Nature-Positive Watershed Management Strategies for Enhanced Carbon Sequestration: A Case Study of Watersheds in Maharashtra, India

The global need for sustainable natural resource management and climate mitigation has highlighted the significance of nature-positive watershed management strategies for climate change mitigation. Carbon sequestration is one of the prudent steps in climate change mitigation. So, the study was conducted in the Chichondi village of Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, focusing on two distinct watersheds: Watershed 1 (136 ha) and Watershed 2 (63 ha). The region experiences a tropical monsoon climate with an average annual rainfall of 1,740 mm. Both watersheds were treated with diverse soil and water conservation measures, including deep Continuous Contour Trenches (CCT), contour bunding, recharge pits and farm ponds. These treatments were implemented on about 30% of the area for both watersheds. The primary objectives were to assess soil and carbon loss and evaluate the impact of watershed development measures on carbon sequestration. Soil loss was estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), while carbon loss was measured through sediment yield using total organic carbon (TOC) analyser. Runoff and sediment were measured using installed weirs and stage-level recorders at watershed outlets. Key findings demonstrated the efficacy of implemented conservation measures. In Watershed 1, soil loss reduced from 32.63 t/ha/yr to 26.73 t/ha/yr (18% reduction) and carbon loss decreased from 554 kg/ha/yr to 412 kg/ha/yr (25% reduction). Watershed 2 exhibited a similar trend, with soil loss decreasing from 30.82 t/ha/yr to 24.65 t/ha/yr (20% reduction) and carbon loss reducing from 612 kg/ha/yr to 479 kg/ha/yr (22% reduction). Over a five-month period, Watershed 1 recorded a runoff volume of 10,29,792 m³, corresponding to a cumulative carbon loss of 19.35 tonnes (142.4 kg/ha), whereas Watershed 2 experienced a runoff of 4,31,068 m³, with a cumulative carbon loss of 8.04 tonnes (126.6 kg/ha). The outcomes affirm that nature-positive interventions in watershed management significantly reduce soil erosion and enhance carbon sequestration. These conservation measures not only conserve soil and water resources but also mitigate carbon loss, contributing to climate resilience. The findings provide data-driven insights for policymakers, enabling the promotion of sustainable, climate-adaptive solutions in similar agro-ecological regions. This research underscores the transformative potential of watershed management programs, advocating for broader implementation of nature-positive solutions to achieve dual goals of natural resource sustainability and climate change mitigation.