"Sustainable Management of Natural Resources: Mathematical Models and Methods" by Michel De Lara, Luc Doyen

This book demonstrates and develops the quantitative and formal links between sustainability issues, decision and precaution problems in the management of natural resources. Applied concerns include fisheries, agriculture, biodiversity, exhaustible resources and pollution.


The book aims at combining economic and ecological dimensions through an integrated modelling framework. Mathematical or numerical models and methods presented here rely on control theory of dynamical systems. They encompass equilibrium and stability, viability and invariance, intertemporal optimality ranging from discounted utilitarian to Rawlsian criteria. Deterministic, stochastic and robust frameworks are examined. In order to simplify the mathematical content, the proposed models and methods are restricted to the case of discrete time dynamics.Numerous examples are proposed together with computer programs. The concept of “sustainable development” covers such concerns, although no universal consensus exists about this notion. Sustainable development emphasizes the need to organize and control the dynamics and the complex interactions between man, production activities, and natural resources in order to promote their coexistence and their common evolution. It points out the importance of studying the interfaces between society and nature, and especially the coupling between economics and ecology. It induces interdisciplinary scientific research for the assessment, the conservation and the management of natural resources. This monograph, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, Mathematical Models and Methods, exhibits and develops quantitative and formal links between issues in sustainable development, decisions and precautionary problems in the management of natural resources.