[Objective] The achievements of the comprehensive management and current issues of small watersheds in the highland region of Loess Plateau were evaluated in order to provide a theoretical basis and practical evidence for high-quality development during the new era of ecological civilization.[Methods] With Wangdonggou small watershed in Changwu County, Shaanxi Province as a study area, the changes in ecological, land productivity, and economic aspects using monitoring data since 1986 at the small watershed, and research findings at different phase during 30-years in the highland region were summarized and analyzed.[Results] There were significantly periodic and phrasal changes of the small watershed during the comprehensive management process. ① Comprehensive management phase(1986-1995):Taking enhancing land productivity as a breakthrough, it was emphasized to increase food production and per capita income. Simultaneously, the comprehensive management of soil and water loss was carried out from tablelands to gullies, and the land was exploited rationally. ② Ecological protection phase(1996-2005):The management of food production and apple industry was updated and upgraded. The ecological environment were protected and improved, then land productivity at the small watershed were further stabilized and improved. ③ High quality development demonstration phase(2006-2019):Wangdonggou watershed was took as a pilot project with studying and demonstrating from the perspective of the development of green and efficient technologies, to explore the technology system suitable for the concentric and high-quality green development of small watershed, thus laying a foundation for the high-quality development of the highland region.[Conclusions] Guided by the concept of ecological civilization, ecological management of watershed and development of technological innovation system must be addressed to realize high-quality development in the region. The ecological quality of human settlements, socio-economic sustainable development, and the harmony and integrity of watershed structures and functions must be considered on the basis of soil and water loss regulation of the highland region of Loess Plateau.