Note
Studied by 22 peopleResources and Development
Resources and Development
Everything available in our environment that can be used to satisfy our needs, is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable is a 'Resource'.
Resources are not free gifts of nature but a function of human activities. Human beings transform available materials into resources by adapting them to fulfill various needs, showcasing innovation and creativity in resource utilization.
Classification of Resources
Resources can be classified based on:
Origin:
Biotic: obtained from the biosphere (e.g., plants and animals).
Abiotic: composed of non-living things (e.g., minerals, rocks).
Exhaustibility:
Renewable: can be renewed or reproduced (e.g., solar energy, wind energy, forests).
Non-renewable: take long geological time for formation and are finite (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals).
Ownership:
Individual: owned by private entities.
Community: held collectively by communities.
National: owned by the government.
International: globally owned resources (e.g., oceans, atmosphere).
Status of Development:
Potential: resources that are available but not yet utilized.
Developed: resources that are currently being used.
Stock: known resource deposits not being utilized.
Reserves: resource deposits that are economically feasible to extract.
Development of Resources
Resources are vital for human survival and maintaining the quality of life. The development of resources should aim for sustainable practices that ensure longevity without degradation.
Problems due to indiscriminate use of resources:
Depletion of resources to satisfy the greed of a few, leading to scarcity for many.
Accumulation of resources in a few hands, dividing society into 'haves' and 'have-nots'.
Causing global ecological crises like global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution, and land degradation, endangering future generations.
Equitable Distribution
Equitable distribution of resources is essential for a sustained quality of life and global peace. Proper resource management can help bridge social divides and promote equality.
Resource planning is emphasized for the sustainable existence of all life forms, taking into account diverse needs across regions and communities.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable economic development means development without damaging the environment. Development in the present should not compromise the needs of future generations, necessitating a balance between consumption and conservation.
Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992
In June 1992, more than 100 heads of state convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the first International Earth Summit. The summit:
Addressed urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development at the global level.
Resulted in the signing of the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and Biological Diversity.
Endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21 for achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century, reflecting an international commitment to environmental management.
Agenda 21
The declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro aims at achieving global sustainable development by combating environmental damage, poverty, and disease through global cooperation, with local entities encouraged to create their own local Agenda 21.
Resource Planning
Resource planning is a widely accepted strategy for the judicious use of resources, especially in a country like India, characterized by enormous diversity in resource availability. Regions can be rich in certain resources while being deficient in others. Examples:
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh: rich in minerals and coal deposits.
Arunachal Pradesh: abundant water resources but lacks infrastructural development.
Rajasthan: well-endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks water resources.
Ladakh: rich cultural heritage but deficient in water, infrastructure, and vital minerals.
This necessitates balanced resource planning at national, state, regional, and local levels, promoting optimal utilization of resources for development.
Resource Planning in India
Resource planning is a complex process involving:
Identification and inventory of resources across regions including surveying, mapping, and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of resources.
Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill, and institutional setup for implementing resource development plans.
Matching resource development plans with overall national development plans.
India has made concerted efforts to achieve the goals of resource planning since the First Five Year Plan after Independence, focusing not only on availability but also on sustainable practices and equitable access.
Development Conditions
The availability of resources is a necessary condition for development, but availability alone is insufficient. Corresponding changes in technology, institutions, and policies are necessary to leverage these resources effectively and sustainably.
Colonization
Historically, colonization illustrated that rich resources in colonies attracted foreign invaders. Technological developments in colonizing countries allowed them to exploit resources effectively, leading to resource scarcity in colonized regions. For resources to contribute to real development, they must be coupled with appropriate technological advancement and institutional changes.
In India, development encompasses not just resource availability, but also technology, the quality of human resources, and the influence of historical contexts in shaping resource management.
Conservation of Resources
Resources are vital for developmental activity. However, irrational consumption and over-utilization can lead to socio-economic and environmental problems. Resource conservation at various levels is paramount for sustainable development.
Gandhian Philosophy:
Gandhi's quote resonates: "There is enough for everybody's need and not for anybody's greed." He attributed resource depletion to greedy individuals and exploitative technology, championing alternatives to mass production.
International Efforts:
Several international initiatives have underscored the importance of resource conservation:
The Club of Rome in 1968 advocated for resource conservation.
Schumacher's book "Small is Beautiful" (1974) promoted sustainable approaches rooted in Gandhian philosophy.
The Brundtland Commission Report (1987) introduced 'Sustainable Development' as a means for resource conservation, merging environmental and socio-economic sustainability into the mainstream development dialogue.
The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro reinforced international commitments towards sustainable practices.
Land Resources
Land supports natural vegetation, wildlife, human life, economic activities, transport, and communication systems. Given that land is finite, careful management and planning are imperative.
India's landscapes include mountains, plateaus, plains, and islands, each contributing differently to resource utilization and development:
Plains: 43% provide facilities for agriculture and industry.
Mountains: 30% ensure perennial flow of rivers, facilitate tourism, and provide ecological benefits.
Plateaus: 27% possess rich reserves of minerals, fossil fuels, and forests.
Land Utilization
Land resources are utilized for various purposes, including:
Forests
Land not available for cultivation:
Barren and waste land
Land put to non-agricultural uses (such as buildings, roads, factories, etc.)
Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land):
Permanent pastures and grazing land
Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves (not included in net sown area)
Culturable waste land (left uncultivated for > 5 agricultural years)
Fallow lands:
Current fallow (left without cultivation for one agricultural year or less)
Other than current fallow (left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years)
Net sown area: the physical extent of land on which crops are sown and harvested.
Gross cropped area: Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area.
Land Use Pattern in India
Land use in India is shaped by physical factors (topography, climate, soil types) and human factors (population density, technological capability, culture, and traditions).
Geographical Area
The total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq km, with land use data available for 93%. Gaps in this data exist due to challenges in reporting from some northeastern states and territorial disputes affecting surveyability.
Changes in Land Use
Land under permanent pasture has seen a decline, and other than current fallow lands are often poor quality or costly to cultivate. Incorporating these changes, the net sown area in India is approximately 54% of the total reporting area.
Regional Variations
Net sown area varies significantly among states:
Over 80% in Punjab and Haryana.
Less than 10% in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The forest area is considerably lower than the desired 33% outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952) for ecological balance.
Waste Land
Some portions of land are categorized as waste land and regions undergoing non-agricultural uses, encompassing rocky, arid, and desert areas, as well as settlements, roads, railways, and industrial developments. Continuous exploitation of land without conservation has led to land degradation, which has severe repercussions on ecosystems and society.
Land Degradation and Conservation Measures
Ninety-five percent of basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing are derived from land. Land degradation can stem from both human activities and natural forces:
Human Activities:
Deforestation, overgrazing, mining, and quarrying, significantly contribute to land degradation.
Mining operations can leave deep scars and disrupt local ecosystems.
In regions like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, overgrazing is a primary cause of land degradation.
In Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, over-irrigation leads to water logging and increasing salinity and alkalinity.
Natural Forces: contribute to land degradation through erosion and changing weather patterns.
Solutions
Effective strategies for land conservation include:
Afforestation and improved grazing management.
Planting shelter belts.
Stabilizing sand dunes by cultivating thorny bush species.
Implementing proper waste land management.
Treatment and disposal of industrial effluents to prevent contamination.
Regulation and control of mining activities.
Soil as a Resource
Soil is a renewable natural resource and is essential for plant growth. The formation of soil requires millions of years to develop even a few centimeters of quality topsoil. Factors influencing soil formation include:
Relief
Parent rock
Climate
Vegetation
Time
Soil Profile
Soil has distinct layers:
Top soil: the uppermost layer rich in organic matter and nutrients.
Subsoil: composed of weathered rock and minerals (sand and silt clay).
Substratum: weathered parent rock material.
Unweathered parent bed rock: the deepest layer of unaltered material.
Classification of Soils
India's diverse relief features and climatic conditions lead to various soil types. Some key soil types include:
Alluvial Soils:
Widely spread and crucial for agriculture, extending over 55% of India's cultivable land. Deposited by major river systems, these soils are typically fertile and conducive to crops like paddy and wheat.
Black Soil:
Known for its moisture-retaining capacity, it's particularly suitable for cotton cultivation and is predominantly found in the Deccan trap region.
Red and Yellow Soils:
Formed in areas with low rainfall and provide essential nutrients for various crops.
Laterite Soil:
Typically found in tropical regions with high rainfall and is often rich in iron and aluminum oxides.
Arid Soils:
Characterized by their sandy textures and lack of moisture, they require irrigation for effective cultivation.
Forest Soils:
Vary in texture based on local conditions and are often rich in organic matter with varying fertility.
Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation
Soil erosion, the loss of the top layer of soil, can be worsened by human activities and natural phenomena, which can disrupt the balance of soil formation and erosion.
Land becomes unfit for cultivation in cases of severe erosion, referred to as bad land, such as ravines found in the Chambal basin.
Conservation Methods: Implementing conservation techniques such as:
Contour Ploughing: involves ploughing along contour lines to slow water flow and reduce soil erosion.
Terracing: creating steps on slopes to restrict erosion, practiced in hilly regions.
Strip Cropping: planting alternative strips of crops and grasses to break wind forces.
Planting Trees: implementing shelter belts