Optimal harvesting of mutualistic ecological systems

Optimal utilization of a regenerative natural resource is already well developed in the single species context. However, research into the economic utilization of ecologically interdependent systems is still in its infancy. The paper uses optimal control theory to model dynamic interactions between two mutualistic (regenerative) natural resources. An optimal policy for society's managing the system is derived. The outcome is compared with the standard theory of single-species harvesting. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.