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Cited by 64Complex Systems and Decision MakingEnvironmental Science and Water ManagementCoastal and Marine Management

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 16 of the 16 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Soft Systems Methodology and the Ecosystem Approach: A System Study of the Cooum River and Environs in Chennai, India

BUNCH, MARTIN J.·2003·Environmental Management
DOI 10.1007/s00267-002-2721-8
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Abstract

This paper discusses the integration of soft systems methodology (SSM) within an ecosystem approach in research to support rehabilitation and management of the Cooum River and environs in Chennai, India. The Cooum is an extremely polluted urban stream. Its management is complicated by high rates of population growth, poverty, uncontrolled urban development, jurisdictional conflicts, institutional culture, flat topography, tidal action, blockage of the river mouth, and monsoon flooding. The situation is characterized by basic uncertainty about main processes and activities, and the nature of relationships among actors and elements in the system.SSM is an approach for dealing with messy or ill-structured problematic situations involving human activity. In this work SSM contributed techniques (such as "rich picture" and "CATWOE" tools) to description of the Cooum situation as a socioecological system and informed the approach itself at a theoretical level. Application of three general phases in SSM is discussed in the context of the Cooum River research: (1) problem definition and exploration of the problem situation, (2) development of conceptual models of relevant systems, and (3) the use of these to generate insight and stimulate debate about desirable and feasible change. Its use here gives weight to the statement by others that SSM would be a particularly appropriate methodology to operate the ecosystem approach. As well as informing efforts at management of the Cooum system, this work led the way to explore an adaptive ecosystem approach more broadly to management of the urban environment for human health in Chennai.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00267-002-2721-8

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16 of 16 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • In Chennai, India, buildings face away from the Cooum River, which is one of the most polluted in the world, with more than 300 mg BOD/l.

    “for example, in Chennai, India, buildings are facing away from the Cooum River, which is one of the most polluted in the world, with > 300mg BOD/l-1 [154]”

    From Urban Stream and Wetland Restoration in the Global South—A DPSIR Analysis (2019) · cites this paper as [154]

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Metadata

Authors
BUNCH, M. J.
Affiliations
York University (CA)
Corresponding author
BUNCH, MARTIN J.
ORCID
BUNCH, MARTIN J.
Venue
Environmental Management
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2003-02-01
Volume
31
Issue
2
Pages
182-197
ISSN
  • 0364-152X (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1009
DOI
10.1007/s00267-002-2721-8
OpenAlex
W2020762129
Cited by
64
References
16
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Environmental Management (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Complex Systems and Decision Making
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Environmental Science and Water Management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Coastal and Marine Management
Keywords
soft systems methodology, ecosystem-based management, Cooum River, urban stream pollution, river restoration, social-ecological systems, rich pictures, urban environmental management, human health, adaptive management, Chennai
MeSH terms
Conservation of Natural Resources, Decision Making, Environment Design, India, Water Pollution, Ecosystem

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