Saving a Wetland in Southern India through a Social Ecological Systems Approach, Based on Community Values, Perception and Action

This paper discusses the impacts of human habitation on the natural ecosystem of a wetland, Pallikaranai, Chennai, India. We have adopted a social-ecological systems approach to define the problem and examine the aspects surrounding it. Through this research we address sociological aspects and gauge community perception, knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the urban society interacting with the marsh and with water bodies in general. Our findings show that, although 88% (178 out of 203) of those who were surveyed were concerned about the environment, such concern and their knowledge and awareness-were not always reflected in their actions, mainly because of external factors including the increasing population density and such aspects of urban lifestyle as water consumption.

The dynamics of this social-ecological system is further explored by examining trends in social, ecological and climate-related parameters and observing the timeline of events which have resulted in the present state of the marsh. International recognition by Ramsar is a landmark event and how the administration and stakeholders will collaborate to promote biodiversity conservation is currently a question. Our research attempts to provide a framework and throw light upon details and issues that, when considered will ameliorate the existing social-ecological system with respect to this case as well as many other wetlands in similar circumstances.