A Simple System Dynamics Model For the Wildlife and Fish Resource

Abstract

This research aims to build a dynamic model to describe the major relationships within the "Wildlife and Fish" element of the Forest Service. Our purpose is to capture the major relationships so that the model is capable of reproducing the dynamic behavior patterns exhibited by the important Wildlife and Fish variables. Such a model should include not only the "physical variables" (such as "acres prescribed burned" or "number of water developments") but also the management decision processes which influence those variables. Once the major "physical relationships" and "decision relationships" are appropriately described in the model, the latter should be able to exhibit the basic dynamic performance patterns observed in the Wildlife and Fish (WhF) sector. Then, such a model can be used a s a "management laboratory". It is possible to explicate why and how particular performance patterns are exhibited by certain variables. If some of these performance patterns aril undesirable, the model can help managers generate alternative policies to eliminate those undesired patterns. By using such dynamic models for Wildlife & Fish sector it is possible to investigate the aedium-to-long-term implications of various alternative management policies.