Resources and Development: Types, Classification, and Conservation
Resources and Development
Resource
Anything that can be used to satisfy human needs is called a resource.
Types of Resources
Classification of Resources: On the Basis of Origin
- Biotic Resources: All living organisms in our environment are called biotic resources. For example, trees, animals, insects, etc.
- Abiotic Resources: All non-living things present in our environment are termed as abiotic resources. For example, earth, air, water, metals, rocks, etc.
Classification of Resources: On the Basis of Exhaustibility
- Renewable Resources: Resources that can be replenished after a short period of time are called renewable resources. For example, agricultural crops, water, forests, wildlife, etc.
- Non-renewable Resources: Resources that take millions of years to replenish are called non-renewable resources. For example, fossil fuels.
Classification of Resources: On the Basis of Ownership
- Individual Resources: Resources owned by individuals are called individual resources. For example, land owned by farmers, houses, etc.
- Community Owned Resources: Resources owned by a community or society are called community-owned resources. For example, graveyards, grazing land, ponds, burial grounds, parks, etc.
- National Resources: Resources owned by individual nations are called national resources. For example, government land, roads, canals, railways, etc.
- International Resources: Resources regulated by international bodies are called international resources. For example, the ocean and sea beyond 200 km of the Exclusive Economic Zone are called the open sea or ocean. No individual country can utilize these resources without the permission of international bodies.
Classification of Resources: On the Basis of the Status of Development
- Potential Resources: Resources found in a particular region but not yet used properly. For example, Rajasthan and Gujarat receive plenty of solar energy and have plenty of wind energy, but the use of these resources has not been developed properly.
- Developed Resources: Resources that are developed and surveyed for utilization and are being used in the present time are known as developed resources.
- Stock: Resources that are available, but we do not have the proper technology to use them are called stock. For example, water is made of oxygen and hydrogen, which can be used as fuel, but due to a lack of proper technology, these are not being used.
- Reserves: Resources that are available and the know-how to use them is also present, but they are yet to be used are called reserves. For example, river water that is not used to generate electricity.
Discriminate Use of Resources
Resources are vital for human beings. But the indiscriminate use of resources is creating many problems.
Examples:
- Accumulation of resources in only a few hands leaves others unsatisfied.
- Indiscriminate use of resources is creating many problems around the world, such as global warming, ecological crises, and disturbances in the ozone layer.
- Thus, equal distribution of resources becomes necessary for sustainable development.
Sustainable Development
Development that takes place without damaging the environment and compromising the needs of the future is called sustainable development.
Keeping in view the justified use of resources and sustainable development, the Earth Summit was organized in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, in which more than 100 state heads agreed with Agenda 21 for sustainable development and the proper use of resources.
Agenda 21 is an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty, disease, etc., through global cooperation on common interests, mutual needs, and shared responsibilities.
Resource Planning
Resource planning is the judicious use of resources. Resource planning becomes more important in a country like India, where resources are not distributed properly. For example, many states are rich in minerals and deficient in other resources, such as Jharkhand, which is rich in minerals but has problems with drinking water and other facilities, and Arunachal Pradesh, which has plenty of water but lacks other development due to a lack of resources.
These types of discriminations can be reduced or completely eliminated with proper planning for the judicious use of resources.
Resource Planning in India
Resources can contribute to proper development only with good planning, keeping technology, skills, and institutions in mind.
Resource planning in India has been one of the most important goals right from its first Five-Year Plan. Following are the main points of resource planning:
- Making an inventory of resources after their region-wise identification across the country.
- Making the planning structure with appropriate technology, skills, and institutions.
- Matching the resource plan with the development plan.
Conservation of Resources
Overuse of resources creates many socio-economic problems. Many leaders and thinkers have been advocating for the judicious use and conservation of resources. Gandhiji said, “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed.” He thought that the exploitative nature of modern technology is the root cause of depletion at the global level. He believed in production by the masses and not in mass production.
Land Resources
Land is one of the most important natural resources. Land supports our life system. Thus, careful planning for the use of land resources is necessary. India comprises many types of land. These are mountains, plateaus, plains, and islands.
Mountains
About 30% of the land area in India is in the form of mountains. Mountains support the perennial flow of rivers, which carry fertile soils, facilitate irrigation, and provide drinking water.
Plains
About 43% of the land area in India is in the form of plains. Plains provide facilities for agriculture, the building of industries and houses, etc.
Plateaus
About 27% of the land in India is in the form of plateaus, which provide many types of minerals, fossil fuels, and forests.
Land Utilization: Patterns of Use of Land Resources
Forests
Land Not Available for Cultivation
There are two types of land that are not used for agricultural purposes. These are:
- Barren and waste land
- Land used for buildings, roads, factories, etc., i.e., for non-agricultural purposes
- Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land)
- Permanent pastures and grazing land
- Land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves (not included in the net sown area)
- Culturable waste land (left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years)
- Fallow lands
- Current fallow (left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year)
- Other than current fallow (left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years)
- Net sown area: The area that is sown at least once a year is called the net sown area.
- Gross cropped area: The area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus the net sown area is known as the gross cropped area.
Measures to Conserve Land Resources
Degradation of land can be prevented by taking the following measures:
- Afforestation
- Proper management of grazing
- Stabilization of sand dunes by the plantation of thorny bushes
- Proper management of wastelands
- Proper irrigation
- Proper harvesting
- Control over mining activities
- Proper management of land after the completion of mining work
- Discharge of industrial waste and effluents only after proper treatment
- Plantation of trees along roadsides
- Preventing deforestation
Soil as a Natural Resource
Soil is one of the most important natural resources. Soil supports the growth of plants. Soil is the natural home of many living organisms, such as ants, rats, snakes, and many insects.
Formation of Soil
It takes thousands of years to form even 1 cm of soil. Soil is formed by the weathering process of rocks. Various natural forces, such as temperature, running water, wind, etc., along with many physical and chemical changes, are equally important in the formation of soil.
Classification of Soil
Soil is categorized into many types based on texture, color, age, chemical properties, etc. India is a vast country that comprises many types of land. Thus, many types of soils are found in different regions of India.
Alluvial Soil
Availability
Alluvial soil is found near rivers or plains formed by rivers. Alluvial soil is considered relatively young. In India, alluvial soil is found in the northeastern plain, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra flow. Alluvial soil is deposited by river systems. The entire northern plain is made of alluvial soil.
Alluvial soil is also found in the eastern coastal plains near the Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri rivers.
Nature
Alluvial soil is very fertile; thus, the plains of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yamuna, etc., are densely populated. Alluvial soil is a mixture of various proportions of silt, sand, and clay. Alluvial soils differ in the size of their particles at the area of the break of slope.
Apart from the size of particles of grains, soils are also classified based on their age. The older alluvial soil is known as Bangar, and the newer alluvial soil is known as Khadar. New alluvial soil has a higher concentration of coarse grains, while old alluvial soil has plenty of fine particles.
Alluvial soil is rich in potash, phosphoric acid, and lime. Because of the presence of these chemicals, alluvial soil is good for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat, maize, and pulses.
Black Soil
Availability
Because of its black color, this type of soil is called black soil. It is also known as Regur soil. Black soil is found in the northwestern Deccan Plateau. It is found in the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh and extends along the valleys of the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
Nature
Black soil has a high concentration of fine particles and thus can hold moisture for a long time. It contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, and lime. Black soil is suitable for the growth of cotton, but many other crops are grown in areas with black soil.
Red and Yellow Soil
The soil looks red due to the presence of iron in crystalline or metamorphic rocks. The soil looks yellow when it occurs in a dehydrated form. Red soil is present in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan Plateau. Red soil is also found in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, in the southern part of the Gangetic plains, and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
Laterite Soil
Laterite soil is formed in regions that receive high rainfall with high temperatures. This causes leaching of the soil, and microorganisms are killed during the process. Due to this, laterite soil does not contain humus or contains a very low amount of humus. This soil is mainly found in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Orissa and Assam. This soil can be made cultivable with a heavy dose of manures.
Arid Soil
Arid soil is found in areas that receive scanty rainfall. Due to high temperatures, evaporation is faster in these regions. The soil has a high content of salt. Arid soil can be made cultivable with proper treatment. Arid soil is present in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Forest Soil
Forest soil is found in hilly areas. The soil in the upper parts is highly acidic because of denudation. The soil in the lower part is highly fertile.
Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation
Removal of topsoil is called soil erosion. Intense farming, grazing, construction activities, and other human activities, along with deforestation, have led to soil erosion. Soil erosion, if not checked in time, can even lead to desertification.
Soil conservation is important to prevent soil erosion. Soil conservation can be done by many methods. Afforestation is the main method because trees hold the topsoil in place. Terrace farming and shelterbelt planting also help in soil conservation.