Classification of Resources

Classification of Resources

Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversityand geodiversity existent in various ecosystems. Natural resources are derived from the environment. Many of them are essential for our survival while others are used for satisfying our wants. Natural resources may be further classified in different ways.

On the basis of origin, resources may be divided into: Biotic – Biotic resources are obtained from the biosphere, such as forests and their products, animals, birds and their products, fish and other marine organisms. Mineral fuels such as coal and petroleum are also included in this category because they are formed from decayed organic matter. Abiotic – Abiotic resources include non-living things. Examples include land, water, air and minerals including ores such as gold, iron, copper, silver etc. Classification

Considering their stage of development, natural resources may be referred to in the following ways: Potential Resources – Potential resources are those that exist in a region and may be used in the future. For example, petroleum may exist in many parts of India, having sedimentary rocks but until the time it is actually drilled out and put into use, it remains a potential resource. Actual Resources – Actual resources are those that have been surveyed, their quantity and quality determined and are being used in present times. The development of an actual resource, such as wood processing depends upon the technology available and the cost involved. Reserve Resources – The part of an actual resource which can be developed profitably in the future is called a reserve resource Stock Resources – Stock resources are those that have been surveyed but cannot be used by organisms due to lack of technology. For example.hydrogen

Renewable resources are ones that can be replenished or reproduced easily. Some of them, like sunlight, air, wind, etc., are continuously available and their quantity is not affected by human consumption. Many renewable resources can be depleted by human use, but may also be replenished, thus maintaining a flow. Some of these, like agricultural crops, take a short time for renewal; others, like water, take a comparatively longer time, while still others, like forests, take even longer. Non-renewable resources are formed over very long geological periods. Minerals and fossil fuels are included in this category. Since their rate of formation is extremely slow, they cannot be replenished once they get depleted. Of these, the metallic minerals can be re-used by recycling them.[1] But coal and petroleum cannot be recycled.[2] With respect to renewability, natural resources can be categorized as follows:

Inexhaustible natural resources- Those resources which are present in unlimited quantity in nature and are not likely to be exhausted easily by human activity are inexhaustible natural resources (sunlight, air etc.) Exhaustible natural resources- The amount of these resources are limited. They can be exhausted by human activity in the long run (coal, petroleum, natural gas, etc.) On the basis of availability, natural resources can be categorised as follows:

Ubiquitous resources- Resources that are found everywhere are called ubiquitous resources. For example land, air Localized resources- Resources that are found only at certain places are called localized resources. For example minerals , fossil fuels On the basis of distribution, natural resources can be classified as follows:

What are the major functions of natural resources? Inputs into production and consumption Amenity Life sustenance Sink for waste

What are the major natural resource problems in agriculture? Soil erosion, desertification, salinity, water-logging, and flooding Chemical pollution Depletion of forest resources Need for new energy sources Emission of greenhouse gases and climate change

Why are poor countries particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation?

How are Flooding and soil erosion related?

Causes can be technical, economic, or social (institutional) Examples of technical causes: Overgrazing and droughts Soil erosion leads to silting of rivers which leads to flooding Irrigation leads to waterlogging & salinity Deforestation leads to emission of CO2 and reduced capacity to absorb carbon

Population pressures leading to farming on steep slopes, drylands, and flood plains Poverty – must eat, natural resource conservation is a luxury Exploiting natural resources such as forests to earn foreign exchange Transfer of chemical technologies from developed countries Examples of Economic Causes

Examples of Social or Institutional Causes: Misguided national policies such as rules on use of forests Colonial heritage affects land use patterns Breakdown of traditional social structures or institutional arrangements

External costs and benefits Property rights Opportunity cost and discounting Market distortions Labor markets Capital markets Commodity markets Foreign exchange markets Key economic issues related to agriculture and the environment

Price Of the good MCS MCP External cost QS QP Quantity of good External Costs

Open access to forests, pastures, ground and surface waters Incentive to overexploit before someone else does Property Rights

Opportunity Cost & Discounting V0 (1 r ) 0 r 5% V1 (1 r )1 V2 (1 r ) 2 1/(1 r)0 1 1/(1 r)1 .95 1/(1 r)2 .91 0 1 2 1/(1 r) 1 1/(1 r) .91 1/(1 r) .83 r 10%

Market distortions

Technical: conservation tillage, strip cropping, contour plowing, reforestation, legume fallow crops, build dams, revegetation, rotational grazing, integrated pest management, solar pumps, biogas generator, fuel efficient stoves, deferred grazing, managed woodlots, cellulosic biofuel Potential crops, etc. solutions to natural resource problems:

Institutional and economic: Subsidies and taxes (for conservation) Regulations – prohibit logging in certain areas, pesticide regulations, etc. Land reform Improved information & infrastructure Education Economic growth – reduces population growth, income elasticity of demand for conservation is high Pollution permit trading Solutions (continued)

A subsidy can encourage conservation Price of conservation Pc NPB Qp NSB Qs Quantity of conservation

Three principles for successful institutional change to improve sustainability of natural resources Assess costs and benefits of the change, including externalities Obtain local input Compensation for losers

Primarily due to Carbon dioxide emissions Economic effects? Higher temperatures affect what is grown where and affects livestock Changes in rainfall patterns Increased risk of extreme weather events causing problems such as flooding Global Warming

2 degree C rise in temperature would cost about 1% of world GDP Malaria and Dengue areas would expand with temperature rise IFPRI study (October 2009) finds that South Asian agriculture would suffer the most, particularly wheat and rice Global warming effects (continued)

20% of green house gases (especially methane) from rice fields as organic matter decomposes, from livestock Nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer Effects of agriculture on global warming

Lower nitrogen fertilizer (how?) Agro-forestry as carbon sinks Bio-fuels can help to some extent to reduce fossil fuel use (which emits carbon dioxide) Carbon trading (What is it?) What can be done?

Food versus fuel, and what does it mean for the environment? High energy prices and extensive subsidies have spurred increased use of food crops for fuel production Many offsetting effects: biofuels tend to be cleaner; higher crop prices tend to encourage deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions; income effects on poor influence can have offsetting effects on the environment Biofuels

Sound environmental management is essential for sustained agricultural and economic development Both technical and institutional solutions are needed to solve environmental problems Conclusions