2. Resources : Utilisation and Development
RESOURCES-
•All the things present on earth ,which are necessary for our
existence on this planet are called as Resources.
•We need air to breathe, water to drink and food to eat. We use
these gifts of nature to fulfill our day to day needs.
•Some resources can become economically valuable with time.
•Even human beings are considered as resource . Time and
technology are the important factors that change substances into
people . People themselves are the most important resource. It is
their ideas, knowledge, inventions and discoveries that lead to the
development of other resources.
•Each discovery or invention leads to many others. For example-
1.Discovery of fire led to the practice of cooking
2.Invention of the wheel resulted in the development of newer
modes of transport.
3. Utility and Value of resource from time to time and place to
place :
• Human needs and wants are neither uniform in all parts of the world nor
static over the years.
• In ancient times , emphasis was mainly given on satisfying the basic
needs like food , clothing , shelter which was derived from the natural
environment but in advanced societies greater emphasis is laid on the
utilization of resources for satisfying the multi needs of human beings.
• Utility and value of resources varies from time to time and place to place
.
• Earlier human civilizations flourished along the river valleys as they used
water for irrigating fields. Now human beings are using water for
generating energy , Irrigation , navigation , Industries , etc.
• China and U.S.A are generating more wind energy than India
4. Utilisation of Resources:
Resources become usable when they are processed . For example,
cotton is converted into yarn. On further processing , it is converted
into fabric ,then finally into garments. Generally, the utilisation of
resources depends upon various factors , such as:
• Availability of resources
• Skill of human beings
• Availability of Capital
• Availability of water
• Advancement of technology(tools , machines, etc.)
• Availability of transport and communication facilities, etc.
U.S.A is termed as a developed country because it is
economically self-sufficient and technologically advanced . On the
other hand , India is still in a developing stage. Though resources are
essential for development , but their mere presence doesn’t
guarantee development . Other factors also play a crucial role.
6. Classification Based on Renewability:
RENEWABLE RESOURCES:
• Resources, which can be renewed either naturally or by human
efforts , are known as Renewable resources.
• Renewable resources are also known as inexhaustible resources.
• For example , solar energy air and water.
• They are found in plenty.
• They are Eco-friendly.
NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES:
• Resources, which cant be renewed or take longer period to form
or to renew are known as non-renewable resources.
• They are also known as Exhaustible resources.
• For example, coal ,petroleum and natural gas.
• They are limited on Earth . In future, there will be a great
scarcity.
• Utilisation of these resources may cause adverse effect in the
environment.
7.
8. Classification Based on Origin:
BIOTIC RESOURCES:
• Resources , which are obtained from biosphere and have life(living
beings), are known as Biotic Resources.
• They have the capacity to reproduce and regenerate.
• All biotic resources are renewable , but some take a long period of
time to be renewed, for example the forests.
• For example, birds, animals, fish, forests ,etc.
ABIOTIC RESOURCES:
• All non-living resources are known as Abiotic Resouces.
• The abiotic resources are not renewable except water which is
inexhaustible.
• These resources are in great demand for the development of various
industries and agriculture.
• For example, land, water, minerals, etc.
9. Classification Based on Occurrence:
NATURAL RESOURCES:
• Resources ,available from nature in form of water ,minerals ,forests ,etc. ,
and used by human beings to satisfy their needs ,are known as Natural
Resources.
• These resources are essential for the survival of human beings and form the
base for the development of a country.
• For example, water ,land ,forest ,etc.
MAN-MADE RESOURCES:
• Resources created by human beings to satisfy their needs are known as
Man-made Resources.
• These resources are essential for us, but they are also developed from
natural resources.
• For example, roads, buildings, machines, etc.
The quality and quantity of people of a country determine its human resource
. Healthy and well educated people contribute to their respective society in
positive ways. Malnourished and illiterate people ,on the other hand ,cant
contribute much to their societies . Example , Japan is a developed country
because people are skilled and technically developed whereas African
nations, inspite of being rich in resources, are less developed as most of the
people are unskilled and illiterate .
10.
11. Classification Based on the Development of the
Resources:
POTENTIAL RESOURCES:
• Available resources in a country, which are not fully tapped, are
known as Potential Resources.
• These resources need detailed survey for estimating their quantity
and quality.
• For example ,Arctic sea-bed may hold as much as 25% of the world’s
undiscovered oil and natural gas reserves.
ACTUAL RESOURCES:
• The actual resources of a country are those which have been
thoroughly surveyed and their quantities have been ascertained.
• The exploration ,development and utilisation of an actual resource
depends upon the technology available.
• For example ,Saudi Arabia has 25.9% of the world oil reserves.
12. Sustainable Development and Conservation:
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
Sustainable development means development that takes
place without damaging the environment .
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS THE NEED OFHOUR
,because:
• It meets the need of the present without compromising the needs of
future generation.
• Most of the resources are limited in their supply.
• Over-use of many valuable resources has led to their degradation or
deterioration in quality.
• Distribution of resources across the world is highly uneven.
• Rapid population growth has resulted in over- utilisation of the
natural resources.
13. CONSERVATION:
Conservation means sustainable and optimum utilisation of
resources.
We must realise that nature and its resources are not merely ours .
They also belong to the future generation. Therefore ,it is essential
that we:
• Use all renewable resources judiciously.
• Minimise the depletion of natural resources.
• Conserve the varied species.
• Development of technology ,human skill and population control
is essential for a long-term sustainability of natural resources
• Follow 6 R’s i.e reuse, reduce , recycle , refuse ,repair and
rethink .
• Use the resources according to the “need” , not “greed”.
14.
15. Extra Questions :
• Name the developed Asian Country which use more wind energy than
India?
• Human Resources are well developed in Japan, Why? Give one reason.
• Give an example of actual resourceful country?
• Define natural resource with an example.
• USA is termed as a developed country. Give one reason.
• Human being considered as a resource why? Give one reason.
• Highlight the advantages of sustainable lifestyle .
• “Technological advancement is a boon as well as ban to human
civilization”, Explain the statement with an example of each.
• Suggest any five ways to reduce the wastage of resources .
