Finding and using resources

“Human resources are like natural resources; they’re often buried deep. You have to go looking for them; they’re not just lying around on the surface. You have to create the circumstances where they show themselves.” – Ken Robinson

ARESOURCE may be defined as the collective wealth of a country or its means of producing wealth. It is a source or a supply from which benefit is produced, as well as an economic or a productive factor/activity required to accomplish an activity, or used to undertake an enterprise. It may also be persons, assets, materials, or capital which can be used to accomplish a goal. Generally speaking, resources are materials, money, services, staff, or other assets that are transformed to produce assistance and, in the process, may be consumed or can become unavailable. Benefits of utilising resources include: Increased wealth. Meeting needs or wants. Proper functioning of a system. Enhancing individuals’ well-being.

TYPES OF RESOURCES

There are two types of resources: human and physical/natural resources.

Natural resource may be defined as all that exists without the actions of humankind; anything obtained from the environment to satisfy human needs and wants. Natural resources are very important throughout the world. Without natural resources, we would not survive. Trees, minerals, water and animals are all examples of natural resources. Without them, we would have no food, clothing, or shelter. Other examples are:

Human beings, through the labour they provide and their other attributes, especially in organisations they are a part of, are also considered to be resources. The term ‘human resources’ may, therefore, be defined as the skills, energies, talents, abilities and knowledge that are used for the production of goods or the rendering of services.

Human resources are, therefore, seen as individuals who make up the workforce of an organisation, business sector or an economy in general.

RENEWABLE RESOURCES

This is any natural resource (as wood or solar energy) that can be replenished naturally with the passage of time.

Renewable resources are ones that can be replenished naturally. Some of these resources, like sunlight, air and wind, are continuously available and their quantity is not noticeably affected by human consumption. Resources, from a human use perspective, are classified as renewable only so long as the rate of replenishment/recovery exceeds that of the rate of consumption.

NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES

These are resources that are consumed much faster than nature can create them.

Non-renewable resources are resources that form extremely slowly and those that do not naturally form in the environment. Minerals are the most common resources included in this category. From the human perspective, resources are nonrenewable when their rate of consumption exceeds the rate of replenishment/recovery. A good example of this are fossil fuels, which are in this category because their rate of formation is extremely slow, meaning they are considered non-renewable.

ACTIVITIES:

Define the following concepts: a. Concepts related to physical resources: development, environment, conservation, energy, renewable resource, natural resource, non-renewable resource, infrastructure, food security, pollution, conservation, global warming, green house effect.

b. Differentiate between human and physical resources and renewable and non-renewable resources.