Can you make the link from 18th century mining in Germany to sustainability?

It’s easy to think of sustainability as a modern term. Born of UN SDG goals and ESG frameworks. But the roots of sustainability are surprisingly old and surprisingly “real economy”.

In 1713, a Saxon mining administrator named Hans Carl von Carlowitz coined 𝘕𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘬𝘦𝘪𝘵- sustainability, to describe a very practical problem.

Deforestation was accelerating because agriculture was seen as more profitable than forestry.

Yet the Saxony economy was highly dependent on mining (silver) and timber was a key supply input into the mining industry, both for fuel and mine support shafts.

He predicted a looming economic crisis due a shortage of timber. In the long run this resource crisis could break Saxony’s economic backbone.

Carlowitz critiqued the prevailing short term thinking of focussing too much on the “money on money” returns from agriculture.

A blind spot.

Woodland was being cleared to make way for agriculture. The motivation to plant new trees was low, given the long harvesting cycle. Timber was wasted, based on a belief that supplies were inexhaustible. As forests depleted, the mining industry revenue declines would continue for many years to come.

Carlowitz concluded unrepairable damage was being done in the search for quick profits.

The answer in his 400 page report was less based on morals, it was operational. Essentially cut less than you grow. Replant and restore the forestry stock, to sustain the ecology and economy.

In other words, sustainability began not as an environmental ideal but as smart resource management that protected an economy within ecological boundaries.

It was a strategy for continuity.

So it’s worth remembering an early sustainability intitiatve started with a mining ledger and a forest map.

Can you think of other “real economy” sustainability lessons that have been overlooked ?