This work proposes to use the conceptual maps methodology as a tool to visualize and understand the management of the Río Indio basin. Although this methodology has been widely applied in other countries, its use for watershed planning in Panama is still scarce. In 2022, González et al. [1] made a general approximation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) using conceptual maps for the Río Grande basin. For this work, the selection of the Río Indio basin is based on the impact it is expected to have as part of the solution to the water scarcity problem faced by the Panama Canal. This basin covers an area of 580 km², and its water resources are used mainly for agriculture, livestock, and human consumption. A problem and solution matrix was designed and applied, based on the Global Water Partnership (GWP) toolbox, to address the main issues within this watershed. Based on this matrix, conceptual maps for each discipline considered in IWRM were developed. These conceptual maps demonstrated the interconnections and relationships among the elements within each IWRM discipline. This simplified visualization facilitates understanding and applying the necessary measures for designing watershed management plans.