Question

Prepare a pictorial chart showing the classification of resources giving at least a suitable example of each category of resources

Answer 1

Classification of Natural Resources

1. On the basis of Origin of Resources:

(a) Biotic (b) Abiotic

(a) Biotic Resource: All living things are known as Biotic Resources. These resources are obtained from the Biosphere and they have life, such as – Human Beings, Flora, Fauna, fisheries, etc.

(b) Abiotic Resource: All non-living things are known as Abiotic Resources, such as Wind, Water, Air, Rocks, Metals, etc.



2. On the basis of Exhaustibility or Utility of Resources:

(a) Renewable (b) Non-Renewable

(a) Renewable Resource: Resources which can be renewed or reproduced are known as Renewable Resource. E.g. Solar & Wind energy, Water, etc. Resources like Wind, Sunlight, are present in such huge quantities that human consumption does not effect them.

Many resources are replenishable which means these resources are recycled within the environment by natural process and their quantities remain constant. E.g. Oxygen Cycle and Water Cycle take place rapidly, whereas e.g. like Rock Cycle is very slow.

(b) Non-Renewable Resource: Resources get exhausted when used. These resources cannot be renewed or reproduced. Fossil Fuels like, coal, petroleum, natural gas are the best examples of non-renewable resource. These resources are limited in supply and it takes millions of years in their formation.

Metals like Gold, Silver, Copper and Iron are recyclable.



3. On the basis of Stage of Development of Resources:

(a) Actual Resource (b) Potential Resource (c) Reserves (d) Stock

(a) Actual Resource - Resources whose existence has been proved and whose quality, quantity and location has been determined for utilization with the available technology. E.g. Assam oil fields, Damodar coal fields, etc.

(b) Potential Resource – Resources which are found in a region but have not been utilized, might be because of the lack of technology. They can be used in future. E.g. Solar and Wind are potential resource. Rajasthan and Gujarat have great potential for the development of these two resources.

Largest Solar Plant in India - Madhapur, Bhuj (Kutch, Gujarat)
Largest Wind farm cluster in India – Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu)
(c) Reserves – Resources which can be put into use with the help of the existing technology but their use has not been started. They can be used in future. E.g. more rivers can be used for generating electricity.

(d) Stocks – Reserves which have the potential to satisfy the human needs but we don't have the technology to access it.



4. On the basis of Distribution of Resources:

(a) Ubiquitous (b) Localised

(a) Ubiquitous Resource: Resources which are found everywhere are called ubiquitous resource. E.g. air, land, water, etc.

(b) Localised Resource: Resources which are found only in certain places are localised resources, like coal, petrol, iron, etc.



5. On the basis of Ownership of Resources:

(a) Individual (b) Community (c) National (d) International

(a) Individual Resource: Resources which are owned by an individual. E.g. plot, car, house, etc.

(b) Community Resource: Resources which belongs to a community of people. E.g. parks, community halls, picnic spots, etc.

(c) National Resource: Resources which belongs to a nation. These resources are found within the political boundaries and territorial waters of a country. E.g. rivers, forests, minerals, etc.

(d) International Resource: Resources which are found beyond the territorial boundaries of a country. These resources are managed by the international institutes. No single country can use these resources without the permission of the international authorities. E.g. Minerals, fisheries, etc.

Answer 2

pictorial chart showing the classification of resources giving a least a suitable example of each category resources