3. RESOURCES
Substances available in our environment
that can be used for specific purposes
and are technologically accessible,
economically viable and culturally
acceptable are referred to as resources.

4. CLASSIFICATION OF RESOURCES
Resources can be classified on the basis of
ORIGIN: Biotic and abiotic
EXHAUSTIBILITY: Renewable and Non-
renewable
OWNERSHIP: Individual, Community-owned,
National and International
STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT: Potential,
Developed and Stock

5. INDIVIDUAL RESOURCES
• Privately owned by individuals
• E.g. Individual ownership of land in the
form of houses and agricultural fields
COMMUNITY-OWNED RESOURCES
• Accessible to all members of a
community
• E.g. Village ponds, public parks, burial
grounds etc.

6. NATIONAL RESOURCES
• Those resources that exist within the territory of a
nation.
• All minerals, water bodies, forests, wildlife etc.
within the country and within 12 nautical miles
from the sea coast are called national resources.
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES
• Those oceanic resources that do not lie within the
Exclusive Economic Zone of any nation.
• They are managed by international institutions and
each country has an equal right to access these
resources.

7. POTENTIAL RESOURCES
• Though they are in existence, they are not being
completely utilized.
• E.g. Potential of wind and solar energy in Rajasthan
DEVELOPED RESOURCES
• Those resources that have been surveyed and are
ready for utilization.
STOCK
•Resources that exist but have not been utilized owing to
lack of technical expertise.
•E.g. Making hydrogen and oxygen from water
RESERVES
• They are those resources for whose utilization man
has the technical know-how but has not started using
them.
• E.g. Use of river water for generating electricity

8. PROBLEMS RELATED TO RESOURCES
• Depletion of resources due to over-
utilization.
• Accumulation in few hands.
• Indiscriminate exploitation of resources
resulting in ecological imbalances.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• It refers to that development which is lasting
enough to be used by the future generations.
• Development should be such that it does not
compromise with the needs of the coming
generations.

9. RIO DE JANEIRO EARTH SUMMIT, 1992
United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED)
Held at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
First ever International Earth Summit.
Aimed at addressing the problem of environmental
degradation and finding ways of protecting the
environment.
The declaration on global climatic change and
biodiversity was signed.
The Global Forest Principles were adopted.

10. AGENDA 21 was formulated.
Aims at achieving global sustainable
development.
For combating environmental damage,
poverty and diseases through global
cooperation.
Every country is supposed to formulate its
own Agenda 21.

11. RESOURCE PLANNING
It is necessary for making maximum utilization of
the available resources.
It involves
Identification of resources through surveys,
mapping and measurement.
Evolving a structure for utilizing resources by
means of appropriate technology and skills.
Synchronizing the resource development plans
with the national development goals.
Resource planning in India is done through the
Five Year Plans.

12. CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES
Resources need to be conserved as they are vital for
development.
Over-utilization and irrational consumption of
resources creates ecological imbalance.
Brundtland Commission Report of 1987
introduced the concept of ‘Sustainable Development’
that focused on the conservation of resources for the
future.

13. LAND RESOURCES
• Land is the basic natural resource on which all other resources
exist.
• India’s total land area: 3.28 million sq. km.
Plains: 43%
Mountains: 30%
Plateaus: 27%

14. USES OF LAND
1.Forests
2.Net sown area
3.Pastures
4.Housing
5.Roads
6.Barren and waste land
7.Culturable waste land
8.Fallow land
9.Area under miscellaneous trees, crops and groves
National Forest Policy (1932) envisages 33% of the
land area under forests in India. However, it is only
22%.

15. LAND DEGRADATION
Causes
 Deforestation
 Over-grazing
 Mining and quarrying
 Over-irrigation
 Mineral processing
 Industrial effluents
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and
Orissa are the states where deforestation, owing to
mining activities, has resulted in the degradation of
land.
In Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, the main
cause of land degradation is over-grazing.

16. METHODS FOR STOPPING LAND
DEGRADATION
Afforestation
Proper management of grazing
Stabilization of sand dunes
Control of mining activities
Proper discharge of industrial effluents

17. SOIL
Soil is a renewable natural resource.
It takes millions of years to form.
It is formed by the action of temperature,
running water, wind and glaciers.

18. CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL

21. SOIL EROSION
The washing away of the top layer of soil by the action
of wind and water is called soil erosion.
Soil formation and soil erosion are simultaneous
processes and a balance exists between the two.
Activities such as
 Deforestation
 Over-grazing
 Mining
 Construction
Increase the rate of soil erosion and disturb the
natural balance.

22. GULLY EROSION AND BADLANDS
 Deep channels called gullies are formed when fast
running water cuts through the soft clayey soil making
deep ravines.
 This type of land becomes unfit for cultivation and is
called badland.
 E.g. Chambal basin in Madhya Pradesh
SHEET EROSION:
It is caused when water flows as a sheet down a slope
and washes-off the top layer of soil.
Winds can also blow-off the top layer of soil.

23. METHODS OF SOIL CONSERVATION
Ploughing along the contour lines of slopes
Terrace farming
Planting strips of grass between crops restricts the
flow of water and breaks wind speed. This is called
Strip Cropping.
Planting lines of trees creates a shelter from the
fast moving winds and prevents erosion. These are
called Shelter Belts.