Geography 1: Resources and Development

Meaning of Resource
• Anything in the environment that is useful, valuable, technologically accessible,
economically feasible, and culturally acceptable.
• Types:
o Natural Resources
o Human Resources
Classification of Resources
1. Based on Origin
• Biotic: Living. E.g., humans, animals, plants.
• Abiotic: Non-living. E.g., rocks, metals.
2. Based on Exhaustibility
• Renewable: Replenishable. E.g., wind, water, forests.
• Non-renewable: Formed over millions of years. E.g., coal, petroleum.
3. Based on Ownership
• Individual: Privately owned. E.g., farmland, plantations.
• Community: Accessible to all. E.g., public parks, wells.
• National: Owned by the nation. E.g., forests, minerals, rivers.
o Up to 12 nautical miles: National control.
o 12–24 nautical miles: Contiguous zone.
o 24–200 nautical miles: Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• International: Beyond 200 nautical miles. Controlled by international institutions.
4. Based on Development Status
• Potential: Present but not used. E.g., solar energy in Gujarat.
• Developed: Surveyed and usable with current tech.
• Stock: Technology not available to use. E.g., water’s hydrogen.
• Reserves: Can be used with existing technology but not yet started.
Major Problems of Resource Use
• Overuse to satisfy greed.
• Unequal distribution causes rich–poor divide.
• Indiscriminate use causes:
o Global warming, o Pollution,
o Ozone depletion, o Land degradation
Need for Resource Conservation
• Ensures equitable distribution.
• Maintains quality of life and global peace.
• Prevents environmental degradation.
• Resource planning is essential for sustainable existence.
Sustainable Development
• Development without harming the environment.
• Meets present needs without compromising future generations.
Agenda 21
• Adopted at Rio Earth Summit (1992).
• Global action plan for sustainable development.
• Aims to fight poverty, pollution, disease through resource conservation.
• Promotes participation of local people in environmental decision-making.
• Implemented at global, national, and local levels.
Resource Planning in India
• Step 1: Identify and make inventory of resources.
• Step 2: Create a planning structure with technology and skills.
• Step 3: Match resource development with national development goals.
Land Use Pattern in India
• Total geographical area: 3.28 million sq. km.
• Uses:
o Forests
o Non-agricultural uses (buildings, roads)
o Barren and wasteland
o Pastures and grazing lands
o Tree crops and groves (not in net sown area)
o Cultivable wasteland
o Fallow land (current and other)
o Net sown area
Factors influencing land use:
• Physical: topography, soil, climate.
• Human: population, technology, traditions.
Land Degradation and Conservation
Causes:
• Deforestation
• Overgrazing – especially in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
• Over-irrigation leading to waterlogging and salinity – common in Punjab, Haryana, and
Western Uttar Pradesh
• Mining – particularly in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha
• Industrial waste and improper disposal – major issue in states with rapid
industrialisation
Conservation Measures:
• Afforestation
• Grazing management
• Stabilising sand dunes with thorny bushes
• Treating industrial waste
• Controlled mining
Soil as a Resource
• Formed by: Parent rock, relief, climate, vegetation, organisms, and time.
• Consists of organic (humus) and inorganic matter.
 • Formed by weathering, water, wind, and biological activity.
Types of Soils in India
1. Alluvial Soil
• Found in northern plains, eastern coastal plains.
• Formed by Himalayan rivers – Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra.
• Types:
o Bangar: Old, less fertile, has kankar.
o Khadar: New, fertile, fine texture.
• Ideal for: paddy, wheat, sugarcane.
2. Black Soil (Regur)
• Found in Deccan Plateau – Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh.
• Ideal for cotton.
• Clayey, moisture-retentive, cracks in heat.
• Rich in lime, potash; poor in phosphates.
3. Red and Yellow Soil
• Found in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Deccan plateau.
• Red due to iron, yellow when hydrated.
• Formed from igneous rocks in dry regions.
4. Laterite Soil
• Found in Kerala, Karnataka, MP, Odisha, Assam.
• Forms in high temp + heavy rainfall areas.
• Low in humus, needs manure.
• Suitable for tea, coffee, cashew.
5. Arid Soil
• Found in Rajasthan, desert areas.
• Sandy, saline, lacks humus and moisture.
• Has kankar in deeper layers.
6. Forest Soil
• Found in hilly and snow-covered areas.
• Loamy and silty in valleys.
• Acidic with low humus in snow areas.
Soil Erosion
• Removal of topsoil by wind or water.
• Gullies: Water cuts deep channels – causes bad land (e.g., Chambal ravines).
• Sheet erosion: Water removes soil in thin layers.
Methods to Prevent Soil Erosion
• Contour ploughing: Along slope lines to slow water flow.
• Terrace farming: Cutting steps into hills.
• Strip cropping: Grass strips between crops reduce wind speed.
• Shelter belts: Rows of trees reduce wind erosion.