Resource depletion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Environmental degradation. (Discuss)

Resource depletion is an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials within a region. Resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable resources. (See also Mineral resource classification.) Use of either of these forms of resources beyond their rate of replacement is considered to be resource depletion.

Resource depletion is most commonly used in reference to the farming, fishing, mining, and fossil fuels.

Contents 1 Economics 2 Causes of resource depletion 3 Historical instances 4 Modeling resource depletion 5 References

[edit] Economics

Normally, resources will not become totally exhausted at some particular moment, but rather will diminish until the price of continued exploitation becomes so high that it is no longer economical. According to Hubbert peak theory, the rate of exploitation follows a sort of bell-shaped curve. The Hubbert peak theory article discusses predictions for some resources.

Estimates for when various resources will run out if exploitation continues at present rates are somewhat controversial, but for some resources, the estimated time left is rather short.^[1]

[edit] Causes of resource depletion

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2007)

• Excessive or unnecessary use of resources
• Non-equitable distribution of resources
• Overpopulation
• Slash and burn agricultural practices, currently occuring in many developing countries
• Technological and industrial development

[edit] Historical instances

In Jared Diamond's book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, Diamond gives several examples of societies which collapsed because of resource depletion. An early Polynesian society on Rapa Nui failed entirely because of resource depletion, until only a small percentage of the original population survived, and their culture and technology was mostly forgotten. The Anasazi and Mayan societies failed due to a combination of resource depletion and climate change. Resource depletion was also a factor in the collapse of the Polynesians of Pitcairn Island and Norse settlers of Greenland.^[2]

Up until recently, Nauru was a major source of phosphate rock, a key ingredient in fertiliser manufacture. By 2000, the island nation's phosphate reserves were virtually depleted, leading to economic decline and a slump in living standards for its people.

[edit] Modeling resource depletion

Jay Forrester created the discipline of System Dynamics, which facilitates modeling of resource depletion within larger economic systems.^[3]

[edit] References