PL 359: Resource Assessment Techniques

Course Overview

• PL 359, Resource Assessment Techniques, is being presented by Dr. Henry Mensah in January 2025.
• The course equips students with knowledge about resources.
• Training is provided in resource assessment techniques, including land capability and suitability classification, and cost-benefit analysis.
• These techniques play a role in land resource planning, use, and management.
• Students learn land evaluation techniques, mainly multi-sectoral ones.

Course Outline

• Course topics include:
  • Course overview.
  • The meaning, types, and forms of natural resources.
  • Natural Resource Management and Conservation.
  • Natural Resource Evaluation and Inventory.
  • Community Resource Inventory.
  • Natural Resource Assessment.

Introduction to Resources

• Resources include materials, energy, services, staff, knowledge, and other assets.
• Resources are transformed to produce benefit and may be consumed or made unavailable.
• From a biological or ecological perspective, a resource satisfies the needs of a living organism.
• Anything obtained from the environment to satisfy human needs and wants is a resource from a human perspective.
• A Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) provides collected information to identify the location and character of natural resources.
• A Natural Resource Assessment (NRA) analyzes the NRI to aid in decision-making and management efforts.

Resource Definitions and Types

• A resource is anything derived from the environment to achieve a societal or national objective.
• In economics, a resource is a service or asset used to produce goods and services that meet human needs and wants.
• In biology and ecology, a resource is a substance required by a living organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction.
• Resources include natural resources, such as soil, air, water, minerals, animals, and plants.
• Resources also include "man-made" resources like biogas, electricity, and machinery.

Classification of Natural Resources

• Natural resources can be classified into two categories: biotic and abiotic.

Natural Resource Conservation and Management

• Key components include Conservation and Management

Conservation

• Consists of the act of protecting and maintaining natural resources to prevent depletion or degradation.
• Focuses on sustainable use, preserving biodiversity, and restoring ecosystems.

Management

• Consists of the planning and implementation of strategies to utilize resources efficiently and sustainably.
• Includes monitoring, regulating usage, and balancing ecological, social, and economic needs.

Natural Resources

• Natural resources can be classified into two types: exhaustible and inexhaustible.

Exhaustible Resources

• Exhaustible resources can be used up with continuous use. -The supply of exhaustible resources is fixed/limited in quantity.
• Minerals such as gold, diamond, and bauxite, as well as forest and minerals, are examples.

Inexhaustible resources

• Inexhaustible resources cannot be used up by human consumption and other uses.
• Energy resources like solar radiation and wind power, as well as environmental resources like air, water, and soil, are examples.

Natural Resource Conservation

• Natural resource conservation involves protecting, responsibly managing, and sustainably using natural resources.
• This ensures their availability and health for current and future generations.
• Environmental benefits include preventing resource depletion and maintaining biodiversity.
• Economic benefits include ensuring sustainable resource use for future industries and reducing costs associated with environmental degradation.
• Social benefits include supporting communities dependent on natural resources and promoting environmental justice.

Natural Resource Management (NRM)

• NRM refers to the sustainable use of natural resources like land, water, soil, plants, and animals.
• Its goal is to balance current and future needs while maintaining the health of ecosystems.
• Key components of NRM include:
  • Resource Inventory and Assessment: Identifying and evaluating the quantity, quality, and distribution of natural resources.
  • Planning and Policy Development: Creating strategies and regulations for sustainable use.
  • Implementation: Enforcing policies and applying sustainable practices.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Tracking resource conditions and management effectiveness.

Strategies in Natural Resource Management

• Community-Based Resource Management involves local communities in decision-making and resource conservation.
• Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) coordinates the development and management of water, land, and related resources.
• Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry uses practices like crop rotation, agroforestry, and reduced chemical inputs.
• Protected Areas and Reserves designates national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and marine reserves.
• Technological Tools uses GIS, remote sensing, and AI for resource mapping and management.

A systematic analysis of natural resources to determine their value, potential uses, and impact on ecosystems and economies.

• The purpose is to assess the economic, ecological, and cultural value of resources.
• Identify sustainable utilization strategies.
• Support policy-making and resource management decisions.
• Methods:
  • Economic Evaluation: Market value estimation, cost-benefit analysis.
  • Ecological Assessment: Biodiversity studies, ecosystem services valuation.
  • Geospatial Analysis: Use of GIS and remote sensing to map and analyze resources.
• Applications:
  • Planning land use and resource allocation.
  • Estimating the potential of renewable and non-renewable resources.
  • Monitoring environmental changes over time.

Natural Resource Inventory

-A systematic cataloging of natural resources within a specific area is required to document their type, quantity, and condition.

• Components include land, water, biological resources, and climate data.
  • Land resources includes forests, soil types, and mineral deposits.
  • Water resources includes rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
  • Biological resources includes flora, fauna, and biodiversity.
  • Climate data includes temperature, rainfall, and weather patterns.

Community Resource Inventory

• A detailed catalog of resources available within a community, including natural, human, and built resources.
• Categories:
  • Natural Resources: Land, water, forests, and wildlife.
  • Human Resources: Skills, knowledge, and workforce.
  • Built Resources: Infrastructure, public services, and housing.
• The Purpose is to empower communities to manage resources sustainably.
  • Promote self-reliance and local economic development.
  • Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Natural Resource Assessment

• Assessing the quality, quantity, and sustainability of natural resources to guide their use and conservation.
• Objectives are to determine resource availability and limitations.
  • Assess environmental impacts of resource use.
  • Plan for sustainable management and restoration.
• Method include:
  • Includes physical assessments like soil testing, water quality analysis, and species surveys.
  • Employs technological tools such as GIS mapping, remote sensing, and simulation models.
  • Uses participatory approaches with community involvement in data collection and analysis.
• Outcomes:
  • Informs decision-making for resource exploitation and conservation.
  • Improves understanding of resource interdependencies.
  • Creates policies for sustainable development and environmental protection.

An overview of PL 359, Resource Assessment Techniques, presented by Dr. Henry Mensah. The course introduces resource assessment techniques used in land resource planning, use, and management, including land capability and suitability classification along with cost-benefit analysis.