The upper catchments of river basins (headwaters) are among the most environmentally sensitive regions on earth. These regions consist of great reserves of natural resources. In headwater catchments across the globe, extensive lakes and wetlands hold exceptional biodiversity and ecosystem values, and in particular, they are an ultimate source of terrestrial freshwater for downstream ecosystems and human communities. Recently, headwater basins have been on the front line of ecological change and pose significant challenges for inventory, land and water research, monitoring, threat mitigation, management, policy and planning.

Important components of headwater systems are remote high-altitude lakes, including both natural lakes with rich biodiversity and man-made multi-purpose water reservoirs (for drinking water supply, irrigation, electricity, recreation etc.). Their biodiversity values and environmental functions are still not well understood. Aside from direct human interventions and sources of point pollution, headwater lakes are affected by aerial pollution (particularly, deposition of elements from the atmosphere), land use change in their catchments, and global climate change. These pressures can be mitigated by the control of atmospheric emissions and modification of the vegetative canopy. Headwater catchments are mostly covered by forests; thus, forestry practices dominate in affecting their environmental characteristics and benefits. The required concepts of multi-resource forestry and protective forests concentrate on green economy and open collaborative watershed management.

Existing headwater wetland research has focused predominantly on their internal attributes, however more attention should be paid to their role in wider watershed contexts. A new and comprehensive inventory of headwater watersheds is urgently required.

Research in headwater regions needs to be reoriented to focus on the tolerances, exchanges, checks and balances within headwater landscapes, catchment-lake interactions, and downstream consequences of catchment and lake processes, impacts and management. There is a need for data based on long-term environmental monitoring, management models and more effective utilization of existing information. The environmentally sound management of headwater catchments requires new policy frameworks, changes in land husbandry, more sensitive technological intervention and the full integration of headwater ecosystems and their values into land and water planning. Application of the concept of sustainable development to these unique catchments and their wetland resources needs more effective systems for community education and strong community participation in the management of headwater lakes and catchments.

The aim of this Research Topic is to address the catchment – lake relationship within headwater regions. Papers are invited on the following topics:
• The processes of precipitation-runoff genesis feeding remote lakes;
• Multidisciplinary studies on climatology, hydrology, catchment management and environmental impact assessment;
• Identification of effective measures for controlling aerial pollution;
• Identification of effective measures for mitigating the effects of global warming;
• Integrated ecological monitoring;
• Integration of headwater ecosystems and their values into land and water planning; and
• Principles of environmentally sound watershed management in accordance with the UN targets on sustainable development.

We, the editorial team would like to thank Prof Hans Schreier for his valuable contributions as a Topic Editor in the conceptualization of this Research Topic. We appreciate his dedication and commitment during his involvement with us on this collection.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Environmental Management of Headwater Lakes and Catchments