Natural Resources, Soil Types & Sustainable Development
Resource classification, 6 soil types, soil erosion, Tragedy of Commons, Brundtland SDGs, Indian initiatives.
Natural Resources, Soil Types & Sustainable Development
Resources — Types and Rational Use
What you'll learn
- What a resource is; why something becomes a resource.
- Classification of resources — natural, human-made, human; renewable vs non-renewable.
- Resource depletion — why it happens and why it matters.
- Sustainable development and what we can do.
Key concepts
What is a resource?
- A resource is anything that can be used to satisfy a human need.
- Something only becomes a resource when humans find a use for it and have the technology to use it.
- Example: Uranium was just a rock until nuclear technology existed.
Classification of resources
By origin
| Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Natural resources | Found in nature; not made by humans | Land, water, air, minerals, forests, sunlight |
| Human-made resources | Created by humans using natural resources | Buildings, roads, machines, technology |
| Human resources | People and their skills, knowledge, abilities | Doctors, engineers, farmers, teachers |
By renewability
| Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable (Inexhaustible) | Can replenish naturally within human timescales | Sunlight, wind, water (water cycle), forests (if managed) |
| Non-renewable (Exhaustible) | Take millions of years to form; finite | Coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals |
By ownership
| Type | Who owns it | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Private individuals/companies | Agricultural land, houses, factories |
| Community | Shared by a community | Village grazing land, rivers, parks |
| National | Owned by the government (nation-state) | Forests, wildlife, water bodies, minerals |
| International | Shared by all nations | Open ocean (beyond 200 nm EEZ), atmosphere, Antarctica |
Natural resources of India
Land
- Total area: 3.28 million km².
- Uses: agriculture, forests, grassland, wasteland, settlements.
- Net sown area: ~46% of total land.
- Threat: urbanisation, soil erosion, waterlogging, desertification.
Soil — India's most important resource
| Soil Type | Where Found | Characteristics | Main Crops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alluvial | Northern plains, coastal deltas | Most fertile; deposited by rivers; two types: Khadar (new), Bhangar (old) | Wheat, rice, sugarcane |
| Black (Regur) | Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat) | Formed from volcanic basalt; self-ploughing; retains moisture | Cotton, jowar, linseed |
| Red and Yellow | Odisha, eastern MP, south India | Iron-rich; turns red when oxidised; less fertile | Millets, groundnut |
| Laterite | Kerala, Karnataka hilltops, NE | Heavy rainfall leaches nutrients; acidic | Cashew, rubber, tea |
| Desert (Arid) | Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat | Sandy; low moisture; saline | Bajra, drought-resistant crops |
| Mountain | Himalayan slopes, NE | Thin; rocky; acidic | Tea, coffee, fruit trees |
Soil erosion and conservation
- Wind erosion: deserts; deforestation exposes soil.
- Water erosion: ravines (chambal); shifting cultivation (jhum, NE India).
- Conservation: contour ploughing, terracing, shelter belts (windbreaks), afforestation.
Water
- India receives ~4,000 billion cubic metres (BCM) of rainfall annually; usable: ~1,123 BCM.
- Groundwater over-extraction: water table falling in Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu.
- Water conservation: rainwater harvesting, check dams, watershed management.
Forest
- Forest cover: ~21.7% of India's area (target: 33% per National Forest Policy 1988).
- Types: tropical evergreen, tropical deciduous (most common), montane, mangrove.
- Benefits: carbon sink, biodiversity, water cycle regulation, livelihood for tribes.
- Threats: encroachment, mining, infrastructure projects.
Why resources are being depleted
| Cause | Example |
|---|---|
| Over-exploitation | Mining without limits; over-fishing |
| Population growth | More people → more demand for food, water, energy |
| Industrialisation | Factories consume large amounts of materials and energy |
| Consumerism | Throw-away culture; planned obsolescence |
| Unequal access | Rich nations consume disproportionately |
- Tragedy of the Commons (Garrett Hardin, 1968): shared resources get over-used because each individual benefits from using more while the cost is shared — e.g., open-access fisheries, groundwater.
Sustainable development
- Definition: "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." — Brundtland Report (1987).
- India endorsed UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030: 17 goals including no poverty, clean water, climate action.
Principles of sustainable resource use
- Reduce: use less — energy efficiency, less packaging.
- Reuse: use items multiple times before discarding.
- Recycle: convert waste into new materials.
- Renewable substitution: replace coal with solar/wind energy.
- Equitable distribution: ensure resources reach all, not just the wealthy.
Indian initiatives
| Initiative | Purpose |
|---|---|
| National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008) | 8 missions including solar, water, forests |
| Jal Shakti Abhiyan | Water conservation; recharge groundwater |
| Swachh Bharat Mission | Sanitation; reduce open defecation |
| National Solar Mission | 100 GW solar capacity target |
| Van Mahotsav | Annual tree-planting festival |
Quick check
- What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources?
- Name four types of soil found in India and where each is found.
- What is the Tragedy of the Commons? Give one example.
- Define sustainable development (Brundtland definition).
- Name three Indian initiatives for sustainable resource use.
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Resources.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Quick check
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