Resources: CBSE Class 8 Geography Chapter 1 Notes

What is a Resource?

Anything that satisfies a human need is a resource. Look around you! The water you drink when you are thirsty, the fan that gives you cool air, the rickshaw you use to get home from school - all are resources because they have utility. Utility, or usability, is what makes an object or substance a resource.

How do things get their value? All resources have some value. 'Value' means worth. Some resources have economic value, like metals such as gold or iron, which can be bought and sold. Other resources may not have economic value but are still important. For example, a beautiful mountain landscape has aesthetic value. It might not be sold, but it enriches our lives. Both are important and satisfy human needs. Sometimes, time and technology are the two most important factors that can change substances into resources. For instance, for centuries, flowing water was just a part of the landscape. But with the invention of technology to create hydroelectricity, it became a valuable energy resource.

Types of Resources

Natural Resources

These are resources that are drawn directly from nature and used without much modification. Examples include the air we breathe, water in our rivers and lakes, soils, and minerals.

Human-Made Resources

These are resources created by human beings. People use natural resources to create buildings, bridges, roads, machinery, and vehicles, which are all human-made resources. Technology itself is a human-made resource.

Human Resources

People themselves are the most important resource. It is their knowledge, skill, health, and motivation that enable them to create more resources from nature. That's why education and health are so important in making people a valuable resource.

A Deeper Look: Classifying Natural Resources

Natural resources can be further classified in different ways:

1. Based on Level of Development and Use:

• Actual Resources: These are resources whose quantity is known and which are being used in the present. For example, we know about the rich deposits of coal in the Ruhr region of Germany and petroleum in the West Asia, and we are actively using them.
• Potential Resources: These are resources whose entire quantity may not be known and which are not being used at present. They could be used in the future. For example, the uranium found in Ladakh is a potential resource that may be used in the future when technology advances.

2. Based on Origin:

• Biotic Resources: These are obtained from the biosphere and have life. Examples include forests, animals, birds, and fish.
• Abiotic Resources: These are composed of non-living things. Examples are rocks, soils, and minerals.

3. Based on Stock:

• Renewable Resources: These are resources which get renewed or replenished quickly. Solar and wind energy are unlimited and not affected by human activities. However, careless use of certain renewable resources like water, soil, and forest can affect their stock.
• Non-renewable Resources: These have a limited stock. Once the stocks are exhausted, it may take thousands of years for them to be renewed. Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are key examples.

Conserving Resources and Sustainable Development

• Resource Conservation: This means using resources carefully and giving them time to get renewed. With our planet's growing population, it's a critical practice.
• Sustainable Development: This is the concept of carefully utilizing resources so that besides meeting the requirements of the present, we also take care of the needs of future generations.
• Why it Matters: If we are not careful, even renewable resources can become scarce, and non-renewable ones will definitely run out.
• 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, minimize the depletion of natural resources, and change personal attitude and practices towards the environment.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why are human beings considered a special type of resource? A: Step 1: Recall the definition of the three types of resources: Natural, Human-Made, and Human. Step 2: Understand that while natural resources are essential, they can only be utilized and developed by people. Step 3: Explain that it is humans who, with their knowledge, skills, and technology, can discover, extract, and transform substances into valuable resources. For example, iron ore was just a rock until humans learned how to extract iron from it. Final answer: Human beings are considered a special resource because they are the ones who use their minds and abilities to make the best use of nature to create more resources. Their education and health enhance their ability to create value, making them the ultimate resource.
• Q: Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources, giving two examples for each. A: Step 1: Define renewable resources. These are resources that can be replenished or renewed relatively quickly. Step 2: Provide examples of renewable resources, such as solar energy (from the sun) and wind energy. Step 3: Define non-renewable resources. These are resources that have a limited stock and take thousands or millions of years to form again once exhausted. Step 4: Provide examples of non-renewable resources, such as coal and petroleum. Final answer: Renewable resources get renewed quickly (e.g., solar energy, wind), while non-renewable resources have a limited stock and take a very long time to form (e.g., coal, petroleum).
• Q: What is sustainable development and why is it crucial in today's world? A: Step 1: Define sustainable development. It is the concept of balancing our current needs for resources with the need to conserve them for future generations. Step 2: Explain its importance. Mention the rapid consumption of resources due to population growth and industrialization. Step 3: Discuss the consequences of not practicing sustainable development, such as the depletion of non-renewable resources and damage to the environment, which affects the quality of life for everyone, now and in the future. Final answer: Sustainable development is the careful use of resources to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is crucial today because our resources are limited, and over-exploitation can lead to their exhaustion and cause severe environmental damage, threatening our planet's future.
• Q: A beautiful landscape might not have economic value but is still a resource. Explain why. A: Step 1: Recall the two components that make something a resource: utility and value. Step 2: Remember that value is not always economic. Value can also be aesthetic, ethical, or legal. Step 3: Apply this to the example. A beautiful landscape has aesthetic value. It fulfills the human need for recreation, peace, and appreciation of nature. Final answer: A beautiful landscape is considered a resource because it has utility and value. While it may not be bought or sold (no economic value), it has aesthetic value. It satisfies the human need for recreation and mental well-being, making it a valuable environmental resource.

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