Discuss if your assigned common pool resource is best managed by privatization or through collective action and why: (FOREST) The decision to privatize forest can be difficult to achieve because of the sheer amount and size of a forest. One of the best ways to maintain this common pool resource would be by using collective action. By utilizing collective action, communities can establish management rules that ensure sustainability. Because of the size and density of the forest, “larger communities may want to partner with government agencies for monitoring and enforcing while maintaining authority over management. (Dale, 2015) The ability to still use the natural resources as needed gives individuals and communities the chance to sustain themselves while maintaining the ecosystem.

Discuss how the concepts of rivalry and excludability affect the management of this resource: The forest can be non-exclusionary as we do not have the means or resources available to keep the entireforest from being entered by individuals or corporations. Harvesting and cutting down trees is also a rivalry act. When people can come in with heavy-duty equipment to cut down dozens of trees within a minute, they are then stopping other individuals from cutting down trees creating a first come first serve mentality that drives competition.

Select one of the following ethical principles and explain how it creates a dilemma when managing your common pool resource: (Sustainable Development) The ethical principle that creates the most issues for managing forest would be sustainable development. The idea that we can take what is needed is a new concept that “incorporates intergenerational equity with the notion of inevitable development. Thus, economic growth is acceptable as long as it does not deplete the earth’s resourcesbeyond what can be regenerated for future generations. (Dale, 2015) This ethical principle can cause an issue because of the number of trees chopped down daily. Because of the competitive nature of harvesting trees putting pressure on corporations to scale back the harvesting or only to collect what is needed can harm their businesses. 

References

Dale, L. (2015). Environmental policy (second ed.). Bridgepoint Education.