Class X
Geography
Unit I – Resources and Development
Resource –
Definition:
Anything in the environment that can satisfy our needs is
called a resource.
Characteristics of a resource:
A resource is
-
technologically accessible
-
economically feasible
-
culturally acceptable
Resources are not free gifts of nature. They are created by
human activity.
Classification of resources on the basis of their origin:
-
Biotic resources
-
Abiotic resources
Biotic resources come from biosphere and have life.
Examples: Human beings, flora, fauna, fisheries, livestock
etc.
Abiotic resources come from non-living things.
Examples: Rocks, metals etc.
Classification of resources on the basis of exhaustibility:
-
Renewable (or replenishable) resources
-
Non-renewable (or exhaustible) resources
Renewable resources: They can be renewed or reproduced by
physical, chemical or mechanical processes.
Examples: Solar energy, wind energy, water, forests,
wildlife,
Types of renewable resources:
-
Continuous or flow resources (like
water, wind)
-
Biological resources (like forests
and wildlife)
Non-renewable resources: They cannot be renewed or
reproduced by any process because their formation takes millions of years.
Examples: Minerals, metals, fossil fuels
Types of non-renewable resources:
-
Recyclable resources (like metals)
-
Non-recyclable resources (like
fossil fuels)
Classification of resources on the basis of ownership:
-
Individual resources
-
Community-owned resources
-
National resources
-
International resources
Individual resources: These are owned by individuals.
Examples: Farm land, residential plots, houses, water in private
wells etc.
Community-owned resources: These are accessible to all the
members of a community.
Examples: Grazing grounds, burial grounds, village ponds,
public parks, picnic spots, playgrounds etc.
National resources: All the resources within the territory
of a nation belong to the nation.
Examples: Minerals, forests, wildlife, water resources,
land, territorial water (ocean waters up to 12 nautical miles or 22.224 km from
the coast) etc.
Nautical mile: A unit of length measured to use distances on
the sea, equal to one minute of longitude at the equator (2025 yards or 1852 meters)
International resources: These resources are regulated by
international institutions.
Example: Oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the exclusive economic
zone
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): The region of the sea and the
sea bed adjacent to the territorial waters of a country over which the country
has complete rights to exploit by way of activities like fishing, oil
exploration etc. It usually extends to a distance of 200 nautical miles (370.4
km)
Classification of resources on the basis of their status of
development:
-
Potential resources
-
Developed resources
-
Stock resources
-
Reserve resources
Potential resources: Resources that are found but have not
been utilized
Example: resources of wind energy and solar energy in Rajasthan
and Gujarat
Developed resources: Resources that are surveyed and
assessed for utilization
Examples: All the resources that we are using now
Stock resources: Resources that have the capacity to be
useful to us but are not exploited because the required technology is not
available
Example: Hydrogen and oxygen in present in water as sources
of energy
Reserve resources: Resources that are not exploited in a
full-fledged manner though the required technology is available
Example: The technology to produce hydroelectric power is
available but only 16 per cent of the produced in the world is hydroelectric.
Classification of resources on the basis of their
occurrence:
-
Natural resources
-
Human resource
Natural resources: Resources which are available in the nature
Examples: All biotic, abiotic, renewable, non-renewable, individual,
community-owned, national, international, potential, developed, stock and
reserve resources are natural with the exception of human beings
Human resource: The resource that resides in the knowledge,
skills and motivation of people
Explanation: A teacher is a resource because of his/her
knowledge. A carpenter or electrician is a resource because of his/her skill. A
leader contributes to the prosperity of a nation because of his ambition.
Why we need resources:
-
We need them for our survival.
-
They are necessary for maintaining
the quality of our lives.
-
They are necessary for improving
the quality of our lives.
The consequences of indiscriminate exploitation of resources:
-
Depletion of resources
-
Concentration of wealth and
economic inequalities
-
Ecological problems like global
warming, damage to the ozone layer, environmental pollution and land
degradation
Equitable distribution of resources is a must
-
To sustain the quality of our life
-
To have global peace
Sustainable economic development: Development that does not
damage the environment and does not compromise on the needs of the future
generations
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