“pathology of resource management” Holling et al. (2002a: 6)

Hollings quote is a simplistic description of the summary of Alaska Tongass case study whereby the authors are investigating the linkages between market failure and policy failure.

Although concise this case study is both analytical and logical in its questions and findings.  Primary strengths of this brief include the identification of key dynamic interactions (resource governance and management supply) and the role they play within the theoretical framework and diagnostic methods. They apply a realistic measurement approach (adaptive cycle), and clearly identify 4 distinct phases within the cycle backed by empirical data (ex. longitudinal analysis).  This case sets up a strong research inquiry with 6 key questions they intend to answer. The questions presented unfortunately are insufficient in themselves to provide a full scope of the Tongass National Forest failure.

The initial question is left incomplete as the case study identifies many policy and market failures but is unable to identify a primary offender, instead creates a grouping of institution, policy and economic subsystems, which lacks transparency.  The second question is innovative in trying to identify the weakness of the strategy this will be beneficial in identifying recommendations for the future.  The third and fourth question, are well answered in the case study with evidence and valid correlations, they are impartial and also attribute world market fluctuations into the analysis which is a positive.   The last 2 questions are where there could be improvements in the study, more perspective is needed on the social and environmental impacts, as well there could be room for stronger recommendations for the re-organization phase 5. As well there is a lack of additional examples of this specific type of market/policy failure.  Overall it was a strong case study that positively identified key issues that caused this market failure.

References

Beier, C., A. L. Lovecraft, and T. Chapin. 2009. Growth and collapse of a resource system: an adaptive cycle of change in public lands governance and forest management in Alaska. Ecology and Society 14(2): 5. URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art5/

Holling, C. S., and G. K. Meffe. 1996. Command and control and the pathology of natural resource management. Conservation Biology 10:328–337.