The Role of Systems Thinking in Sustainability: A Deforestation Case

This essay examines the role of systems thinking in addressing sustainability challenges, using deforestation in Australia as a case study. It discusses the limitations of traditional approaches and highlights how systems thinking can provide a more holistic perspective. The essay explores the economic and policy aspects of deforestation, including the importance of carbon pricing and stakeholder involvement. It also acknowledges the challenges in implementing systems thinking due to conflicting stakeholder interests and data limitations. The author concludes that while systems thinking offers valuable insights, successful implementation requires coordinated efforts, clear land-use policies, and innovative strategies.

Running head: SYSTEMS THINKING IN SUSTAINABILITY
Systems Thinking In Sustainability
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
System is indicative of separate parts that are interrelated to each other and which
works towards reaching a common goal. Systems thinking can prove to be useful in dealing
with problems relating to sustainability as it helps to look at things from a macroscopic
viewpoint as compared to that of a short picture. Systems thinking has been made use of by
academicians along with practitioners to resolve issues relating to sustainability.Sustainability
is the unique property pertaining to the biological systems and it is characterized by pursuit of
common ideal. Healthy ecosystem is necessary for the survival of the organisms on earth.
The specific term, “sustainability” refers to the target of humanity to reach a state of human-
ecosystem equilibrium (Haines 2016). This essay talks about deforestation which is a
problem in Australia and how systems thinking can help in developing solution to that of
sustainability development challenge.
Discussion
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world and it can be said to be one of the
developed countries. It is known for the harsh climates along with that of poor soil fertility
but the social success of the place are on account of the sound environmental policies. The
sound environmental policies have helped in preventing large-scale disaster. It has been
suggested that habitat loss through that of vegetation clearing is an important driver
pertaining to decline in population. The highest clearance rates are in those areas where the
soil was suited to that of agriculture which was generally in the coastal area (Molderez and
Ceulemans 2018). The forests in South Australia were mostly cleared during that of early 20th
century. The woody vegetation of Australia is an important carbon store that can help in
removing gas house emissions. With the growth of vegetation, carbon can be sequestered in
that of the plant tissue that can result in reduced level of that of carbondioxide. It has been

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found that the forest soil of Australia can store around 44 billion tonne of that of carbon
dioxide that represents 80 times of the annual emission of that of Australia (Millon 2015).
The clearing of trees paves the path for releasing of large amount of greenhouse gas into that
of the atmosphere. Deforestation takes place in Australia owing to various reasons like for
development of infrastructure and for that of housing development.
According to me, systems thinking can help in dealing with the environmental related
challenges. There is significant difference between that of the traditional thinking approach
and that of system thinking approach. The world had moved towards the era of globalization.
The world has to face several complexities in the coming years and system thinking can be of
immense help for developing solutions to that of sustainability challenges (Princiotta and
Loughlin 2014). The different organizations can make a meaningful impact by introducing
the policy of “zero deforestation” that can help in cleaning up the supply chain.The suppliers
should be held accountable for producing different kinds of commodities like timber along
with paper (Barlow et al. 2016). The non-recycled products that are bought by the company
should help in ensuring that the virgin fiber that has been used is certified by that of third
party certification. Sustainability challenges are also known as adaptive challenges as the
protocols that have already been established cannot be applied to the particular situation.
However, it can also be stated that no unified approach exists that can help in dealing with the
sustainability challenge (Burns, Kick and Davis 2015). System thinking can prove to be of
immense help in changing the mental models that can help in dealing with the problems
related to sustainability. It comprises of technologies along with skills that can help in
removal of a problem.
Sustainability challenges require innovative thinking on the part of the
environmentalists and it will need innovative research methods to resolve the problems.
Systemic thinking can prove to be of great help in resolving the issue of deforestation that

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exists in Australia. Forests play an important role in relation to ecological role and it can help
in cooling the surface of the earth and regulate that of rainfall pattern. Report on that of forest
preservation has stated that government along with business invests far more in the sector of
agriculture as compared to that of reforestation. It has been found that around $ 777billion
were spent on land development whereas only $ 20 billion was spent on that of reforestation
(Evans 2016). It will need 10 times more than that of $ 20 billion to create a deforestation
free economy (Murray et al. 2015). This however does not indicate that ten times more
amount has to be raised. Redirecting the existing financial flow can prove to be of great help
in dealing with the challenge of deforestation.
A perception exists that deforestation is necessary for that of economic development
and it is no different from the perception that fossil fuel is required for that of economic
development. It is of crucial importance that economic development is decoupled from that of
deforestation. This will need a shift in attitude along with that of appreciation of that of
natural ecosystem. Law enforcement along with opportunities in relation to economic
development can help in dealing with deforestation (Aoc.org.au 2018). A systemic thinking
that can help in protecting the forests is that of putting a price on that of carbon. The solutions
in relation to saving the forests are economic in nature (Reis and Guzmán 2015). Policies
pertaining to putting a price on carbon can help in the creation of economic incentives that
can help in preserving the forests. The incentives running in the opposite direction leads to
the disappearance of the forests. The right kind of policies can help in spurring economic
growth that can increase the agricultural output and stop deforestation. Climate related goals
cannot be achieved without reversing that of forest loss.
There was little amount of planning at the initial stages however the preservation of
the natural ecosystems can help in providing solutions to that of environmentally related
challenges. Forests should be put under some kind of protection that can help in protecting

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them. It has been found that the tropical forests are mostly protected in Australia and no
clearing can be noticed in these regions (Evans 2016). It has been seen that deforestation
occur before that of protection that suggests that many extinctions will occur in the coming
years unless great amount of effort is made in restoring the vast areas. Shifts in relation to
environmental policy can help in the process of conservation of forests. There are some
arguments that oppose that of system thinking approach. Experts have suggested that the
system can help in solving wicked problems and on the other hand there are some researchers
who have argued by saying that system thinking cannot work if all the components parts do
not work together (Pavlacky Jr, Possingham and Goldizen 2015). Systems thinking deals with
the interaction between that of different elements and it is not possible for a vast system like
that of environment to work along uniform lines. Systems thinking is more suited to that of
organizational along with social learning. The different stakeholders related to environment
management has to contribute equally for dealing with the issue related to deforestation.
There are different kinds of interest groups and inter-dependency in relation to globalized
society means that there should be co-operation at different levels for the plan to succeed
(Mahmood, Pielke Sr and McAlpine 2016). Stakeholder pressure leads to the divergence
between the objectives of different institutions and the actual implementation of their
policies.
The clashing of the ideologies of that of different interest groups leads to a problem
that proves to be a hindrance for the implementation of different policies related to that of
environment. Influence of that of stakeholder groups for adopting effective management
practice often goes against the interests of media along with that of other political interests
that does not allow the successful implementation of the environmental policies
(Theguardian.com 2018). Scientific evidence has shown that pace of that of global warming
or the issue of toxic material in that of the food chain will necessitate the changes of different

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factors. Stakeholders have been responsible for the risks related to environment either
because of the fact that they have caused it or due to the fact that it is their duty to manage the
risks related to deforestation (Reside et al. 2017). The stakes of different interest groups are
different and the private interests of individuals seem to take a precedence over that of the
public interest.
The different stakeholders involved in relation to deforestation are that of small scale
farmer, large scale farmer, firewood collector, timber trader, charcoal maker and livestock
keeper. It is generally held that agriculture acts as the dominant driver in relation to
deforestation. Shifting cultivation is practiced in the areas and in order to secure new land the
farmers take resort to deforestation. Bush fire is another incident that can lead to forest
degradation. The pastoralists have a notion that the burning of grass can encourage the
regeneration of that of fresh grass (Woodward et al. 2014). This leads them to engage
themselves in the practice of clearing of forests.
Pattern pertaining to forest degradation and the low forest cover suggests that major
shifts in relation to environmental policy is imperative at this stage. The usual attitude of the
business can prove to be insufficient in dealing with deforestation. Adoption of sustainable
approach will require that of new skills along with capabilities. Co-ordinating mechanisms
are of crucial importance in resolving the problems related to deforestation (Sonter et al.
2017). It is important for the government to develop innovative manner of thinking that can
help in the development of economic strategy along with that of infrastructure planning. It
will prove to be difficult to resolve problems with the help of systems thinking on account of
lack of information pertaining to land use along with that of rights. The rules in relation to
land use are unclear and ambiguous. The different authorities make use of different kinds of
maps in order to delimit that of land-management units (Bristow et al. 2016). It can prove to
be difficult to obtain information regarding land cover. New remote sensing technology have

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been developed in the recent years but it proves to be difficult to obtain sufficient information
at that of the operational level.
Conclusion:
Systems thinking can help in providing insights relating to sustainability problems
and it helps in looking at things from a broader view. Globalization makes the world face
severe complexities and systems thinking can help in solving the important issues to a large
extent. It can however also be said that there exists no unified rule that can help in the process
of providing solutions to that of environmental problems. Systems thinking can help to a
great extent in developing solutions to that of environmental challenges and the law
enforcement agencies can provide crucial support for dealing with the challenge. Forests have
an important role to play for cooling the earth and regulation of the pattern of rainfall. Putting
price on carbon can help in the process of preservation of the forests. The different policies
can lead to economic incentives that can play a crucial role for saving the forests. It has
however also been deduced that the different ideologies prevailing in the society has led to
the developing of various policies that does not work along uniform lines. The different
stakeholder groups work for their own benefit and the leading role played by the media in the
present age does not allow the implementation of policies related to environment. The
stakeholders in relation to deforestation are that of farmer, livestock keeper and that of
firewood collector. It is primarily agriculture that augments the process of deforestation.
Shifting cultivation is carried out in different areas and the farmers carry out deforestation in
order to get new land. New skills and capabilities are needed in order to deal with the issue of
deforestation. Co-ordinating mechanisms can be of great help to provide solutions to the
sustainability problems. The government should focus on innovative manner pertaining to
thinking that can help in developing economy strategy and that of infrastructure planning.

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The dearth of information in relation to land use can prove to be a barrier in solving the
process of deforestation.

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