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{{Redirect|Primary resource|original sources used in research|Primary source}}
[[File:Rainforest Fatu Hiva.jpg|right|thumb |The [[rainforest]] in
[[File:Carson Fall Mt Kinabalu.jpg|thumb|upright |The Carson Fall in [[Mount Kinabalu]], [[Malaysia]] is an example of undisturbed natural resources. Waterfalls provide spring water for humans, animals and plants for survival and
[[File:Ocean waves.jpg|thumb |The [[ocean]] is an example of a natural resource. Ocean waves can be used to generate [[wave power]], a [[renewable energy]] source. Ocean water is important for [[Salt#Production|salt production]], [[desalination]], and providing habitat for deep-water fishes. There is biodiversity of marine species in the sea where nutrient cycles are common.]]
[[File:Udachnaya pipe.JPG|thumb |A picture of the [[Udachnaya pipe]], an [[open-pit mining|open-pit]] [[diamond]] mine in [[Siberia]]. An example of a non-renewable natural resource.]]
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'''Natural resources''' are [[resource]]s that are drawn from [[nature]] and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest, and cultural value. On [[Earth]], it includes [[sunlight]], [[atmosphere]], [[water]], [[land]], all [[mineral]]s along with all [[vegetation]], and [[wildlife]].<ref>{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131103125106/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/natural-resources |url-status= dead |archive-date= November 3, 2013 |title= natural resources - definition of natural resources in English |publisher= Oxford Dictionaries |date= 2014-04-20 |url= http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/natural-resources |access-date= 2016-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/student?natural+resource |title= Definition of natural resource - Student Dictionary |website= Wordcentral.com |date= 2012-09-20 |access-date= 2016-12-12 |quote= natural resource [...] : something (as a mineral, waterpower source, forest, or kind of animal) that is found in nature and is valuable to humans (as in providing a source of energy, recreation, or scenic beauty[.] |archive-date= 2017-08-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170803174950/http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/student?natural+resource |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.investorwords.com/3210/natural_resources.html |title= What is Natural Resources? definition and meaning |website= Investorwords.com |access-date= 2016-12-12 |archive-date= 2019-11-02 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191102191000/http://www.investorwords.com/3210/natural_resources.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.yourdictionary.com/natural-resource |title= Natural resource dictionary definition | natural resource defined |website= Yourdictionary.com |access-date= 2016-12-12 |quote= Natural-resource meaning [:] <br> An actual or potential form of wealth supplied by nature, as coal, oil, water power, timber, arable land, etc. <br> A material source of wealth, such as timber, fresh water, or a mineral deposit, that occurs in a natural state and has economic value. <br> Something, such as a forest, a mineral deposit, or fresh water, that is found in nature and is necessary or useful to humans. <br> Any source of wealth that occurs naturally, especially minerals, fossil fuels, timber, etc. |archive-date= 2019-10-22 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191022135036/https://www.yourdictionary.com/natural-resource |url-status= live }}</ref>
Natural resources are part of humanity's [[natural heritage]] or protected in [[nature reserve]]s. Particular areas (such as [[Fatu-Hiva|the rainforest in Fatu-Hiva]]) often feature [[biodiversity]] and [[geodiversity]] in their ecosystems. Natural resources may be classified in different ways. Natural resources are materials and components (something that can be used)
A natural resource may exist as a separate entity such as
Natural
==Classification==
{{See also|United Nations Framework Classification for Resources}}
There are various criteria
===Origin===
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===Stage of development===
* '''Potential resources:''' Resources that are known to exist, but have not been utilized yet. These may be used in the future. For example, [[petroleum]] in sedimentary rocks that, until extracted and put to use, remains a ''potential'' resource.
* '''Actual resources:''' Resources that have been surveyed, quantified and qualified, and are currently used in development. These are typically dependent on technology and the level of their feasibility, [[wood processing]] for example.
* '''Reserves:''' The part of an actual resource that can be developed profitably in the future.
* ''' Stocks:''' Resources that have been surveyed, but cannot be used due to lack of technology, [[hydrogen vehicle]]s for example.
===Renewability/exhaustibility===
* '''[[Renewable resources]]:''' These resources can be replenished naturally. Some of these resources, like [[solar energy]], air, wind, water, etc. are continuously available and their quantities are not noticeably affected by human consumption. Though many renewable resources do not have such a rapid recovery rate, these resources are susceptible to depletion by over-use. Resources from a human use perspective are classified as renewable so long as the rate of replenishment/recovery exceeds that of the rate of consumption. They replenish easily compared to non-renewable resources.
[[File:Waters of the Victoria Nile in the Murchison Falls National Park.jpg|alt=Victoria Nile waters as one of Uganda's key natural resources|thumb|The waters of the [[White Nile]] River are a key natural resource for [[Uganda]].]]
* '''[[Non-renewable resources]]:''' These resources are formed over a long [[Geologic time scale|geological time]] period in the environment and cannot be renewed easily. Minerals are the most common resource included in this category. From the human perspective, resources are non-renewable when their rate of consumption exceeds the rate of replenishment/recovery; a good example of this
===Ownership===
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Resource extraction involves any activity that withdraws resources from nature. This can range in scale from the [[traditional economy|traditional use]] of preindustrial societies to global industry. Extractive industries are, along with agriculture, the basis of the [[primary sector]] of the economy. Extraction produces [[raw material]], which is then processed to [[add value]]. Examples of extractive industries are [[hunting]], [[Animal trapping|trapping]], [[mining industry|mining]], [[Petroleum industry in Nigeria|oil and gas drilling]], and [[timber industry|forestry]]. Natural resources can add substantial amounts to a country's wealth;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/16-002-x/2007003/10454-eng.htm |title=EnviroStats: Canada's natural resource wealth at a glance |publisher=Statcan.gc.ca |access-date=2014-05-31 |archive-date=2014-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106142956/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/16-002-x/2007003/10454-eng.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> however, a sudden inflow of money caused by a resource boom can create social problems including inflation harming other industries ("[[Dutch disease]]") and corruption, leading to inequality and underdevelopment, this is known as the "[[resource curse]]".
Extractive industries represent a large growing activity in many less-developed countries but the wealth generated does not always lead to [[sustainable growth|sustainable]] and [[inclusive growth]]. People often accuse extractive industry businesses as acting only to maximize short-term value, implying that less-developed countries are vulnerable to powerful corporations. Alternatively, host governments are often assumed to be only maximizing immediate [[revenue]]. Researchers argue there are areas of common interest where development goals and business cross. These present opportunities for international governmental agencies to engage with the [[private sector]] and host governments through revenue management and expenditure accountability, infrastructure development, [[employment creation]], skills and [[enterprise development]], and impacts on children, especially girls and women.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Evelyn Dietsche|author2=Samantha Dodd|author3=Dan Haglund|author4=Mark Henstridge|author5=Maja Jakobsen|author6=Esméralda Sindou|author7=Caroline Slaven|title=Extractive industries, development and the role of donors - ECONOMIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PROFESSIONAL EVIDENCE AND APPLIED KNOWLEDGE SERVICES|url=http://www.partnerplatform.org/?wwwszt4b|website=Partberplatform.org|access-date=2016-12-12|archive-date=2017-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205225440/https://www.partnerplatform.org/?wwwszt4b|url-status=live}}</ref> A strong civil society can play an important role in ensuring the effective management of natural resources. Norway can serve as a role model in this regard as it has good institutions and open and dynamic public debate with strong civil society actors that provide an effective checks and balances system for the government's management of extractive industries, such as the [[Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative]] (EITI), a global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources. It seeks to address the key governance issues in the extractive sectors.<ref>Indra Overland (2018) 'Introduction: Civil Society, Public Debate and Natural Resource Management', in Indra Overland (ed.) Public Brainpower: Civil Society and Natural Resource Management, Cham: Palgrave, pp. 1–22.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320656629 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140013/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320656629 |date=2018-06-12 }}</ref> However, in countries that do not have a very strong and unified society, meaning that there are dissidents who are not as happy with the government as in Norway's case, natural resources can actually be a factor in whether a civil war starts and how long the war lasts.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lujala |first1=Päivi |title=The spoils of nature: Armed civil conflict and rebel access to natural resources |journal=Journal of Peace Research |date=January 2010 |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=15–28 |doi=10.1177/0022343309350015|s2cid=111088968 }}</ref>
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Management of natural resources involves identifying who has the right to use the resources, and who does not, for defining the boundaries of the resource.<ref name="Kommers and Mackie">{{cite web |title=Ostrom E cited in Kommers N and Mackie P 2005 Journalist guide to world resources 2005 World Resources Institute 1-30 |url=http://pdf.wri.org/worldresources_2005_journalist_guide.pdf |publisher=Pdf.wri.org |access-date=2011-09-22 |archive-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125125144/http://pdf.wri.org/worldresources_2005_journalist_guide.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The resources may be managed by the users according to the rules governing when and how the resource is used depending on local condition<ref name="Managing Ecosystem">{{cite web|title=UNDP, UNEP, The World Bank and World Resources Institute – The Wealth of the Poor: Managing Ecosystems to Fight Poverty Institute 2005 Chapter 3 The board's role in governance, World Resources 2005 |url=http://www.sc.com.my/eng/html/cg/cg2011/pdf/chapter3.pdf |publisher=Sc.com.my |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725052556/http://www.sc.com.my/eng/html/cg/cg2011/pdf/chapter3.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-25 }}</ref> or the resources may be managed by a governmental organization or other central authority.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Conroy, Michael J.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/827207638|title=Decision Making in Natural Resource Management : a Structured, Adaptive Approach.|date=2012|publisher=Wiley|others=Peterson, James T.|isbn=978-1-118-50623-3|location=Chicester|oclc=827207638}}</ref>
A "...successful management of natural resources depends on freedom of speech, a dynamic and wide-ranging public debate through multiple independent media channels and an active civil society engaged in natural resource issues..."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320656629|title=Public Brainpower: Civil Society and Natural Resource Management|last=Overland|first=Indra|chapter=Introduction: Civil Society, Public Debate and Natural Resource Management|date=2018-01-01|pages=1–22|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-60627-9_1|isbn=9783319606262|access-date=2018-04-05|archive-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140013/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320656629|url-status=live}}</ref> because of the nature of the shared resources, the individuals who are affected by the rules can participate in setting or changing them.<ref name="Kommers and Mackie"/> The users have rights to devise their own management institutions and plans under the recognition by the government. The right to resources includes land, water, fisheries and pastoral rights.<ref name="Managing Ecosystem"/> The users or parties accountable to the users have to actively monitor and ensure the utilisation of the resource compliance with the rules and to impose penalty on those
==See also==
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* [[Lunar resources]]
* [[Mining]]
* [[Nature-based solutions]]
* [[Resource nationalism]]
* [[Sustainable development]]
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