1. (ampofo16693@alumni.itc.nl)
ENV 233: INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Steve Ampofo
Department of Earth & Environmental Science
Faculty of Applied Sciences
Navrongo Campus

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Natural resources have salient features which help distinguish them from other resources and also help in putting them into various categories.
These characteristics are;
Renewability
Uncertainty
Irreversibility
Externality

3. Renewability
Renewability: It considers issues such as the exhaustion or irreversible depletion as a result of excessive use.
Excessive use of a resource results when the natural rate of regeneration is less than the rate of exploitation and use of such resources.
The rate of regeneration can itself be damaged by excessive use which can make a renewable resource depleted.

4. Renewability
Examples of factors that may alter the rate of regeneration and affect a renewable resource include;
Green house effect
Ozone layer depletion
Acid rain
Soil degradation
Deforestation
Water availability
etc.

5. Renewability
A resource has an infinite supply where the rate of use are below their natural regeneration rate.
Such resources do not command any scarcity value or rent and the assumptions of free gift of nature and free disposal apply.
Example is the air we breath.
For non-renewable resources the rate of regeneration is zero leading to a gradual but certain depletion.

6. Uncertainty
Uncertainty :Though scientific knowledge has advanced the understanding of the earth and environmental processes.
Incomplete scientific knowledge is connected with source of uncertainty of environmental issues.
Technological advancements which helps to link environment-economy interaction is unknown and also create uncertainty

7. Uncertainty Examples of uncertainty:
Desertification and land degradation in Africa(extent, causes, and impacts) is not free from controversy.
Rates of loss of biodiversity in tropical rain forest, wetlands.
Effects of greenhouse gasses and impacts of climate change.

8. Irreversibility
Irreversibility of the impact of natural resources extraction is mostly as a result of;
Prohibitive cost of repairs
Time scales of involved
Examples of such irreversible impacts are;
Loss of biodiversity and the extinction of plants and animals species
Accumulation of GHG like Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is irreversible over several decades

9. Externality
Natural resources are public goods and there exist synergies (Inter-relationship and inter-dependence).
Damage inflicted on one resource therefore has negative consequences on other resources.
This means that the cost of resource damage or depletion cannot be reflected in actual or potential terms.

10. CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Reference for this presentation:
Kershens, M. (Dec.1991); Environment, Technology and Economic Development: A Conceptual Framework. Department of Economics, School of Oriental And African Studies, University of London. (An unpublished extract)