ISSN 2375-0936
African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability ISSN: 2375-0936 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 138-143, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Making a case for systems thinking approach to integrated water resources management (IWRM)
Bloodless Dzwairo*, Fred A. O. Otieno and George M. Ochieng
Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Civil Engineering
Department, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Tel: 00-27-734406288. Fax: 0866010893.
Accepted 22 April, 2010
Abstract
While definite benefits could be gained from integrating the management of natural and human systems, taking into account the effects of human activities on the environment, the task of operationalising and implementing this approach in practice represents an enormous challenge. Some limitations highlighted include the definition of IWRM itself, where it appears to be broad, all-encompassing and impressive, but contains ‘‘lofty phrases’’ that have little practical importance for either present or future water management practices. This paper makes recommendations to uptake and incorporate the systems thinking approach (STA) in IWRM decision making processes, an approach envisaged to be more participatory and also process-oriented. Incorporation of socio-economic dynamics is also recommended, with a suggestion that the biophysical relationships like interactions in a basin between water, the human population and settlements should be analysed to the extent possible.
Key words: Operationalising IWRM, socio-economic dynamics, South Africa, systems thinking approach.