About Resources

NATURE IS GODS MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT TO MANKIND.

This nature consists of many things like air, water, soil, water etc. All these things nature comprises of are named as resources. We hear this word in our daily lives often and now we can define it as well. It would be wrong to perceive that everything available on this planet earth is gifted by God. most of the things we use are not in the exact form as created by nature; they are molded by man according to their needs. In the simplest of ways, we may define a resource as:

WHAT ARE RESOURCES?


Anything that can be put into use or has the capability of being used is called resources. It can be gifted by nature, it can be man-made or it can be human itself.
Things available in environment that satisfy our needs and satisfy these three conditions of being easily accessible, affordable and acceptable would be called as resource.

Generally, resources are classified into two categories:

1. Natural resources
2. Human made resources (hr).

We should not forget considering OURSELVES as a resource because “RESOURCES” are a function of activities performed by human. Human beings are put into use in some way or the other for example, tree leaves are used by human as a medicine to treat human ailment. Humans are resources as they utilize other resources to its maximum.

Now resources re broadly classified into three categories
1. Natural resources
2. Human made resources
3. Human resource

Resources are divided into three different categories on the basis of:
· STOCK OR EXHAUSTIBILITY
· USAGE AND DEVELOPMENT
· SOURCE
· DISTRIBUTION OR AVAILABILITY



NATURAL RESOURCES:

As the name suggests, natural resources are those resources that are present in our natural environment. On our earth things like vegetation, sunlight, air, water etc. are natural resources. In the universe forces like magnetic, gravitational etc. Natural resources may exist in alternate forms like mineral ores from which minerals are extracted. These minerals like iron are then considered as man-made resources.

TYPES OF NATURAL RESOURCES ON THE BASIS OF EXHAUSTIBILITY

Natural resources are of two types a) Exhaustible b) Inexhaustible

A) EXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES

Resources that get exhausted with time due to over or insensible usage are called exhaustible resources. Resources like metals (iron, zinc, copper etc.) which are found inside the earth are used for making man things. They are the fundamental unit of industries as all the machinery are made from metals. But they are available in limit. They can’t be recycled or renewed. Once they get used up, we can’t get more of it. Due to this, they are also called non-renewable resources. 

Some major non-renewable resources are:
a. COAL
b. PETROLEUM
c. EARTH MINERALS
d. METAL ORES
e. GROUND WATER

B) INEXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES

Those natural resources that can be renewed or do not get over with use are known as inexhaustible or renewable resources. They are a part of our natural environment and have the ability to replenish themselves naturally or with biological reproduction. Resources like water, sunlight, air etc. are some examples of renewable resources. The renewable resources of energy generate renewable energy in the form of solar energy, geothermal energy etc. 

Some major renewable sources of energy are :
             1.Water resource
             2.Sunlight
             3.Air
             4.Agricultural food  


TYPES OF NATURAL RESOURCES ON THE BASIS OF USAGE AND DEVELOPMENT

1.ACTUAL RESOURCES

Resources that we are using presently and whose amount (quantity) is known are called as actual resources for example, the oil wells in country

2.POTENTIAL RESOURCES

Resources whose quantity is not known at the present but there is a possibility for the same and they are not being used at present are called potential resources for example, uranium, found in Ladakh.

TYPES OF RESOURCES 0N THE BASIS OF THEIR SOURCE(ORIGIN)

1.BIOTIC RESOURCES
Resources that have life and are present in biosphere are called biotic resources. For example, flora and fauna.

2. ABIOTIC RESOURCES

Resources that do not have life but play a significant role in the ability of an organism to reproduce are called abiotic resources.

TYPES OF RESOURCES ON THE BASIS OF DISTRIBUTION OR AVAILABILITY

Resources on earth are not divided equally, due to this unequal distribution of resources we have these two classifications:

1. UBIQUITOUS RESOURCES
Resources like air, water etc. which are present everywhere are called ubiquitous resources.

2. LOCALISED RESOURCES
Resources like oil wells, black soil etc. that can be located only certain places are called localized resources.

HUMAN MADE RESOURCES

The resources that are created by man with the help of natural resources are called human made or man-made resources. E. g plastic, machineries, paper etc. Human utilize their knowledge and skills to create something that becomes a usable part of the society. A man uses tree to make paper, rubber, gum, medicine etc. Some man-made resources are so essential in this modern era that without them it is impossible to survive, for e. g medicines. All the technologies we are depending upon for every single second of our routines are development of human brain. Every resource or substance that can be put into use and adds value to our lives is considered as human-made resource. 

Some examples of human-made resources are:
                  1.Plastic
                  2.Paper
                  3.Medicines
                  4.Buildings

ALLOCATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Allocation of resources is a matter of discussion in all the national and international summits. We all know that human wants are unlimited but resources are not. It would not be wise to waste them by putting them into wrong use. For e g, trees are natural resources and we make paper out of it but on the same side if we waste them knowingly it would lead to depletion of resources. Resources should be utilized to their maximum but at the same time they should not be over exploited.
                   
CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES

Due to increase in population our natural resources are depleting at a very fast pace. More stress should be laid upon careful usage of resources in a way that they meet the present requirement and takes care of the need of future generation. This concept is generally named as sustainable development. Development of resources is a different topic, under which we include sustainable development.