Introduction to Resource Management: Understanding Ownership and Control of Natural, Man-Made, and Human Resources

Resource Management – There are three types of resources—Natural resources, Man-made resources and Human resources.

The basis of ownership refers to the different entities or levels of control that can hold ownership rights over resources. 

Resource Management: Ownership from Individuals to Nations and Global Institutions

• Individual Resources 
  • These are owned privately by individuals, representing an aspect of resource management
  • Many farmers own land which is allotted to them by the government against the payment of revenue. 
  • Urban people own plots, houses and other property. 
  • Plantation, pasture lands, ponds, water in wells etc. are some of the examples of resources owned by an individual. 
• Community Owned Resources 
  • There are resources which are accessible to all the members of the community. 
  • Village commons (grazing grounds, burial grounds, village ponds, etc.) public parks, picnic spots, Playgrounds in urban areas are de facto accessible to all the people living there.
• National Resources 

• • Technically, all the resources belong to the nation, showcasing a facet of resource management. 
  • The country has legal powers to acquire even private property for public good such as roads, canals, railways being constructed on fields owned by some individuals. 
  • Urban Development Authorities get empowered by the government to acquire land. 
  • All the minerals, water resources, forests, wildlife, land within the political boundaries and oceanic area up to 12 nautical miles (19.2 km) from the coast termed as territorial water and resources therein belong to the nation.
• International Resources 
  • There are international institutions which regulate some resources, emphasizing a dimension of resource management. 
  • The oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) belong to the open ocean and no individual country can utilize these without the concurrence of international institutions.

Resource Management and Earth’s Land: Habitability, Distribution, and India’s Geographical Features

• Limited Habitability of Earth’s Land:  Land is among the most important natural resources. 
  • It covers only about 30% of the total area of the earth’s surface and all parts of this small percentage are not habitable, emphasizing the importance of Resource Management in optimizing its use(Refer Figure). 
• Population Distribution Disparities: The uneven distribution of population in different parts of the world is mainly due to varied characteristics of land and climate. 
  • The rugged topography, steep slopes of the mountains, low-lying areas susceptible to water logging, desert areas, thick forested areas are normally sparsely populated or uninhabited.
  • Plains and river valleys offer suitable land for agriculture. Hence, these are the densely populated areas of the world. 
• Land as a Finite Asset: Resource Management is essential as land supports natural vegetation, wild life, human life, economic activities, transport and communication systems. 
  • However, land is an asset of a finite magnitude, therefore, it is important to use the available land for various purposes with careful planning. 
• Diverse Geographical Features of India: Resource Management is crucial as India has land under a variety of relief features, namely; 
  • Mountains which account for 30% of the total surface area of the country and ensure perennial flow of some rivers, provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects; 
  • About 27% of the area of the country is the plateau region, possesses rich reserves of minerals, fossil fuels and forests; 
  • About 43% of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and industry; and islands.

Resource Management in Land Use: Dynamics, Classification, Scarcity, and Environmental Challenges

• Land Use Dynamics:  Resource Management in the utilization of land for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries commonly termed as Land use. 
• Land Classification by Ownership: It  can also be classified on the basis of ownership as – private land and community land. 
  • Private land is owned by individuals whereas, 
  • Community land also called common property resources is owned by the community for common uses like collection of fodder, fruits, nuts or medicinal herbs. 
• Land Scarcity and Quality Variability: Resource Management is crucial as people and their demands are ever growing but the availability of land is limited, also the quality of land differs from place to place. 
• Land Use Patterns and Cultural Shifts: Today, Resource Management plays a key role as  the vast changes in the land use pattern also reflect the cultural changes in our society. 
  • Land degradation, landslides, soil erosion, desertification are the major threats to the environment because of the expansion of agriculture and construction activities.

Resource Management in Land Utilization: Diverse Purposes and Classifications of Land Resources

• Forests

• Land not available for cultivation 

• • Barren and waste land  

• • Land put to non-agricultural uses, e.g. buildings, roads, factories, etc.

• Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land)

• • Permanent pastures and grazing land    
  • Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves (not included in net sown area),   
  • Cultruable waste land (left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years).

• Fallow lands 

• • Current fallow-(left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year), 
  • Other than current fallow-(left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years).

• Net sown area – Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area is known as gross cropped area, emphasizing the significance of Resource Management in agricultural practices.

Land Use Pattern in India: Resource Management Dynamics and Determinants of Land Use

• Determinants of Land Use: Resource Management in land utilization is influenced by a combination of physical factors such as topography, climate, soil types as well as human factors such as population density, technological capability and culture and traditions etc. 
• Mapping India’s Land Use: Total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq km.
  •  Land use data however, is available only for 93% of the total area.
  • Land use data of most of the north-east states except Assam and some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have also not been surveyed.
• Shifts in Land Use Dynamics: Resource Management is crucial as the land under permanent pasture has decreased (Refer Figure). 
  • Most of the other than the current fallow lands are either of poor quality or the cost of cultivation of such land is very high. 
  • Hence, these lands are cultivated once or twice in about 2-3 years, underscoring the importance of Resource Management. If these are included in the net sown area then the percentage of NSA in India comes to about 54% of the total reporting area. 
• Diverse Patterns Across State: The pattern of net sown area varies greatly from one state to another. 
  • It is over 80% of the total area in Punjab and Haryana and less than 10% in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman Nicobar Islands.
• Forestry Deficit: Resource Management is crucial as the forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33% of geographical area, as it was outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952).
• Wasteland and Non-Agricultural Uses: A part of the land is termed as waste land and land put to other non-agricultural uses. 
  • Waste land includes rocky, arid and desert areas and 
  • Land put to other non-agricultural uses includes settlements, roads, railways, industry etc.

Land  Degradation and Conservation Measures

• Escalating Challenge of Land Degradation: Resource Management Imperative in Addressing Continuous use of land over a long period of time without taking appropriate measures to conserve and manage it, has resulted in land degradation.
  • This, in turn, has serious repercussions on society and the environment. 
  • 95% of our basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are obtained from land. 
• Anthropogenic Impact: Human activities have not only brought about degradation of land but have also aggravated the pace of natural forces to cause damage to land.
• Challenges of Degraded Land: At present, there are about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India. 
  • Approximately, 28% of it belongs to the category of forest degraded area, 56%  of it is water eroded area and the rest is affected by saline and alkaline deposits(Refer Figure). 
  • In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa deforestation due to mining have caused severe land degradation. 
  • In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation. 
  • In the states of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to water logging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil. 
  • The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and soapstone for ceramic industry generate huge quantities of dust in the atmosphere. 
    • It retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil after it settles down on the land.
  • In recent years, industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of land and water pollution in many parts of the country. 
• Conservation
  • Afforestation, land reclamation, regulated use of chemical pesticide and fertilizers, checks on overgrazing, and Resource Management strategies such as  stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes  are some of the common methods used to conserve land resources. 
  • Proper Resource management of waste lands, control of mining activities, proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water degradation in industrial and suburban areas.

Resource Management: Classifying Resources Based on Development Status – Potential, Developed, Stock, and Reserves

• Potential Resources 
  • Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilized. 
  • Example: The western parts of India particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, emphasizing the need for effective Resource Management to harness these opportunities, which, as of now, have not been fully realized.
• Developed Resources 
  • Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined for utilization are developed resources. 
  • The development of resources depends on technology and level of their feasibility.
• Stock 
  • Materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but human beings do not have the appropriate technology to access these, are included among stock. 
  • Example: Water is a compound of two inflammable gases; hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have the required technical ‘know-how’ to use them for this purpose.

• Reserves 

• • These are the subset of the stock, which can be put into use with the help of existing technical ‘know-how’ but their use has not been started. 
  • These can be used for meeting future requirements. 
  • Example: River water can be used for generating hydroelectric power but presently, it is being utilized only to a limited extent. Thus , effective Resource Management is essential to tap into the potential of water in the dams, forests etc as a reserve which can be used in the future. 

Conclusion

Effective Resource Management is crucial for sustainable utilization of diverse resources—natural, man-made, and human. By strategically addressing ownership, land use, and development status, Resource Management becomes the linchpin for fostering balanced economic development and environmental conservation. The judicious application of Resource Management principles ensures optimized use of potential resources, safeguards against degradation, and paves the way for a resilient and sustainable future.

Also Read: Guardians of the Earth: Approach to Resource Planning and Conservation