Title Chapter 1 Resources and Development.pdf ✅

Social Studies (Geography) Chapter 1: Resources and Development
(1) RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 01 Resources and Development Natural Resources and their Classification Resources are an indispensable part of human development. Everything which is available in our environment and which can be technologically and economically exploited for satisfying human wants are known as resources. Classification of Resources Resources can be classified on the basis of Origin Biotic and abiotic Biotic resources: These resources are obtained from nature and have life. Examples: Humans, forests, fisheries, livestock Abiotic resources: These resources are obtained from nature but are made of non-living things. Examples: Metals, air, soil Exhaustibility Renewable and non-renewable Renewable resources: These resources are available in plenty in nature and can be replenished. Examples: Sunlight, wind, water Non-renewable resources: These resources are present in nature and are formed after millions of years. They can be exhausted or depleted after a particular period of time. Examples: Coal, petroleum Ownership Individual, community owned national and international resources Individual resources are owned privately by a person such as farmlands and houses. Community resources are owned by a community and are accessible to the members of that community such as grazing lands and burial grounds. National resources belong to a nation. Examples:
(2) RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 01 Water resources, forests, minerals International resources are regulated by international laws and regulations. Example: Oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone Status of Development Potential resources, developed resources, stock and reserves Potential resources: These resources are available in the region but are not fully used such as wind energy and solar energy. Developed resources: These resources are surveyed and their quantity and quality are known. Examples: Coal mines, oil wells Stock: These resources can satisfy human needs but humans do not have the required technology to access and harness them. Examples: Geothermal power, hydrogen fuel Reserves: The use of such resources has not been fully started and they are used only up to a limited extent. Example: Dams Resources are often centred in a few hands. This has led to a wide gap between the rich and the poor. Indiscriminate use of resources has resulted in its depletion and global ecological crises. Development of Resources Resources are vital for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life. It was believed that resources are free gifts of nature. Human beings used them indiscriminately and this has led to the following major problems: • Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals. • Accumulation of resources in few hands, which, in turn, divided the society into two segments i.e. haves and have nots or rich and poor. • Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation. Resource Planning in India Resource planning in India involves the following processes: • To identify and make a list of existing resources across the country by surveying and mapping • To frame a planning structure with the estimates of the level of technology, skill sets and
(3) RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 01 institutions which are required for harnessing these resources • To map the resource development plans with the national development plans Land Resource The land is among the most important natural resources. It covers only about thirty percent of the total area of the earth's surface. It supports natural vegetation, wild life, human life, economic activities, transport and communication systems. However, land is an asset of a finite magnitude, therefore, it is important to use the available land for various purposes with careful planning. Land Utilisation 1. Forests 2. Land not available for cultivation (a) Barren and waste land (b) Land put to non-agricultural uses, e.g. buildings, roads, factories, etc. 3. Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land) (a) Permanent pastures and grazing land, (b) Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves (not included in net sown area), (c) Cultruable waste land (left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years). 4. Fallow lands (a) Current fallow-(left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year), (b) Other than current fallow-(left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years). 5. Net sown area Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area is known as gross