 Resource sustainability in commodity systems: the sawmill industry in the Northern ForestAndrew Jones, Don Seville and Donella Meadows System Dynamics Review, 2002, vol. 18, issue 2, 171-204 Abstract: Many natural resource‐based commodity systems exhibit a trio of undesirable behaviors—price instability, resource unsustainability, and inequity among people along the commodity chain. In this article we share findings from a modeling project that focuses primarily on the second problem, unsustainability, in the forest products economy and forest ecosystem of the Northeastern United States. The model shows the structural potential for lumber industry capacity to overshoot the timber resource of the regional forest. Many of the policies commonly advocated in response to resource shortage, such as boosting mill efficiencies and eliminating log exports, appear unlikely to solve the problem. We identify several policies with the potential to help sustain both the industry and resource base. We also share insights on how to design a modeling and intervention process when addressing policy problems for which no single organization has direct responsibility. Finally, we consider ways to navigate through three prevalent “defensive routines”—denial, resignation, and despair—that are often barriers to constructive discussion on how to address potential limits to growth. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Date: 2002 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:sysdyn:v:18:y:2002:i:2:p:171-204 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from Access Statistics for this article More articles in System Dynamics Review from System Dynamics Society |
Is your work missing from RePEc? Here is how to contribute.
Questions or problems? Check the EconPapers FAQ or send mail to .
EconPapers is hosted by the
School of Business at Örebro University.