Resources and Development Test - 5

In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation. Nearly 30% of India’s land is now undergoing desertification, primarily as a result of the land degradation accompanying overcultivation, overgrazing, deforestation, and the overexploitation of water resources. The root causes of the situation, though, are fundamentally linked to growing population levels and the inevitable growing exploitation of the land.

Resources which are developed and surveyed for utilization and are being used in present time are known as Developed Resources. The level of development depends upon level of technology. Fossil fuel resources are examples of developed resources.

The word laterite has been derivedfrom the Latin word that means brick. The laterite soil is formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods, which leads to leaching of soil, leaving only oxides of iron and aluminum.

The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels as gullies which results in erosion through the gullies. Gully erosion is the process by which gullies are formed. Hillsides are more prone to gully erosion when they are cleared of vegetation, through deforestation, over-grazing or other means. 

On the Basis of Ownership:
Individual Resources: These are also owned privately by individuals. Many farmers own land which is allotted to them by government against the payment of revenue. In villages there are people with land ownership but there are many who are landless. Urban people own plots, houses and other property. Plantation, pasture lands, ponds, water in wells etc. are some of the examples of resources ownership by individuals. 
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.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, the Rio Summit, the Rio Conference, and the Earth Summit , was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. The Summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of environmental protection and socioeconomic development at the global level.

Biotic Resources: These are obtained from biosphere and have life such as human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc. Biotic resources are obtained from the biosphere (living and organic material), such as forests and animals, and the materials that can be obtained from them. Fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum are also included in this category because they are formed from decayed organic matter.

 Gandhiji was very vocal about his thought, he believes that there are enough resources to satisfy everyone’s need but not enough to work out on everyone’s greed. Also, he believed that a greedy individual and modern technologies exploitative nature will be the root cause for the destruction of natural resources. 

Laterite soils are suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manures and fertilizers. These soils are mainly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam. In north-eastern region different types of soil groups are found depending on physiography and climate. In plains region a soil is broadly alluvial in character. The new alluvial soil are mostly found in the riparian tracts of the valley and are subject to annual floods and renewal. They are suitable for the cultivation of rice, jute, pulses, mustard, potato and vegetables. The new alluvial sails are less acidic and are often neutral and even alkaline to slightly alkaline. The old alluvial soils are found above the annual flood level and are more acidic. The acidic character of these soils makes them suitable for tea plantation as well as for sugarcane, fruits, rice and vegetables. The flat land in the plains of Tripura and Cachar is although consisting of sand, silt and clay in different proportions.

Abiotic factors refer to non-living physical and chemical elements in the ecosystem. Abiotic resources are usually obtained from the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. Examples of abiotic factors are water, air, soil, sunlight, and minerals. Biotic factors are living or once-living organisms in the ecosystem. Eg, human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.