GEOG 205 Global Communities and Resources: Critical Perspectives
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Use, Management, and Conservation of Natural Resources
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Introduction
In this module we will explore political, planetary, and economic issues surrounding the use, conservation, and management of natural resources. If you will recall from previous modules, natural resources are considered any naturally occurring elements provided by the planet, such as waterways, minerals, fossil fuels (such as coal and oil), natural landscapes (for travel, infrastructure, and agriculture) and even airspace for flights. We will look at how governments regulate and distribute these resources, including wildlife in oceans and forests. We will also focus on the issues surrounding conservation and use of those resources that are renewable, such as trees. Each of these issues have a profound impact on the standard of living and the quality of life of citizens.
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Objectives
At the end of the module, the student will be able to:
Identify each resource considered “natural”, and describe their use for society.
Explain how governments regulate the distribution and conservation of natural resources.
Connect the allocation of natural resources to both the needs of citizens and the links to international trade.
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Natural Resources
Common Resources
Public Goods and Services
Wildlife
Timber
Water Resources
Minerals
Fossil Fuels
Natural Resource Public Policy
Terms
• A natural resource is any earth‐provided material or land mass that can be used for the transportation of humans, or for the sustenance of human life.
• Common resources are those naturally occurring resources that can be accessed by the general population, such as individuals, businesses, and governments. Examples include fish in lakes, rivers, and oceans, trees and foliage, waterways for transportation, land for public parks, hospitals, government testing facilities, military bases, etc., and land used to harvest minerals and fossil fuels.
• Public goods and services are those provided by governments in which individuals do not pay at the point of acquisition or at the point of service. Examples include roads and bridges, recreational water use, common areas such as public parks and libraries, public airspace, public airwaves, etc. Since there is no payment at the point of use, the acquisition and upkeep of these goods and services is usually paid for with taxes.
• Wildlife refers to the existence of animals and fish that are allowed to be harvested for public consumption, such as livestock (cows, pigs, chickens), some birds, and fish and seafood.
• Timber refers to trees and foliage that occur naturally in forests and across landscapes.
• Minerals refer to the existence of metals and their derivatives that exist below the
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earth’s surface, such as copper and zinc. • Fossil fuels refer to primarily coal and oil, which can be harvested for use in the
refining of gasoline, to power electric plants, and heat homes and businesses.
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Landscapes, waterways, and air space used for transportation o Individuals, businesses, and military personnel rely on roads, bridges, and
tunnels to move humans and materials for the purpose of travel and commerce
o Waterways provide another mode of transportation of people and goods between regions or nations, for the purpose of travel and commerce.
o Air space is used to move people and goods for the purpose of travel and commerce. It is also used to transmit radio, television, and satellite feeds delivering information and entertainment to the public
Landscapes, waterways, and timber used for food and raw materials o Raw materials are those used in the production of another good or service,
such as timber, fossil fuels, and minerals.
Natural Resource Use – Benefits and Costs
• Raw materials • Timber is used for the production of furniture, houses, paper, and other
public and private structures such as bridges, park pavilions, etc. • Fossil fuels are used for energy, such as gasoline for transportation, natural
gas for heating, coal for heating and powering electric plants • Minerals are harvesting from under the earth’s surface, by drilling down
and developing mines. A good example is copper, which is used as a raw material in thousands of goods, for both the conducting of electric power, and for structural purposes.
• The benefits of natural resources is that they meet the food, travel, and material needs of citizens. But their existence is limited, which means choices have to be made about their management, use and distribution. Citizens have to have access to these resources, but in a way that promotes equality and maintains some of their renewable qualities.
• The cost of using natural resources refers to both the quantity used and distributed (renewable and non‐renewable), and the monetary means of paying for the harvesting and selling of these resources.
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Renewable resources
o Wind, solar, wildlife and livestock, timber, and water
Non-renewable resources
o Minerals, fossil fuels, and land masses
Governments must set limits on how many resources can be harvested by business and individuals, in order to promote fairness in meeting the needs of citizens either through industry, or in the food distribution system.
Some resources are off-limits to individuals and businesses, such as land established for national parks
Government Policies for Resource Management
• Oceans, lakes, and rivers contain the common resource of fish and seafood. To promote their renewable qualities, fishermen and fisheries are limited by most governments to certain quantities of fish, within a certain seasonal window.
• Hunters must abide by rules governing the hunting season or face fines and penalties. Wildlife has to be able to reproduce, but sometimes herds also have to be thinned if there is overpopulation (for example, of deer).
• For the harvesting of minerals and fossil fuels, governments grant licenses to businesses to drill and capture. This includes zoning of certain land for mineral and fossil fuel exploration. It also includes licenses for off‐shore oil drilling.
• Businesses pay license fees to the government for the right to drill and harvest in these areas.
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Government exists to promote the public good
The stability of society depends on the availability of quality jobs
The stability of society also depends on the needs of citizens being met
o Travel needs
o Food needs
o Public service needs (such as militaries and public parks)
Governments must enact and promote policies that conserve natural resources to achieve the best good for the most people
Government Policies and Economic Activity
• Companies that drill for oil and coal, harvest timber, mine for minerals, and catch fish and other wildlife, produce jobs for citizens.
• These jobs provide income for citizens to buy the things they need, and to travel as needed.
• Commerce (the buying and selling of goods and services) is heavily dependent on fuel for transportation of goods to market.
• Trains transport raw materials and some finished goods • Cargo ships transport finished goods and some raw materials within and
across nations • Planes transport packages and finished goods for individuals and
businesses • Satellite and air waves transport information and entertainment for public
consumption
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Summary
In this module you learned about the modern issues discussed and moderated concerning the use,
conservation, and management of natural resources around the world. Different regions of the world
have access to different types of resources based on topography, proximity to waterways, the
existence of fossil fuels, and the geography of airspace. There are also naturally occurring amounts of
wildlife and timber that are accessible by different nations. Some regions have a competitive
advantage in the harvesting, distribution, and trade of these resources, based on the luck of their
geography. Now that you have completed the activity, assignment and discussion for Module 6, you
are now able to:
Identify each resource considered “natural”, and describe their use for society.
Explain how governments regulate the distribution and conservation of natural resources
Connect the allocation of natural resources to both the needs of citizens and the links to
international trade.
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References
Nijman, J., Muller, P., & Shin, M. (2020). Geography: Realms, regions, and concepts
(18th ed.). Wiley. https://bcs.wiley.com/he‐
bcs/Books?action=chapter&bcsId=11698&itemId=1119607361&chapterId=13854
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Patrich, J. (2020). Physical geography (version 1). College of the
Canyons. https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/926
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Review as many times as required the information contained in the module folder (includes this presentation).
Read the reference material to clarify any questions.
Carry out all the activities according to the instructions.
Submit assignments on the indicated date through the educational platform.
Congratulations you have reviewed the theoretical summary of this week’s topic!
Actively participate in collaborative sessions.
Remember that to successfully build your learning it is important that:
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