CLASS-
VIII RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENTS
01.Resources
· Utility
or usability is what makes an object or substance a resource.
· Things
become resources only when they have a value. “Its use or utility gives it a
value.
· Any
thing that has some utility to satisfy our needs is known as a Resource.
· Some
resources ca–n become economically valuable with time.
· Time
and technology are two important factors that can change
substances into resources.
·
People themselves are the most
important resources because their ideas, knowledge, inventions and discoveries
that lead to the creation of more resources.
TYPES OF
RESOURCES:
·
Resources are generally classified
into Natural Resources,Human made Resources and Human
Resources.
Natural
Resources:
· Resources
that are drawn from Nature and used without much modification are called
natural resources.
· The
air we breathe, the water in our rivers and lakes, the soils, minerals are all
natural resources.
· Natural
resources are classified into different groups depending upon their level of
development and use; origin; stock and distribution.
· On
the basis of their development and use resources can be classified into two
groups, actual resources and potential resources.
· Actual
resources are those resources whose quantity is
known. These resources are being used in the present.
· The
rich deposits of coal in Ruhr region of Germany and petroleum in the West Asia,
the dark soils of the Deccan plateau in Maharashtra are all actual resources.
· Potential
resources are those whose entire quantity may not be
known and these are not being used at present. These resources could be used in
the future. The level of technology we have at present may not be advanced
enough to easily utilise these resources.
· The
uranium found in Ladakh is an example of potential resource that could be used
in the future. High speed winds were a potential resource two hundred years
ago.
· Today
they are an actual resource and wind farms generate energy using windmills like
in Netherlands. You will find some in Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu and on the
Gujarat coast.
· Based
on their origin, resources can be abiotic orbiotic.
· Abiotic
resources are non-living- soils, rocks and minerals.
· Biotic
resources are living things- plants and animals.
· Natural
resources can be broadly categorised into renewable and non-renewable
resources.
· Renewable
resources are those which get renewed or replenished
quickly. Some of these are unlimited and are not affected by human activities,
such as solar and wind energy.
· Non-renewable
resources are those which have a limited stock. Once
the stocks are exhausted it may take thousands of years to be renewed or
replenished. Since this period is much more than human life spans, such
resources are considered non-renewable.
· Coal,
petroleum and natural gas are some examples.
· On
the basis of their distribution resources can be ubiquitous or localised.
· Resources
that are found everywhere like the air we breathe, are ubiquitous.
· But
those which are found only in certain places are localised, like copper
and iron ore.
Human Made
Resources:
· When
the original form of natural resources is changed by human beings to make it
more useful, then it is called man-made resources or human-made resources.
Human
Resources:
· People
can make the best use of nature to create more resources when they have the
knowledge, skill and the technology to do so. That is why human beings are a
special resource. People are human resources. Education and health help in
making people a valuable resource. Improving the quality of people’s skills so
that they are able to create more resources is known as human resource
development.
CONSERVING
RESOURCES:
· Using
resources carefully and giving them time to get renewed is called resource
conservation.
· Balancing
the need to use resources and also conserve them for the future is called
sustainable development.
· There
are many ways of conserving resources. Each person can contribute by reducing
consumption, recycling and reusing thing. Ultimately it makes a difference
because all our lives are linked.
· Therefore
it is our duty to ensure that-
· all
uses of renewable resources are sustainable
· the
diversity of life on the earth is conserved
· the
damage to natural environmental system is minimised.
Sustainable
Development:Carefully utilizing resources so that
beside meeting the requirements of the present, also takes care of the future
generations.
Some
Principles of Sustainable Development:
· Respect
and care for all forms of life.
· Improve
the quality of human life.
· Conserve
the earth’s vitality and diversity.
· Minimise
the depletion of natural resources.
· Change
personal attitude and practices toward the environment.
Enable communities to care
for their own environment. ...
the end………