• Resources: A resource is anything that is available to us in our environment that is accessible, sustainable and feasible and helps us to satisfy our needs and wants.
• Utility: need for any resource at a particular instance defines its utility or usability.
• Value: worth of any resource defines its value. It could either be tangible or intangible.
• Patent: Exclusive right over an idea or an invention.
• Technology: best utility of latest knowledge and skills in doing or making things.
Types of Resources
• Natural resources: Resources that are drawn from Nature and used without much modification are called natural resources. Eg : air we breathe, water in our rivers and lakes, soils, & minerals are all examples of natural resources.
• On basis of development and uses, resources are classified into two groups, namely
(1) Actual resources
(2) Potential resources
• Those resources whose quantity are known are known as Actual resources. Eg: rich deposits of coal in Ruhr region of Germany and petroleum in West Asia and dark soils of Deccan plateau in Maharashtra are some examples of actual resources.
• Those whose entire quantity may not be known and are not being used at present are called Potential resources. Eg: uranium found in Ladakh is one of known potential resource.
• Based on their origin, resources can be classified as:
(1) Abiotic
(2) Biotic
• Resources which are non-living are called Abiotic resources. Eg: Soils, rocks & minerals are abiotic resources.
• Resources which are living are called biotic resources. Eg: plants and animals are biotic resources.
• Natural resources can be broadly categorised into:
(1) Renewable resources
(2) Non-renewable resources.
• Renewable resources: Those resources that get renewed or replenished quickly are called Renewable resources. Some of these are unlimited and are not affected by human activities, like solar and wind energy. Water seems to be an unlimited renewable resource.
• Non – renewable resources: Those resources which have a limited stock are called Non-renewable resources.
• Once stocks are exhausted it takes thousands of years to get renewed.
• Since this period is much more than human life spans, So, these resources are considered non-renewable. For example: Coal, petroleum & natural gas.
• Based on their distribution, resources can be classified as:
(1) Ubiquitous: Those resources that are found everywhere like air that we breathe, are called ubiquitous resources.
(2) Localised: Those resources which are found only in certain places are called localised resources, for example, copper & iron ore.
(3) distribution of natural resources depends on a number of physical factors such as terrain, climate & altitude.
• Human made resources: Sometimes, many natural substances become resources only when their original form has been changed. For example: Iron ore.
• Technology is a well known human made resource.
Conserving Resources
• Sustainable development: balanced use of resources and conserving them for future usage with constant progression defines sustainable development.