Regional Sustainable Development and Natural Resource Decision-Making in India: Methods and Implications

Abstract

Natural resources are sources of agriculture output, input in the production process, and recreation amenity. Traditionally, economic growth has been measured by gross domestic product (GDP). This measure of economic development is misleading since natural resources such as agricultural land, forests, watersheds, aquifers, atmosphere, and ecosystems services are consumed in the process of development, but its consumption and depletion are not reflected in the GDP. Several of these resources can regenerate, but others consumed excessively will deplete to nonrenewable levels. Further, there are considerable regional variations in the regeneration, consumption, and depletion of natural capital in India. Does the depreciation of natural capital reflect in the national system of accounts with appropriate adjustments? Gundimeda (, ) has analyzed the accounting of forest resources for Maharashtra to compute environment-adjusted domestic product during 1993–1994. Another facet is the theme of sustainable development that states current consumption should not compromise the ability of production and consumption of future generations. Given this overview, this chapter addresses the following three overarching questions: (1) what is the relationship between natural resources, economic progress, and sustainable development? (2) what are the alternative methods to natural resources decision-making? (3) what are the patterns of natural resource regional variations in India during selected years 2006–2017? GeoDa is utilized for mapping data. Data for analysis are collected from Environmental Statistics of India and Central Statistical Organization, New Delhi.