Opportunities and Challenges Associated with Watershed-Scale Assessments of Soil and Water Quality

Excerpt

As Conservationists move forward into the 21st Century, we are faced with, greater and greater challenges to balance the productivity, sustainability, and environmental outcomes which result from our efforts to be good stewards of our soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources. Globally, we are challenged by an ever-increasing demand for more high-quality food, feed, and fiber to provide current and future generations with opportunities equal to or better than those available during the latter half of the 20th Century. These demands, however, must be met without the benefit of a “New World” that can supply an untapped wealth of soil, water, and air resources. We must increase global productivity while sustaining our current natural resource base. To do so requires a complete awareness of the environmental impact of all our resource management strategies. Achieving this awareness among ourselves and the customers, stakeholders, and clients whom we serve will require a more holistic or “systems-approach” when addressing our soil and water conservation challenges.

My goal as Guest Editor for this issue the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (JSWC) is to promote a better awareness and understanding of the research and technology transfer …