ICEH Papers

ECO SYSTEM APPROACHES TO PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

Ilangovan, Er. M.E. “Eco System Approaches To Planning And Management” in Martin J. Bunch, V. Madha Suresh and T. Vasantha Kumaran, eds., Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Environment and Health, Chennai, India, 15-17 December, 2003. Chennai: Department of Geography, University of Madras and Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. Pages 164 – 168.

Abstract:

Planning is essential for any social development activities. Management is a powerful tool to monitor the planning programme. Planning and management are both sides of a coin useful for any individual development as well Social development. Planning and management so far undertaken by any Government or firm or individual has made positive and negative impacts in our Environment and Natural Resources. The exploitation of natural resources and the environment are being carried out in the name of economic and social development. Conventional planning and management has severely spoiled our water resources, air, land and forests etc. which are the basic resources for the well being of the Earth. But today the damages that have occurred on natural resources and the environment raise the following questions. What is wrong in the existing planning and management programme?, why the rivers and streams are affected?, What is the reason that hundreds of species of plants and animals are disappearing every day? And so on. The continuous degradation of environmental resources has made people more aware of the susceptibility of the Biosphere to human interventions. Hence a new environmental behavior is necessary in which quantitative demands and confrontation must be replaced by qualitative appreciation and co-ordination.

The Ecosystem approach will help in the planning and management programme as a balance must exist between technological development, and the conservation and improvement of the environment. The concepts of sustainable development are generally met with broad international acceptance, insisting us to pay attention to economic efficiency and equity, both with in and between generations. It is possible that both objectives – social and economical development, and conservation and protection of natural eco-systems can be achieved for future generations use with a new broad, scientific, socialistic and environmental planning and management approach in all sectors.

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