OCR GCSE Geography B: Resource Reliance Tutorial

Welcome to this tutorial on the OCR GCSE Geography B topic of Resource Reliance. This tutorial will guide you through the key concepts, theories, and case studies related to how resources shape our world and the challenges we face in managing them.

What is Resource Reliance?

Resource reliance refers to the dependency of societies on natural resources such as food, water, and energy. These resources are essential for human survival and economic development, but their distribution, availability, and use are often uneven, leading to challenges and conflicts.

The Food-Water-Energy Nexus

The food-water-energy nexus highlights the interconnected nature of these three resources:

• Food requires water and energy for production, processing, and transportation.
• Water is needed for energy generation (e.g., hydropower) and food production (e.g., irrigation).
• Energy is essential for extracting, processing, and distributing water and food.

Example: Hydropower

Hydropower plants generate energy but also alter water flows, impacting agriculture and ecosystems downstream.

Demand Pressures

The demand for resources is increasing due to:

1. Population Growth: The global population is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, increasing the need for food, water, and energy.
2. Rising Incomes: As people become wealthier, their consumption of resource-intensive goods (e.g., meat, electronics) increases.
3. Technological Consumption: The rise of technology (e.g., smartphones, data centers) requires energy and rare minerals.

Supply Constraints

Despite growing demand, the supply of resources is limited by:

1. Climate Variability: Climate change alters weather patterns, affecting crop yields and water availability.
2. Geology: Natural resources are not evenly distributed. For example, oil reserves are concentrated in specific regions.
3. Conflict: Wars and political instability can disrupt resource production and distribution.
4. Poverty: Lack of investment in infrastructure and technology limits resource access in many regions.
5. Hazard Risk: Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods) can destroy resource infrastructure.

Environmental Impacts

The overexploitation of resources has severe environmental consequences:

1. Overfishing: Depletion of fish stocks due to unsustainable fishing practices.
2. Intensive Farming: Deforestation, soil degradation, and water pollution from industrial agriculture.
3. Deforestation: Loss of biodiversity and carbon sinks due to logging and land conversion.
4. Mining: Land degradation and pollution from mineral and fossil fuel extraction.
5. Dams: Disruption of ecosystems and communities due to large-scale water projects.

Food Security

Food security refers to the availability, accessibility, and affordability of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.

Key Concepts:

• GHI (Global Hunger Index): Measures hunger and malnutrition globally.
• Malthus vs. Boserup:
• Malthus: Argued that population growth would outpace food production, leading to scarcity.
• Boserup: Suggested that population pressure drives agricultural innovation and increases food production.

Case Study: The Babati Goat Aid Project

This project in Tanzania provides goats to rural families, improving food security by: - Increasing milk and meat production. - Enhancing income through goat sales. - Promoting sustainable farming practices.

Conclusion

Resource reliance is a critical issue in a rapidly changing world. Understanding the interconnectedness of food, water, and energy, along with the challenges of demand pressures, supply constraints, and environmental impacts, is essential for addressing global resource management. By considering both theoretical perspectives (e.g., Malthus vs. Boserup) and practical solutions (e.g., the Babati Goat Aid Project), we can work toward a more sustainable future.