1 - Resources and Development

Types of Resources

On the basis of origin Biotic resources - All the resources in the biosphere having life are called biotic resources. Eg. Human beings, animals. plants etc. Abiotic resources - all the resources in the nature which dont have life are called abiotic resources. Eg. Water, air, rocks etc. On the basis of exhaustiblity Renewable resources - All the resources which get replenished by natural processes at a rate comparable or faster than its rate of consumption by humans. Eg. Water, wind, forests etc.                  Water                    Forests                Solar energy Non-Renewable resources All the resources which cannot be produced, re-grown, regenerated, or reused on a scale which can its consumption rate. These resources often exist in a fixed amount, or are consumed much faster than nature can recreate them. Eg. Fossil fuels. On the Basis of Ownership Individual ResourcesAll the resources privately owned by an individual are called individual resources. Eg. House, car, farmland etc. Individual resources Community Owned resources - the resources owned be a group of people or the members of a community are called community resources. Eg. Burial grounds, park, ponds. Community owned resources National resources- these are the resources which belong to a nation or the government. Eg. Forests, mountains, wildlife, rivers, etc. National resources International resources - these are the resources which are under the control of international organisations. Eg. Open ocean , resources in the Antarctic. On the basis of status of development. Potential resource - Potential resources are those which 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 till the time it is actually drilled out and put into use, it remains a potential resource. Developed resources - Those which have been surveyed, their quantity and quality determined and are being used in present times. For example, the petroleum and the natural gas which is obtained from the Bombay High Fields. The development of an actual resource depends upon the technology available and the involved. Stock - the resources which have been identified but cannot be used due to lack of technology are called stock. Reserve - The part of the stock which can be developed profitably with the available technology is called a reserve.