Glossary
Economic and Political Factors (in Resource Management)
The influence of financial systems, trade agreements, government policies, and international relations on how natural resources are extracted, used, and conserved.
Example:
Subsidies for renewable energy technologies are economic and political factors that can accelerate a country's transition away from fossil fuels.
Energy Dependency
The reliance of a country or region on external sources for its energy supply, often due to insufficient domestic production. A 'negative reliance' implies self-sufficiency or being an exporter.
Example:
A nation that imports most of its oil and natural gas demonstrates high energy dependency on other countries.
Geographic Factors
Environmental characteristics like climate, availability of water, sunlight, and fertile soil that determine the distribution of renewable natural resources.
Example:
The consistent strong winds in certain coastal areas are geographic factors that make them ideal locations for wind farms.
Geological Factors
Earth-related processes and characteristics, such as rock types, mineral deposits, and tectonic history, that influence where natural resources are found.
Example:
The formation of coal seams over millions of years is a geological factor determining where this fossil fuel can be mined.
Human Impact
The effects of human activities, such as consumption, pollution, and land use changes, on the quantity, quality, and long-term viability of natural resources.
Example:
Overfishing in marine ecosystems is a direct human impact that can lead to the depletion of fish stocks.
Natural Resources
Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.
Example:
The vast forests of the Pacific Northwest are a significant natural resource for the timber industry.
Political, Economic, and Social Factors
Human-influenced aspects such as technology access, infrastructure, trade policies, and societal structures that affect the exploitation and management of natural resources.
Example:
A country's political, economic, and social factors, including its investment in sustainable practices, can determine how effectively it manages its water resources.
Resource-Dependent Regions
Areas that rely heavily on importing natural resources from other countries because their domestic supply is insufficient to meet their needs.
Example:
Japan, with limited domestic fossil fuel reserves, is a prime example of a resource-dependent region for energy.
Resource-Rich Regions
Areas of the world that possess a large abundance of one or more valuable natural resources, often allowing them to be net exporters.
Example:
Brazil, with its extensive rainforests and mineral deposits, is considered a resource-rich region globally.
Uneven Distribution
The phenomenon where natural resources are not uniformly spread across the Earth's surface, leading to some regions having an abundance while others face scarcity.
Example:
The uneven distribution of rare earth minerals means that only a few countries control the majority of their global supply.