RESOURCES

NATURAL RESOURCES are of two kinds:

RENEWABLE RESOURCES: are those which are inexhaustive and can be regenerated within a given span of time. For e.g. Forests, wild life, wind energy, hydropower, solar energy etc.

NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES: are resources which cannot be regenerated. For e.g. Fossil fuels like coal petroleum, minerals, etc. Once these reserves are exhausted they cannot be replenished.

Resources can also be classified

1.      On the basis of utility

a.       Renewable Resources

b.      Non Renewable Resources

2.       On the basis of Origin

a.       Biotic Resources – Obtained from the biosphere (Organic Resources) e.g. Forest products

b.      Abiotic Resources – Non living matter (Inorganic Resources) e.g. Land, Water Etc.

A resource can be useful only when it can be converted or utilized to generate wealth which could be of economical or ecological importance. The process of converting resources to wealth is very critical and must be handled with caution by the government and other decision making organizations as the amount of economy generated by converting the resources to wealth should not harm the environment or the damage should be minimal and reversible.

Development leads to pollution and thus sustainability is threatened. Exploitation of natural resources in a sustainable manner involves:

Sustainability: To avoid depletion of resources we must only harvest their production surplus.

Biodiversity: In order to maintain global biodiversity all species must be protected against extinction or decimation.

Integration: all species belong to an ecosystem and are integrated into a complex web of interaction and should therefore be managed as a unit.

It is important to keep in mind the following:

-          Ecological regeneration of resources is the basis of long term resource availability and higher productivity.

-          Future socio-economic development depends on the proper conservation of resources and finding alternative eco-friendly energy resources.

-          Unexplored land including no man’s land should not be neglected and must be treated as resource reservoirs.

Identification of resources, its management and utilization and further conversion of resource to wealth leads to a successful economic and ecological balance.