What is Integrated Environmental Management?

When we hear the word of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM), it seems to be an ideal sophisticated theoretical matter that may be success among scholars but not for implementer. We may think that the environment is supposed to be managed as an integral system. Due to the increasing of environmental problems in the world, then we think that may be the environment has not been treated as it is supposed to do.

Now we are asking what should we do then? May be IEM can provide the answer to our common problem in environmental arena. Before we go further, we should understand the definition of IEM clearly in order to avoid another problem. Understanding the basic concept of IEM will help us to deal with complicated system of environment. Some definitions which have been provided in this course are as follow:

Buhrs (2009) stated environmental integration as "... human need to add an environmental part or dimension to their knowledge and awareness, actions and behaviour, and the social institutions by which they are guided."

This definition gives a view that it is the human that require an environmental integration as an essential part in their life which we can consider as environmental awareness. It means that environmental integration should be realized as a unity with our body and mind which will guide us how to act to the environment surround us. This environmental awareness requires environmental consideration in every single step of our behavior as a human which may affect the environment positively or negatively. Thus, thinking of environmentally friendly before you do something!

In addition, before the above concept, Buhrs (1995) had defined IEM as "... an approach to the management of the environment that takes into account its complex, multi-facetted, and interconnected nature."

Buhrs had another view about IEM which he mentioned that "every-thing is connected to everything else". In other words, IEM refers to a holistic approach of action in regards with environmental management. This is also associated to the previous definition of IEM which emphasizes on environmental awareness which may lead to comprehensive environmental behaviour or action. The next video from an environmental NGO illustrates how we're connected to each other in this one world.

                                                       Courtesy of WWF International

Another definition from Cairns and Crawford (1991) is that IEM is "...coordinated control, direction, or influence of all human activities in a defined environmental system to achieve and balance the broadest possible range of short- and long-term objectives." 

The authors describe IEM as an organized method which encompasses all ecological system and human actions for sustainable purposes. It emphasizes sustainability of the environment which should inspire human in every single action.

Those three definitions have common thing that IEM is a comprehensive and interrelated concept. That is, IEM can be defined as a universal and interdisciplinary approach of environmental protection to support triple bottom line (social, economy, and environment) components in a sustainable way. 

We can assume that IEM is the soul to human body, so that if the soul is the main source of human's life so that IEM must be our soul. This soul may lead us to act in a way that always consider the best for the environment. We may avoid actions that is harmful to the environment, because we realize the interconnected cause and effect of actions to the environment will be back to us. Otherwise we may destroy the environment if we don't have IEM as our soul, we even can be considered as if we die. Therefore, if everyone acts based on IEM, so that all effort on creating better environment will be integrated as a holistic system which may lead to a better world.

References

Buhrs, T. (1995). Integrated Environmental Management: Towards a Framework for Application. In ERST 633 Resource Book. Unpublished paper, Environmental Management and Design Division, Lincoln University.

Buhrs, T. (2009). Chapter 1. In Buhrs, T. (2009) Environmental Integration: Our Common Challenge. (pp 7-39). Albany: SUNY Press

Cairns Jr., J. (1991). Chapter 2: The Need for Integrated Environmental Systems Management. In J. Cairns Jr. & T. V. Crawford (Eds.), Integrated Environmental Management (pp. 5-20). Michigan: Lewis Publisher.

WWF International. 2009. Video retrieved on 19 September 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjGe-_OYWQQ

Introduction

Kia ora!

Yes, i'm in New Zealand! Some of you may be familiar with that Maori greeting which means hello!. Maori is the indigenous people of New Zealand. Anyway, welcome to my blog! As you can see from the blog tittle "Integrated Environmental Management" you may have had some idea of what I'm going to post about. Shortly, it must be about environment and something relates to it. Talking about environment is identical with nature and something natural. Lucky me to be in New Zealand which is famous with its image of "clean and green" country and study about environment here.

Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) is one of the courses which I take in semester 2 2013 study Master of Environmental Policy (MEP) in Lincoln University, New Zealand. Not only it has succeeded attract me to take it as an instrumental course but also it is compulsory for MEP students. That’s why I don't have choice at all except to immerse in the IEM world.

One thing that really interesting for me when I saw this course title in my academic planner is that IEM may provide a comprehensive method of environmental management. What an excellent approach I thought! Most of environmental management have not been success which may be caused by fragmented management (Cairns, 1991). While environment is a whole integral ecosystem that can't be separated each other, it is not possible to solve with disintegrated solution. I see environment as an engaged gear system which link each other. It rotates simultaneously, if one gear moves other gears will rotate as well. If one gear stop or there is a problem with it, other gears will not move as well. Environment is like that when an environmental problem arises it will influence other, as Buhrs (1995) express it “everything is connected to everything else” (Buhrs, 1995:1). For example, if there is water contamination, fish and vegetation in the water will be contaminated as well.      Therefore, an environmental problem needs to be solved in an integrated way due to the integrated system of environment. The solution for environmental problem in disjointed methods may even have caused another problem. I see IEM as an opportunity to manage the environment in a better way. As Buhrs (1995) identified IEM as “an approach to manage the environment considering its complex, multi-facetted and interconnected nature” (Buhrs, 1995: 1).

It means that IEM may encompass the whole component of environment and seen as a holistic approach. I'm optimist that this course will enlighten my view about how to manage environment comprehensively. Well, let me spread my enthusiasm to you by sharing my updated enlightenment with this blog. I have to post at least nine items in this blog including temporary topic about environment. I haven’t decided yet, as you know there are a lot of complex environmental problems. While I’m searching for the topic, I’m going to post some theories of IEM that I get from the class and course book on the next postings. At the end of this blog, I hope you and me and everyone who see this blog will get an idea on how to manage the environment in an integrated way.  

Reference

Buhrs, Ton. (1995). Integrated Environmental Management: Towards A Framework For Application (pp. 1-19). Lincoln University.

Cairns Jr., J. (1991). Chapter 2: The Need for Integrated Environmental Systems Management. In J. Cairns Jr. & T. V. Crawford (Eds.), Integrated Environmental Management (pp. 5-20). Michigan: Lewis Publisher.

Picture source from http://beyondplm.com/2012/11/15/why-plm-is-more-complicated-than-google/