System Thinking in Developing Sustainability Challenges

This article discusses the role of system thinking in developing solutions to sustainability challenges. It explores the wicked problem of deforestation and how systems thinking can be used to address it. The article emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach that takes into consideration the socio-economic issues as well as the environmental aspects. It also highlights the significance of incorporating local stakeholders in the management process and the use of programs like REDD+ to promote sustainable forest conservation.

Running Head: ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY 1
System thinking in developing sustainability challenges
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Part I: Systems thinking in developing sustainability challenges
Sustainability in the environmental context refers to how the biological systems
endure and maintain their diversity and productivity (O'Riordan, 2016). Sustainability
concept extends beyond the categorized specialization and narrow ambit of reductionism. The
fundamental aspect of the sustainability is underpinned on how to achieve sustainable
development that vests on components of culture, ecology, economy, and political systems.
Scientists have identified a number of challenges that blight the actualization of sustainable
development, which are quintessentially multidimensional. Scholars refer to such
impediments as ‘wicked problems,’ since defining them and finding an optimum solution for
them— that meet all stakeholders’ interest— has proved difficult (Lönngren & Svanström,
2016).
This backlash stems from the complexity and dynamic nature of wicked problems:
where by, in the process of finding a solution to one aspect, a series of other impediments
resurfaces, which derails the quest to attain the optimum solution. Hence, wicked problems
consist a combination of unique challenges that are that are indications of other problems
(Lönngren & Svanström, 2016). In order to develop solutions that mitigate sustainability
challenges, changing from the conventional way of thinking and improving our mental
models is imperative: which is why system thinking is significant, to fill the existential
vacuum. According to McIntyre-Mills (2017), systems thinking model has the efficacy
develop effective solutions that can contain sustainability challenges.
The leading principle in this study is entrenched on the notion that none of the wicked
problem is existing in isolation, and that there is broad system of intertwined networks, which
necessitates the application of the systems thinking approach to offer solutions to such
problems (Sumit, 2012). This is because the any approach that conceptualizes the behaviour

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of system through assessing some parts of it in lieu of the whole system is inconsequential
(Wilson and Van Haperen, 2015). The paper dissects the role of systems thinking in both
local and global sustainability challenges by emphasizing on the wicked challenges of
deforestation. Most importantly, I am in agreement with the assertion that “systems thinking
is critical in in developing solutions to sustainable challenges,” taking into consideration its
capacity to outline systematic way of addressing issues
Reynolds et al (2017) define systems thinking as inter-disciplinary concept that is
used to envisage interrelationships and provide insight for various change patterns. While
systems thinking model is an old concept, scholars still consider it as new and effective way
of understanding as well as managing of existential complex challenges, in both local and
global context (Reynolds et al., 2017). Through systems thinking, development planners can
conceive and actualize systematic integration of economic aspects with social and
environmental dimensions. According to O'Riordan (2016), systems thinking approach
enhances optimization of management complexities better than other approaches. Besides,
the approach involves visualization the entire picture and conceptualization of the wider
context, at the same time taking into consideration different levels of interactions.
Sustainable development refers to the process of attaining sustainability by integrating
economic systems with social and environmental systems to ameliorate the quality of living
organisms, regenerate, and assimilate the capacity to enable the intra as well as
intergenerational equity (Lönngren & Svanström, 2016). Ideally, this entails achieving socio-
ecological balance social systems, environmental systems, and economic systems. One of the
fundamental characteristics of the systems model is the existential of unique features that are
critical for conceptualizing the system as a whole but loses meaning if the constituent parts
are isolated (McIntyre-Mills, 2017). Each constituent of the system is a whole separately but
becomes the part of the system when joined with another part. The interconnection of the

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system underscores the formation of complex supra-system (Moore, 2017). Another
phenomenon is that the characteristic hierarchal system that is interwoven with other systems.
The third unique feature is that there is communication process, feedback, as well as control
system that fosters adjustments and adaptation during the times of stress (Lönngren &
Svanström, 2016).
The systems approach presents multifaceted benefits. For instance, it ensures that
certain peculiar properties are visible, that would have otherwise been invisible when
visualizing the individual constituents using a reductionist method (Moldavska & Welo,
2015). The approach also improves the testing welfare of the entire system, which is
unattainable through independent assessment of the parts. Considerably, this is significant
because any effort applied in pursuit of adjusting the system may only be effectual if the
elements of factors that influence the system— like stress that human activity exerts on the
ecosystem— is entirely taken into consideration. Additionally, the capacity of sustaining
overall perspective on the entire system helps to develop a facility that ‘anticipates and
prevents,’ rather than the retrospective ‘treat and cure’ (Moldavska &Welo, 2015).
The environmental system presents life-supporting services —like ecosystem
maintenance, climate regulation, and geothermal cycling— and renewable as well as
exhaustible resources like oil energy and metal (Moore, 2017). Without these resources and
services, socio-economic systems are unattainable. The economic system relies on the
physical and human resources from social systems. However, the social system depends on
the economic system to transform raw materials into consumable goods (Novick, 2017). Both
social and economic systems interact on the market that is under the influence of socio-
ecological conditions. The law of thermodynamics postulates that “matter and energy can
neither be destroyed nor created though may be transformed” (Moldavska & Welo, 2015).

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The socio-economic systems transform resources into wastes. According to Lönngren
and Svanström (2016), the resources and wastes are at par; the difference value is entropic,
however. The storage of waste products and assimilation occurs through the environmental
system. The social, economic, and environmental systems are closely intertwined and to
some extend overlap. Deforestation influences climate regulation, raw materials, and
diversity. Similarly, pollution depletes available resources, jeopardizes human health, and
disrupts ecosystem. Novick (2017) observes that climate change can affect adversely affect
soil productivity as well as built environment.
The aforementioned integration phenomenon underscores the wholeness of the
systems and the significance of the relationships within the system. Eco-development is the
contemporary economic model that demonstrates the transformation from the traditional
societies to the neoliberal affluent lifestyle via intensive resource consumption within the
developed countries that the developing countries are emulating (Wilson & Van Haperen,
2015). This model is the reason behind increasing rate of global warming, which is inimical
to the life-supporting systems. There is so much pressure on the environmental system, which
is edging to the limit. This trend necessitates the sustainable development to contain the
situation.
Part II: Using systems thinking to address deforestation as a wicked problem
According to (Lönngren &Svanström, 2015) the criterion for analysing the
community sustainability has to be system oriented and adaptable to the local condition.
Besides, the approach should be widely applicable at both regional, municipal, and local
level. The model should also be comprehensive in its identification steps and encompass
sustainability issues that are significant to the stakeholders’ and community values and
interests. Most importantly, it should be accessible to the policy makers, specialists, and the

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public. This means that in the process of determining the solutions to eradicate or reduce
deforestations, systems thinking dictates that the preferred approaches should take into
consideration how the process will influence not only environmental aspects but also socio-
economic issues.
Global deforestation over the past two decades has been at the centre of sustainability
concern in the ecological context. The forest-to-land coverage ratio has been declining at an
alarming rate. According to FAO (2018), the main causes of deforestation have been
unsustainable practices like illegal logging, intensive farming, and human settlements. While
the rate of deforestation has gradually slowed down, most primary forest areas and major
reclaimed forests are diminishing, particularly in Africa and South America. Ideally,
deforestation is utterly problematic since it is concomitant with the loss of sequestration
capacity and carbon storage. According to UN Environment (2017), small-scale activities like
charcoal burning have also been increasing forest degradation egregiously. In their study of
deforestation in developing countries, López-Carr and Burgdorfer (2013) conclude that
poverty is the main cause of forest degradation, since it is connected to “unequal power
relations and authoritative rent-seeking governments,” which is typically a wicked problem.
Human beings depend on forests in a number of ways. Forest ecosystem supports
services like primary production, biodiversity habitat, nutrient cycling, regulates windbreak,
and controls soil erosion via filtration, retention, and storage. According to Polyzos and
Minetos (2012), deforestation accounts for 17 percent of the greenhouse emissions annually.
This transcends the whole capacity that transportation sector emits. Trees convert
atmospheric CO2 into biomass— the process that slows down accumulation of greenhouse
gases— and releases oxygen. Moore (2017) attests that forests store a quarter of terrestrial
carbon. Globally, most trees are harvested in form of timber. Besides timber, other non-
timber products like food, culture, resin, bark, and sap also contribute to deforestation.

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Moore (2017) estimates that the global trade forest products to be US$330 billion
annually. In addition, at least 1,6 billion people depends on forest products as the source of
their livelihood. According to López-Carr and Burgdorfer (2013), at least 2 billion people use
biomass as the source of energy in their homes, which is majorly firewood. Therefore, trade
in forest products improves material wellbeing by contributing to the local economies and
supporting livelihood through ecotourism and recreation. This is the main impediment
towards implementing policies that targets reduction of deforestation (FAO, 2018). Some
cultures also regard forest as a spiritual ornament connects the ground and the sky, for
instance in Southern Cameroon, the locals believe that Terbanatha iboga tree acts a link
through which people can communicate with gods (Novick, 2017). Therefore, to achieve
sustainable development by reducing deforestation, our systems thinking approach should not
deprive the locals their source of livelihood or interfere with their cultural norms.
To achieve sustainable forest management, it is imperative that the system models
expands global market and climate dynamisms to incorporate resilience notions, whereby
forests are considered as ever-changing socio-ecological system whose disturbance by nature
alongside other factors is inevitable (Wilson &Van Haperen, 2015). Considering such
uncertainty, our forest management approach should ensure that forest functions and services
that we depend on, both globally and locally are not tampered with. Managing forest like a
wicked problem, which entails integration of socioeconomic ecological systems, is the
gateway to maintaining resilience and sustainability (Reynolds et al., 2017). To achieve this,
system thinking should be applied by ensuring that the process incorporates stakeholders,
assess, monitors, and periodically reformulates the management practices. Such approach,
Rodriguez-Nikl (2017) observes, ascertains that the today’s needs are taken care of without
jeopardizing the future generation’s capacity to meet their basic needs, hence attaining forest
management sustainable goals.

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The significance of incorporating local stakeholders in government and the
management process is to see to it that their needs are met as well as ensure that there is
inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge to guide the process (OECD Evaluation
Insights, 2016). According to Rodriguez-Nikl (2017), such knowledge aids in provision of
elaborate picture and visualization of the entire system, thereby filling the gap where there
weas absence of scientific knowledge. One of the effective methods of developing systems
thinking to contain deforestation but ensuring the future generation’s needs are met is by
applying REDD+ (OECD Evaluation Insights, 2016). This program is designed slow down
forest degradation and mass deforestation in the developing countries by reducing poverty
level hence benefiting both local and the global community through maximization of carbon
sequestration as well as increasing the storage capacity of the forests to regulate
anthropogenic climate dynamics.
REDD+ also promotes the attainment of sustainable forest conservation and
improvement of forest stock goals (OECD Evaluation Insights, 2016). Ideally, REDD+
programs provide springboard to mobilize largesse from the developed countries to the
forest-dependent people in the developing countries to promote the preservation of the
valuable forest, and stifle poverty-driven forest destruction. However, such programs are not
devoid of a number of challenges. For instance, monitoring and assessing the capacity of the
forests to store carbon and ensuring that the money goes to the right hands— those who
whose new conservation policies will affect their livelihood— is quite difficult (UN
Environment, 2017). Summit et al (2012) assert that forest management should be
approached in a collaborative way to address poverty, which is the main wicked problem that
emanates from the causes of forest degradation and deforestation.
In most instances, “community-based forest management” approach is employed to
underscore effectiveness and sustainability of forest management. The main assumption that

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encompasses this system of management is that the locals are concerned about their current
and future conditions, as well as that of their future generation. Hence, they will be able to
manage the forest in a sustainable manner since their continual existence depends on the
forest life. Such approach have been successful in places like Nepal, Northwest of the United
States, but has also been ineffective in areas like Honduras due to inadequate funding, lack of
expertise, and stakeholders’ conflict (Reynolds et al., 2017).
Conclusion
In conclusion, wicked problems are multifaceted and require a systems thinking
approach to address such challenges. The integration socio-economic and environmental
factors make the wicked problem quintessentially unique. One of the wicked problem that the
paper has analysed is deforestation. Deforestation increases the emission of greenhouse gases
and reduces the storage capacity of trees to withstand CO2. Therefore, there is need to reduce
rate of deforestation to prevent global warming. However, the study reveals that the main
causes of deforestation is poverty, and therefore the applied model should aim at alleviating
poverty through a collaborating with the local inhabitants whose source of livelihood depends
on the forest. Other approaches like reforestation should also be encouraged to counteract
high levels of logging.

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