Part #20 [ HUMAN, NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT ]
Humans affect their environment, by exploiting resources and environment to defend themselves and their species, on the contrary, humans are also affected by the environment. The interaction between humans and their environment is determined not only by the type and amount of biological and non-biological resources, but also by the condition and nature of the resources. In addition, also by the behavior and human culture that helped determine the shape and intensity of interaction between humans and their environment.
In the ecosystem, man is one of the other elements of both life and non-biological are inseparable. Therefore, human survival depends also on the preservation of its ecosystem. But because of the ability to think of humans with behavior that exceeds the ability of other biota, the human being becomes an important factor. Humans must be able to maintain the harmony of mutual relationships between humans and their environment so that the balance of the ecosystem is not disturbed. Humans are expected to be environmental conservationists.
Man has the power of reasoning that enables him to develop science and technology. In addition, human capabilities create an artificial environment that is different from the natural environment, resulting in changes in natural ecosystems into artificial ecosystems. The development of the human mind allows for the mastery of the environmental order through the development and application of science, technology and art. However, if the environmental arrangement is not going well then there will be a decline in quality of life and changes in environmental quality.
Natural resources
In understanding natural resources, there are two views commonly used as follows:
Conservative views or often referred to as a pessimistic perspective or Malthusian perspective.
This view, the risk of depletion of natural resources is a major concern. Thus, this view of natural resources should be used cautiously because of the uncertainty of what will happen to the natural resources for future generations. This view is rooted in Malthusian thinking which was advanced since 1987 when the "Principle of Population" was published. In Malthus's perspective, limited natural resources will not be able to support population growth that tends to grow exponentially. Production from natural resources will experience a so-called diminishing return in which per-capita output will experience a downward trend over time. Furthermore, Malthus's perspective sees that when the diminishing return process occurs, the standard of living also affects human reproduction. The combination of these two forces in the long run will cause the economy to be in a state of equilibrium or steady state.
Exploitative view or often also referred to as Ricardian perspective.
If resources become scarce, this will be reflected in two economic indicators, namely the increase in both output prices and the cost of output unity extraction. Increased output prices due to increased cost per unit of output will decrease demand for goods and services produced by natural resources. On the other hand, increased output prices incentivize natural resource producers to try to increase supply. Naumn due to the limited availability of resources, a combination of price and cost impacts will create incentives to seek substitution resources and increase recycling. In addition, scarcity will also provide incentives to develop innovations such as searching for new deposits, improving production efficiency, improving recycling technologies so as to reduce the pressure on natural resource extraction.
Natural Resource Classification
Natural resources cover a very broad sense, is a very complex, dynamic, interacting element of the environment.
Owen (1980) defines natural resources as part of the natural environment (soil, water, pastures, forests, wildlife, minerals or human populations) that humans can use to improve their well-being. Basically, natural resources can be grouped into two main groups, namely the group of natural resources that can not be renewed (exhaustible resources = stoc resources = fund resources) and renewable resources = flow resources.
Natural resources need to be classified or classified, as with the classification it will facilitate our understanding of the properties of these resources. Furthermore, the classification will facilitate us in planning how to use it and how to manage it so that the volume of natural resources is not quickly exhausted and still sustainable but provide optimal social benefits. Natural resources can also be defined as resources or factors of production provided by nature, and not man-made.
The classification of natural resources according to Owen
Based on its nature Owen (1980) classifies Inexhaustible and Exhaustible natural resources. Inexhaustible natural resources are natural resources that will not be exhausted. However, it does not mean its availability is unlimited, even if mismanaged then the natural resources can be damaged so that it can not function optimally. For example, if there is damage to land in the watershed (watershed) causes water to not penetrate into the soil, then the water will flow more as the flow of the surface that will cause erosion, sedimentation, flooding in the rainy season, and lack of water during the dry season and many again the impact of the canal.
Exhaustible natural resources are a consumable resource, once we use up the resources will no longer exist (at least hundreds or even thousands of years for its formation required, eg the formation of the land takes 500,000 years) (Alikodra 2000). An Exhaustible natural resource is grouped into a maintainable and non maintainable natural resource.
The classification of natural resources according to Barlow
Barlow (1972) divides the natural resources into three groups:
Natural resources that can not be recovered
Non-recoverable or non-renewable natural resources have the nature that the available physical volumes are fixed and can not be renewed or reprocessed. For the occurrence of this type of resources takes thousands of years. Metal, coal, petroleum, rocks are included in this category. Coal, kerosene and natural gas can be sought after by successors but over a long period of time, so we can not expect additional physical volume in a given period of time.
Natural resources are restored
These recoverable or renewable natural resources have properties that are continuously present, and can be renewed either by nature itself or with the help of humans. Included in this type of resource group are water resources (either flowing in the river, or not flowing like lakes and at sea), aingin, weather, ocean waves, sun and moon. This kind of natural resource flow is either used or not, continuously present and predictable. However, we should be able to use them as well as possible, because the error in utilizing these renewable resources can lead to continuous losses as well. For example, if there is environmental pollution to water or air, this will result in loss of benefits that we should be able to get. If the water is not polluted, it can be used as drinking water. Sometimes these recoverable resources can be stored for future use as well. If these recoverable natural resources are stored, they will have properties such as unrecoverable natural resources. For example, solar energy is stored as energy in plants and certain chemicals.
Natural Resources of Combined Nature
Natural resources that exist in this group can still be divided into two kinds:
- Biological resources
including biological resources are crops, forests, wildlife, pastures, fisheries and livestock. These natural resources have features such as renewable natural resources as they can be repaired at any time, provided care is taken to protect them and their use in accordance with their inventory and needs.
- Soil resources
This soil resource represents a combination of the nature of renewable, non-renewable and biological resources. For example is soil fertility. Soil fertility can occur due to plant roots, and the presence of organisms that secrete various soil nutrients to be absorbed for plants.
The real difference between non-renewable resources and renewable resources depends only on the degree of existence. Non-renewable natural resources due to new inventions of explorations will increase their volume of supply, and renewable natural resources will become extinct if they are not taken into consideration with their preservation elements.
Supporting literature / Reference
- All photos from pixabay.com
- ekologi dan lingkungan hidup Hal. 80-90
- Agus, 2011. Interaksi hewan dengan lingkungannya. http://www.slideshare.net/agus_43/ekologi-dan-lingkungan.Download : 14 Agustus 2016.
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by :: @rabo
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