This study aimed at conducting the followings activities:
• To survey and identify the flora at the Mharib watershed (the intervention area of the Badia Benchmark Project),
• to study the effect of microcatchment WH techniques on the soil seed bank compared with the current situation,
• to evaluate the effect of microcatchment WH on the native vegetation regeneration and improvement, and
• to multiply and reintroduce the annual native plant species collected from the rangelands.
The study is presented in five main sections:

In 2004, ICARDA began strategic visioning, driven by the global focus on achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the realignment of the CGIAR System priorities by the Science Council. It involved, among other actions, a consolidation of the 19 research projects into six mega-projects for better integration of the Center’s multidisciplinary teams, and an increased use of new tools of science in addressing the problems of poverty and degradation of natural resources.

The study was conducted in El-Serw (New Alexandria) located about 32 km south of Damietta, Damietta Governorate, El-Manzala Lake is to the east, Dakahlia Governorate lies to the south, and to the west are El-Sharqawia canal and the Nile River.
The selected site has the general characteristics of marginal lands:
• Drainage system problems;
• High water table;
• Increased soil salinity;
• Seawater intrusion;
• Pollution due to extensive use of chemicals; low water quality;
• Available water increases relatively in winter;

ICARDA witnessed several important developments in 2006. Of these, the Fifth External Program and Management Review (EPMR) was the most significant, as it provided a comprehensive assessment of the Center's global activities, as well as new insights and dimensions that helped refine ICARDA's new Strategic Plan for 2007- 2016. The EPMR coincided with a transition in the governance and leadership of ICARDA.

This research report addresses researchers, farmers, decision and policy makers and public and private organizations involved in land and water development in the Karkheh River Basin (KRB) of Iran.

The study of soils is important for landuse planning, agriculture, and natural resource development programs. Determination of soil characteristics and limitations is one of the most important duties of soil researchers. This report presents a semi-detailed soil survey of Merek watershed in Kermanshah Province, and Honam watershed in Lorestan Province, Iran. It is hoped that the analyses and recommendations will be of value to those interested in the optimum use of Iran’s land and water resources.

This report is a summary report for Agricultural Production Systems and Resource Management in Zone 2 in Syria survey of the Farm Resource Management project.

CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food - Improving livelihood resilience by integrated natural resource management in upper catchments of dry areas (pn24) and improving on-farm agricultural water productivity in the Karkheh River Basin (pn8).

Research Report no. 4 of the CPWF project: Improving on-farm agricultural water productivity in the Karkheh river basin (PN8).

The Badia constitutes about 90% of the total land area of Jordan, which is 89 342 km2. Its average annual rainfall is < 200 mm. The area with annual rainfall of 100–200 mm is considered the promising rangeland for rehabilitation. The Badia (part of the rangeland) supplies the livestock sector with about 20% of forage needs, while all the other sources provide the sector with only about 5% of forage.

A two-day international workshop on “Improving Water Productivity and Livelihood Resilience in Karkheh River Basin” was jointly organized by ICARDA and AREO 10-11 September, 2007 in Karaj, Iran, and the presentations are compiled in the proceedings. The presentations at the workshop focused on integrated and participatory approach to technology development in addressing water productivity and livelihood resilience. It underscored the importance of sustainable development without endangering the ecological assets of fragile ecosystems in this region.

How suitable an area is for WH depends on local society, farming practices, and whether the area meets the basic technical requirements of the WH system in question. When planning such systems, appropriate data must be available on the climate, soil, crops, topography, and socioeconomics of the project area. The available tools and methods of data acquisition for planning, designing, and implementing WH systems, include field visits, site inspections, topographic and thematic maps, aerial photos, satellite images, and geographic information systems (GIS) must also be considered.