The atmosphere, water, ocean, land, forests, biodiversity, and social systems are all interconnected ecosystems on Earth. These complex systems are not only constantly in flux, but they also have a symbiotic and often precarious relationship and interdependence with one another.
However, this dynamic interdependence and engagement can become unbalanced at times, resulting in unwanted friction and unexpected consequences. Deforestation in the tropics, for example, has an immediate impact on regional climate but also causes long-term climatic variations in completely different regions around the world. When this critical interdependence becomes unbalanced or disrupted, the consequences are frequently unwelcome and devastating.
Considering water in terms of systems
When focusing on nature conservation initiatives, it is critical to understand these complex problems from a systems thinking perspective, not only to solve them but also to avoid them in the first place. Systems thinking is an approach to understanding and assessing the structure, dynamics, and interactions among the various systems that shape the world, such as physical elements, institutions, society, and mental models, as they interact and co-evolve to co-create the world around us.
A system contains both the causes of its success and failure, and if the system issues are addressed correctly, it is possible to solve more than one problem at the same time. It is also necessary to identify the precise leverage points within a system for this. Only if an intervention or innovation does not create new problems will it be effective and sustainable.
Water is essential to life and is essential to nature conservation. Freshwater, in particular, is a scarce natural resource. Freshwater ecosystems are critical for human survival because they provide a significant source of drinking water; they are also the lifeblood of local eco-systems and the native flora and fauna they support. However, water conservation is a complex problem because there are several potential causes/drivers, such as unsustainable consumption patterns, pollution, loss of green cover, and so on, that can be a hindrance.
Analyzing the complex problems of water conservation, which are exacerbated by climate change, using a systems thinking approach can assist practitioners and innovators in breaking down the complex system into smaller processes and addressing the root causes rather than addressing the problem superficially.
One of the examples to understand different systems and their interactions is to appreciate how the introduction of wolves’ in Yellowstone National Park had a cascading and beneficial effect upon the entire ecosystem including the rivers that flow through the park.
Managing Difficult Water Issues
The success of water conservation projects is dependent on identifying leverage points and analyzing the various systems and their ongoing interactions. Anthropological practices are critical to comprehending and resolving this issue. It is critical to comprehend and analyze feedback loops.
A thorough understanding of the water cycle, drainage patterns, and the identification of recharge (leverage) points can all play an important role in groundwater recharge in integrated water resource management. Even if this is done perfectly using the best scientific methods and nature-based solutions, if one fails to build community ownership, understand local culture, recognize the social system, and implement sustainable approaches to behavioral change, the results will be limited at best, and all investments will be wasted.
Often, projects tend to address complex water conservation problems in isolation by ignoring the feedback network that connects different ecosystems – this results in “unanticipated events”. Project implementers/innovators must understand that feedback governs every ecosystem and that this cannot be ignored. The most common causes of system failure are missing feedback and delayed feedback loop closure.
India’s water conservation efforts
In India, waterbodies such as ponds, wetlands, lakes, etc., play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance, recharge groundwater levels and help with flood control. These water systems are also deeply enmeshed with local and regional socio-cultural practices and may also have a gender dimension. However, many of these water bodies now face a lot of stress due to anthropogenic activities, pollution, encroachment, etc. which are threatening to de-stabilize the ecosystem. In fact, encroachment of these waterbodies has resulted in flash floods in cities like Mumbai and Chennai, which is a case of delay in feedback and intervention.
The planned interventions should be innovative, adaptable, and easily scalable. HCLTech’s CSR initiative, Harit by HCL Foundation, has strategically adopted a systems thinking approach to waterbodies conservation, enabling the recharge of approximately 36 billion litres of water across India in less than three years. Geo-mapping of waterbodies (particularly ponds), community mobilization and community-led action, state partnerships, restoring oxygen levels using innovative scientific techniques, deploying nature-based solutions, or providing flourishing native biodiversity are all components of a complex problem that must be addressed systematically.
Adopting the same systems thinking approach (landscape approach) can bring significant benefits to river conservation, given the fragile yet important interplay of several systems with each including the natural water cycle, forest ecosystem, social system and local biodiversity.
Planting native saplings in the river catchment area, for example, would help develop a strong root network in the long run and prevent topsoil erosion, thereby helping control gully formation. This will also help to retain soil moisture, and the plantation will create a healthy terrestrial environment that will support the growth of the associated species, ultimately leading to the redevelopment of what was once a thriving and self-sustaining ecosystem. Water conservation, soil erosion prevention, and increased climate resilience are additional benefits of ecosystem service provision.
As a result, conservationists can accrue both tangible and intangible, quantitative and qualitative impact throughout the project life cycle by employing systems thinking and an integrated approach. Regardless of the results, efforts must be maintained because water will always be essential to life.
