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Class 10 Geography Chapter 1: Resources and Development Notes

Class 10 Geography Chapter 1: Resources and Development Notes provides a detailed understanding of the types of resources, their classification, and the importance of sustainable development. This chapter emphasizes the need to utilize resources judiciously to ensure environmental balance and economic growth. By studying Class 10 Geography Chapter 1: Resources and Development Notes, students gain insights into resource conservation methods and the relationship between resource utilization and development.



Resources

Anything available in the environment that satisfies human needs, is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable is called a resource.



Classification of Resources


1. On the Basis of Origin
  • Biotic Resources: Derived from living organisms.
    • Examples: Solar energy, wind energy, forests.
  • Abiotic Resources: Non-living resources.
    • Examples: Coal, petroleum, natural gas.

2. On the Basis of Exhaustibility
  • Renewable Resources: Can be replenished over time.
    • Examples: Solar energy, wind energy, forests.
  • Non-renewable Resources: Finite in nature and take millions of years to form.
    • Examples: Coal, petroleum, natural gas.

3. On the Basis of Ownership
  • Individual Resources: Privately owned by individuals.
    • Examples: Agricultural land, houses.
  • Community Resources: Accessible to all members of the community.
    • Examples: Public parks, grazing grounds.
  • National Resources: Belong to the nation and controlled by the government.
    • Examples: Rivers, forests, mines.
  • International Resources: Managed by international organizations and not confined to any one country.
    • Examples: Oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles (EEZ).

4. On the Basis of Development Stage:
  • Potential Resources: Resources available in a region but not yet utilized.
    • Example: Wind energy in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • Developed Resources: Resources that have been surveyed and are in use.
    • Example: Coal mines.
  • Stock Resources: Resources that cannot be used due to lack of technology.
    • Example: Hydrogen as a source of energy.
  • Reserves: Subset of stock, readily available for use.
    • Example: Water stored in dams.


Development of Resources

  • Excessive Resource Use Issues:
    • Depletion of resources for short-term gains.
    • Accumulation of resources by the rich, leading to inequality.
    • Environmental degradation.


Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.


Key Principles:
  • Efficient resource use.
  • Conservation of resources.
  • Balancing economic growth with environmental protection.


Resource Planning in India

Resource planning is the process of judiciously managing and utilizing resources.


Steps in Resource Planning:
  1. Surveying and Mapping: Identifying resources and surveying their distribution.
  2. Planning and Development: Formulating plans based on technology, skill, and institutional setups.
  3. Implementation: Matching resource development with overall national development.


Land Resources in India

Types of Land Use:
  1. Forests
  2. Agricultural land.
  3. Non-agricultural land (buildings, industries).
  4. Barren and wasteland.
  5. Grazing land and pastures.

Land Degradation:

Decline in land productivity due to human activities or natural processes.

  1. Deforestation: The large-scale clearing of forests for agriculture, urbanization, or industrial purposes, resulting in loss of biodiversity and soil erosion.
  2. Overgrazing: The excessive grazing of vegetation by livestock, leading to the depletion of plant cover and land degradation.
  3. Mining and industrial activities: The extraction of minerals and expansion of industries that lead to the removal of vegetation, soil erosion, and pollution.
  4. Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides: The over-application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, which reduces soil fertility and contaminates water bodies.

Conservation Measures:
  1. Afforestation: The process of planting trees in an area that was previously barren or devoid of vegetation to restore ecosystems and prevent soil erosion.
  2. Proper crop rotation: The practice of growing different types of crops in the same area in a sequential manner to maintain soil fertility and reduce the risk of pests and diseases.
  3. Contour ploughing: The practice of ploughing along the natural contours of a hill to reduce water runoff and minimize soil erosion.
  4. Building check dams to prevent soil erosion.


Soil as a Resource

Types of Soil in India:
  1. Alluvial Soil:
    • Found in the northern plains and river valleys.
    • Highly fertile.
  2. Black Soil:
    • Found in Deccan Plateau.
    • Suitable for cotton cultivation.
  3. Red and Yellow Soil:
    • Found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and southern states.
  4. Laterite Soil:
    • Found in high rainfall areas.
    • Suitable for crops like tea and coffee.
  5. Arid Soil:
    • Found in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
    • Sandy and saline in nature.
  6. Forest Soil:
    • Found in forest areas with varying fertility.


Soil Erosion and Conservation

  • Soil Erosion: The removal of the top fertile layer of soil due to natural agents like wind and water, or human activities like deforestation and overgrazing.
  • Conservation Measures: Methods adopted to prevent soil erosion and maintain soil fertility.
    Examples:
    • Terrace farming: Reducing water runoff by farming on terraced slopes.
    • Strip cropping: Planting different crops in alternate strips to prevent soil erosion.
    • Shelter belts: Planting rows of trees to reduce the impact of wind.
    • Reforestation: Planting trees to bind soil and prevent erosion.


Importance of Resource Conservation

  • Ensures sustainability.
  • Reduces ecological imbalance.
  • Promotes equitable resource distribution.

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