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Everything in the environment that can be used to meet human requirements is referred to as a resource, as long as it is technologically feasible, economically viable, and culturally acceptable. Humans use technology to engage with the environment and construct organisations to help them prosper economically.
Resources are a function of human activities. Human beings are valuable resources in and of themselves. They convert materials found in our surroundings into resources and put them to good use.
Classification of Resources
- Based on Origin – biotic and abiotic
- Based on Exhaustibility – renewable and non-renewable.
- Based on Ownership – individual, community, national and international
- Based on Developmental Status – potential, developed stock and reserves
Types of Resources
On the basis of Origin:
- Biotic Resources: Humans, flora and fauna, fisheries, cattle, livestock, and other biotic resources all derived from the biosphere
- Abiotic resources: Things like rocks and metals that are made up of non-living materials
On the basis of Exhaustibility:
- Renewable (or Replenishable) Resources: Resources that can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or mechanical processes are called Renewable Resources. For example – solar, wind energy, water, etc
- Non-Renewable Resources: These are formed over a long period of geological time. Minerals, fossil fuels, and the like are examples. Some of them, such as metals, are recyclable, while others, such as fossil fuels, are not
On the basis of Ownership:
- Individual Resources: Individuals own some private resources such as ponds, plantation, pasture lands, water in wells etc
- Community Owned Resources: These are resources that are accessible to all the members of the community. For example – Village commons (grazing grounds, village ponds etc.)
- National Resources: Technically, the nation owns all the resources. Minerals, water resources, forests, and land inside political limits, as well as territorial water and resources up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the coast, belong to the nation
- International Resources: Beyond 200 nautical miles from the Exclusive Economic Zone, marine resources belong to the open ocean, and no one country can use them without the approval of international agencies. (UNCLOS, ISBA)
On the basis of the Status of Development:
- Potential Resources: These are those resources which are found in a region but they have not been utilised. For example – The Western parts of India have not developed wind and solar energy properly despite having enormous potential
- Developed Resources: These are resources that have been surveyed and their quality and quantity are determined in order to be used. Their progress is determined by technological advancements and their practicality
- Stock: They are the materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs, but human beings do not have the appropriate technology to access these. For example, Human beings do not have the advanced technology to utilise hydrogen from water as a source of energy
- Reserves: They are the subset of the stock which can be put into use with the help of existing technical ‘know-how’ but their use has not been started. For example, River water can be used for generating hydroelectric power but it is being utilised only to a limited extent
Development of Resource:
Resources are necessary for human survival as well as maintaining a high standard of living. Human beings considered resources to be gifts which resulted in indiscriminate use of the resources.
- Depletion of resources to satisfy the avarice of a few people
- The concentration of wealth in a few hands divided society into two groups: haves and have-nots, or rich and poor
- Global ecological issues such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, pollution, and land degradation have resulted from indiscriminate resource extraction
