Conservation and the Economy

[Dr. Fish]

I was wondering about this. I heard Chomsky say that conservation would actually be good for the economy, but I unfortunately don't have the source of where he said it. I've heard conservationists and neoliberals say that conservation will require a lot of enduring and both of the 'schools' obviously draw there own conclusions/justifications. I was just wondering if anyone had anything anyone could refer me to, or any arguments to provide, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks.

[Dean]

I was wondering about this. I heard Chomsky say that conservation would actually be good for the economy, but I unfortunately don't have the source of where he said it. I've heard conservationists and neoliberals say that conservation will require a lot of enduring and both of the 'schools' obviously draw there own conclusions/justifications. I was just wondering if anyone had anything anyone could refer me to, or any arguments to provide, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks.

Well, lets use a hypothetical:

Available natural resource x: 100 acres.

Annual non-renewed NR consumption (that is, not conservation): 10 acres of x
Annual renewed* R consumption: 10 acres of x
(both reflect consumption - but only the second one also renews (conserves) the resource)

After 5 years: -50acres from NR, -50from R, + 50 from R, total 50 acres left

Let's raise R to 11 and lower NR to 9:
After 5 years -36 acres from NR, -55 from R, +55 from NR, total 64 acres left.

As we raise Renewed resources, the available resources for each subsequent year are greater. Expanding resources (that is renewing without consuming) could actually lead to greater potential production rather than simply sustained production.

So I see no reason why conservation wouldn't be a more rational model for sustained or expanded economic activity.


*i.e., trees used are replanted