2.1: Resources and reserves

the stock or supply of materials that are available in a given context

a natural resource that can replenish with the passage of time or does not abate at all

• A natural resource qualifies as a renewable resource if it is replenished by natural processes at a rate almost the same as its rate of consumption by humans or other users.

can be used and then naturally restored to its previous state or quantity without depleting the overall supply permanently

• plantation of timber

• wind

• solar

• hydro

• wave

• tidal

• thermal

a resource that is inexhaustible therefore can be replenished quick enough.

e.g hardwood trees (such as many rainforest species) take a fair bit of time to mature to a point where is is useable as a resource, therefore, it is considered non-renewable. On the other hand, softwoods (such as pines or conifers) mature more quickly and are considered a renewable resource.

• fresh drinking water

A natural resource that does not replenish at a sustainable rate; a source that will run out if the rate of extraction is maintained.

fossil fuels

• oil

• natural gas

• coal

• nuclear energy

benefits:

• useful sources of energy- needed to manufacture products and provide power to businesses, factories and homes.

disadvantages:

• resources are running out and the human dependency on them is very high.

A natural resource that has been identified in terms of quantity and quality

• A proven reserve are those resources that can be economically and technically extracted.

gold in seawater

• Governments need to balance the economic benefits and political impact (including social aspects) of resource extraction.

• Often, multinational companies licensed to extract resources have limited consideration for the local population.

• The economic and political importance of material and land resources and reserves considering…

• set-up cost – typically are high and perhaps national/local governments cannot afford to set-up the infrastructure and the extraction site so outside multi-nationals could be invited.

• efficiency of conversion – 

• sustainable and constant supply – 

• social impact – can bring jobs (skilled and unskilled) and wealth, employment could be permanent or temporary (short term excavation/extraction),

• environmental impact – as mentioned above

• decommissioning – economically quite expensive especially with  nuclear reactors