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Classification of Natural Resources

Classification of Natural Resources. The purpose of this lesion is to present a system of classification of natural resources and discuss in general principles of management and use of

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Classification of Natural Resources

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  1. Classification of Natural Resources

  2. The purpose of this lesion is to present a system of classification ofnatural resources and discuss in general principles of management and use of the different classes of resources. The main emphasis is on the timedistribution of the resource utilisation. The general question is what should be the present use of the resource, and what part of the resource and/or inwhich state should the resource be conserved for future generations. This question reflects both the proposed system of classification and the choiceand analysis of the problems presented.

  3. Natural resources can be classified in a number of ways. In the context of this paper it is useful to think in terms of the inter-temporal characteristics of theresource. That means, what does the present use of the resource imply for its use in the future? The answer to this question of course depends on the typeof resource under consideration, and this future-orientated nature of theresource would be appropriate to use as the main criterion of classification.

  4. Resources are commonly classified with respect to their exhaustibility.However, the differentiation between exhaustible and inexhaustible resources only focuses on their quantitative availability and not on their potential fornatural growth and recycling. Therefore, in our analysis it is preferable to classify the resources on a somewhat different basis with two main classes: renewable and non-renewable resources. This differentiation is by no meansidentical to the exhaustibility classes. Many renewable resources (animals,tree species) are exhaustible, and many non-renewable resources (stones,different metals) are, economically speaking, inexhaustible.

  5. The renewable resources are by definition resources that have a continuingprocess of renewal and supply in nature. The renewal of some of theseresources (living organisms) may be effected by man, while others (solarradiation, wind, tides) are principally not influenced by human activity. Therenewable resources are commonly named “flow resources”, as it is possible tomaintain use indefinitely, provided the production (the flow) continues.

  6. The non-renewable resources are those types of resources whose physicalquantity does not increase significantly with time. That means that the rateof renewal is so slow as to be negligible. The non-renewable resources areoften defined as “stock resources”. The total supply of the resource is 5limited in quantity, and each rate of use diminishes some future rate of use.

  7. Types of Renewable Resources One characteristic of the renewable resources is that the rate of production or the supply may vary considerably. Therefore, the possibilitiesfor storing and transferring of resources for use in a future period togetherwith conditions influencing the natural production are important criteria for the sub-division of this class of resources. Based on these criteria one maydistinguish between three sub-classes of renewable resources. One shouldnotice that a particular resource might be stored for one particular use. Forother uses this possibility may not exist.

  8. Renewable Resources without Storage Possibilities Examples of resources of this category include solar radiation, wind,tide and scenery. These are the most typical flow resources. The flowfrom these resources may be increasing, decreasing or constant. Presentuse of the flows does not diminish future flows, and if flow continues,use can be maintained forever. No possibility exists for substitution ofthe flow from one time period to that of another period. That means theyield from this type of resources cannot be stored. If it is not usedwhen available, it is lost.

  9. Renewable Resources Capable of being Stored The production from this class of resources may be stored; however, the production is independent of the quantity stored. One typical resourceof this category is rainfall used for production of hydroelectric power. Precipitation can be stored in dams, and when storage takes place, thestored flow may be treated as a stock that can be used in a futureperiod. However, the water stored in dams does not significantlyinfluence the amount of rainfall.

  10. Renewable Resources with Augmentable Stock This class of resources comprises the biological resources that are bydefinition all living beings. The availability of a reproducible stockis the main characteristic of these resources. For some resources the production is directly related to the size of the stock (fish, volume oftrees). In other cases the production is based on use of seeds or tubersbeing stored from one season to the next (corn, potatoes). Thus humanaction may influence the flow from these resources. A “critical zone”for renewal may exist for these resources. By “critical zone” is meant amore or less clearly defined level below which the decrease inproduction from the resource cannot be reversed. Certain species ofanimals may be exterminated if the stock falls below a certain minimum

  11. Types of Non-renewable Resources One main characteristic of this category of resources is thepossibilities for substituting resource use between different time periods. Anincreased use in one period diminishes the quantity available in anotherperiod. To which degree future use is sacrificed is closely related to the possibility for re-use or recycling of the resource. Thus this will be the criterion for dividing this group of resources into sub-classes.

  12. Depletable Stock Resources These resources are generally of a geological nature. Utilisation of oneunit of the resource implies its total destruction and thereby it iscompletely lost for future use. Examples are coal, oil and gas used forenergy purposes.

  13. Recyclable Stock Resources These resources are again typical geological resources with definitive stock. However, for these resources it is important to take intoconsideration the possibility of reusing the material once used.Therefore, in this case utilisation of one unit of the resource does notimply that it is totally and permanently lost. The material from the resource is locked in a particular use in a certain period, from which aprocess of industrial recycling can release it, and thus be availablefor another use. Typical resources of this category are metal ores likeiron, lead and copper.

  14. Earth Surface Resources The permanency of their quantitative properties, such as size, shape, location and exposure, typifies this category of resources. Depending on composition and use their qualitative properties may differconsiderably. The important resources of this category are land,atmosphere and hydrosphere. Although the physical stock of these resources is limited, the services they provide can be maintainedforever.

  15. As an example the services provided by a given area of land, whetherthey are for agricultural production, amenities or housing, can beobtained in future irrespective of to-day’s use, provided that thequality of the resource is maintained. However, degradation in the quality of the services these resources provide may cause seriousproblems. A decrease in the productivity of land may be reversed cheaplyif it results from depletion of plant nutrients. Pollution of waterreservoirs and air may be more costly to reverse. The concepts ofcritical zones and irreversibility are also important for these types ofresources. Multiple use is another relevant issue.

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