An intrinsically renewed renewable resource can be harvested to provide a product in a way that is sustainable.

In this diagram, the original (stock) resource is shown in purple. In time, it grows; its growth is shown green.

When the resource has grown one-quarter (25%) larger, the growth is taken as a product of the resource, reducing the resource to its original size.  In time, the resource will regrow what has been taken, so that is can be taken again. 

Each time, the same amount of  product is taken, which is the amount that has regrown.  The product can be taken repeatedly, forever.

For clarity, the diagram shows the product taken periodically.  In practice, the product can be taken continuously, as long as the stock resource is maintained.

This page is linked from:

The Tragedy of the Commons

Sustaining an intrinsically renewed resource

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