Types Of Natural Resources Research Articles

Foreign direct investment and natural resources in Africa

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of natural resources on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa. Decomposing the measures of natural resource, in terms of contribution to GDP (oil rent (OR), mineral rent (MR) and forest rents (FRs)) and export drive (fuel exports (FE) and minerals export), with the objective of obtaining quantitative estimates of their relationship with FDI, we considered the effect of regional or trade blocks on the continent and control for trade openness, financial market development and infrastructure.Design/methodology/approach– Using annual panel data of 49 African countries over the period 1980-2011 and employing the system GMM estimation technique.Findings– The authors show that after allowing for effect of trade or regional block formation, natural resources in its composite form (ORs, MRs, forest rents (FRs), FEs and minerals export) influences FDI in Africa. Quantitatively, we demonstrate that though natural resources (compositely) influences FDI, the different measures of natural resource differ significantly in terms of their marginal contribution in attracting FDI to the continent especially to different trade blocks. The authors provide that in the presence of certain type of natural resources, trade openness or banking sector credit expansion or infrastructural development is less desirable whilst regional or trade blocks strongly moderate the effect of financial market development and infrastructural development on FDI flow on the continent.Originality/value– The authors employed a broad data set to provide evidence of the association between natural resources in its composite form and well as its various component and FDI to African after accounting for regional/trade blocks.

Comparative environmental life cycle assessment of two seaweed cultivation systems in North West Europe with a focus on quantifying sea surface occupation

Environmental concerns regarding natural resource depletion have led to the cultivation of more renewable resources such as seaweed biomass. As the cultivation in Europe is still in its early stages, an estimation of the environmental sustainability may boost further development of this sector by highlighting its competitiveness. A case study on the resource footprint of Saccharina latissima production near the West coast of Ireland (18ha of floating longlines) and France (0.6ha of raft systems) is performed. The Cumulative Exergy Extraction from the Natural Environment (CEENE) method is used to quantify the exergy deprived from 8 types of natural resources (incl. marine resources) to produce 1MJex biomass. For Ireland and France, results of the Exergetic Life Cycle Assessment (ELCA) are 1.7MJexMJex−1 and 8.7MJexMJex−1, respectively. Compared to the footprint of microalgae and several terrestrial plants (sugar beets, maize and potatoes), typically showing values in the range of 0.92–3.88MJexMJex−1, seaweed production in North West Europe (especially in Ireland) is relatively resource-efficient. Moreover, the potential to improve the resource footprint of seaweed production is investigated; in the short-term, seaweed can be cultivated with a comparable life cycle resource demand as several land plants.

Processing and Mechanical Property Evaluation of Kenaf-Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

The development of high-performance engineering products made from natural resources is increasing worldwide, due to renewable and environmental issues. Among the many different types of natural resources, kenaf plants have been extensively exploited over the past few years. Kenaf-glass fibers reinforced composites are manufactured by compression moulding and the tensile, flexural and impact tests are conducted. From the experiment it is found that the processing conditions have little effect on properties except for pressurization which increased tensile and flexural strength at low fiber volume fractions. Examinations using a scanning electron microscopy showed that all the laminates failed due to mechanical loading and the way of fracture of the materials.

Types of the Crimean coastal morphosystems

The Crimean coasts are considered as the sum of coastal morphosystems. Their marine and overland borders have been determined. Overland borders are watersheds of rivers (1-4 orders), marine borders are in most cases30 metersisobaths. The specialties of structure and functioning of coastal systems have been detected as well as their regional differences. For instance, the area of the Western Crimea’s coastal systems much larger than South Coast’s ones. As a rule, the BMS Crimean coastal morphosystems includes part of the water area and 10-15 river basins of various ranks. Key factor in the functioning of systems is the balance of sediments. The typification according to configuration of the coasts and degree of human influence has been made. The main specialties of human impact on coastal systems have been uncovered. The types of natural resources that have the greatest impact on their functioning have been determined. This is coasts’ defence, buildings of channels and water reservoirs and agriculture.

Functional-analytical capabilities of GIS technology in the study of water use risks

Regional security aspects of economic activities are of great importance for legal regulation in environmental management. This has become a critical issue due to climate change, especially in regions where severe climate conditions have a great impact on almost all types of natural resource uses. A detailed analysis of climate and hydrological situation in Tomsk Oblast considering water use risks was carried out. Based on developed author's techniques an informational and analytical database was created using ArcGIS software platform, which combines statistical (quantitative) and spatial characteristics of natural hazards and socio-economic factors. This system was employed to perform areal zoning according to the degree of water use risks involved.

Physical, Mechanical, and Morphological Properties of Woven Kenaf/Polymer Composites Produced Using a Vacuum Infusion Technique

Nowadays, due to renewable issues, environmental concerns, and the financial problems of synthetic fibres, the development of high-performance engineering products made from natural resources is increasing all over the world. Lately, kenaf fibre has been used among many different types of natural resources in various shapes. Unidirectional long fibres or randomly oriented short fibre shapes are the most common type of kenaf fibres that have been investigated in previous works. This work characterises and evaluates the physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of plain woven kenaf fabric and its composites with three types of thermoset resin at 0°/90° and 45°/−45° orientation, in order to assess their suitability as lignocellulosic reinforced polymer composites. A vacuum infusion manufacturing technique was used to prepare the specimens with fibre weight content of 35% ± 2%. Eight specimens were prepared for each test, and five replications were adopted. A total of 78 samples were tested in this study. The results show that the composites with 0°/90° had the highest tensile, flexural strengths, and modulus. The morphological properties of composite samples were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and these clearly demonstrated the better interfacial adhesion between the woven kenaf and the epoxy matrix.

Interaction between the Traditional and Innovative Approaches in Training Pharmacists for their Professional Work in the Carpathian Region

This paper presented the modern automated diagnostic systems and pharmacologicalrehabilitation technologies. There is a lack in the raw material base of many medicinal plants dueto the bad environmental situation. Today natural resources were so depleted that Arnica waslisted in the Red Book of Ukraine. Nowadays the training of specialists in the field ofpharmacology requires not only new approaches associated with the development of medicalscience and computer technology. We have national traditions for the use of plant resources,particularly in the Carpathian region. Much of the research in the field of pharmacology requiresnew approaches in the analysis of clinical trails of new medical products. Pharmaceutical practiceis focused on the types of professional activities. The ethical aspects related to medicines areequally significant. In the professional work of pharmacists information technologies are used onsuch stages as the creation of a medicinal product. The research of resources is conducted all overthe world and is used to record all types of natural resources, but this term is most commonly usedto define plant resources. The pharmacist should be able to adjust the recipes prescribed by doctorsand know the rules of drug intake and provision. Regarding plant medicines, the Carpathianregion has a rich heritage of traditional use of medical plants. Nowadays modern conditionsrequire the active use of new technologies in pharmacist’s professional activity. Particularly acuteis the problem of compatibility of medicinal substances and their interaction in the pharmaceuticalphase as well as in the process of distribution and absorption. The Carpathian region which isextremely rich in medical plants should be constantly studied and integrated with the modernknowledge and cap

Introduction to this special section: China

China is in an accelerating transition for exploring and developing diverse types of natural resources, including deep onshore and offshore hydrocarbons, shale gas, and coalbed methane. Complexities of these unconventional reservoirs and fluids give rise to tough problems or even unprecedented challenges for most routine practices. Nevertheless, remarkable achievements are accomplished, based on progress in theory and technology of multidisciplinary geosciences. Surely the role of geophysics is irreplaceable. Achievements have been made in almost every aspect of geophysics, including target-oriented seismic acquisition, processing, interpretation, passive seismic, OBC, VSP, EM methods, and so forth.

In regard to one 'strayed' provision of the Theodosian Code (C. Th. 10, 1, 12): Protection of forests in ancient Rome

In regard to one provision of the Theodosian Code (C. Th. 10, 1, 12) stating the rule that 'on the place of one cut down cypress tree more should be planted' the author discusses the sources of Roman law on the protection of trees and forests. The author comes to the conclusion that this provision in essence incorporates the old, generally accepted rule of the Roman society on the protection of trees and forests. The author also shows that in the classical and post-classical period the protection of trees and forests was under the special control of the imperial treasury because the trees were considered to be a type of natural resource.

Resource concentration, institutional quality and the natural resource curse

Employing panel data from 14 regions in Kazakhstan, this investigation aims to discover the effect of energy (point-source) and agricultural (diffuse) resource abundance on economic growth through institutional quality. A fixed effects panel data model and Roger's standard errors model are used to consider the possible endogeneity problem. Kazakhstan has two major export products, oil (point-source) and wheat (diffuse), and in theory these two products have different impacts on growth. Auty (1997), Woolcock et al. (2001) and Isham et al. (2005) found that it is the composition of resources, rather than any kind of natural resource, which is problematic for economic growth. The novelty of this research is that the natural resource endowments are considered as a nonlinear function of institutional quality. In contrast to others, we observe that it is not the type of natural resources that breeds economic failure, but rather their “overabundant” or excess production that is often associated with rent-seeking activities.

Complementarity, impatience, and the resilience of natural-resource-dependent economies

We study how society's preferences affect the resilience of economies that depend on more than one type of natural resource. In particular, we analyze whether the degree of complementarity of natural resources in consumer preferences may give rise to multiple steady states and path dependence even when resources are managed optimally. We find that, for a given social discount rate, society tends to be less willing to buffer exogenous shocks if resource good are complements in consumption than if they are substitutes. The stronger the complementarity between the various types of natural resources, the less resilient the economy is, and even more so the higher is the social discount rate.

The social learning discourse: Trends, themes and interdisciplinary influences in current research

Abstract The literature on social learning advances a critique to the command-and-control approach to resource management, and often, this critique is made by borrowing insights and ideas from disciplines other than resource management, which led to certain conceptual and methodological turns that now characterise the social learning discourse. This paper is based on an extensive survey of the social learning literature; ninety-seven studies were reviewed and classified by the type of natural resource, its geographical location, type of application and related aspects, which helped to identify some general trends. Disciplinary influences that contributed to shape the research are analysed and discussed. The findings suggest that social learning research is issue-driven and that some types of natural resources and geographical areas prevail over others. This study finds that deliberative democracy, pedagogy and research of complex adaptive systems have contributed the most to shaping the current conceptual base of the discourse. Interdisciplinary engagement, as well as choices in terms of what has been borrowed and how the borrowed concepts have been used, help to explain the heterogeneity of frameworks and definitions in the social learning literature.

NATURAL RESOURCE ABUNDANCE, INSTITUTIONS AND TAX REVENUE MOBILISATION IN SUB‐SAHARA AFRICA

AbstractThe contribution of natural resources to tax revenues has generally yielded mixed results in the literature. This study asserts that the missing link to explaining these differences is the quality of institutions. More resource revenues reduce tax revenues when institutions are poor. Using an interaction term for natural resources and institutional quality, we show that institutions are decisive for the contribution of natural resources to tax revenue mobilisation. The interaction effect is statistically significant after controlling for per capita gross domestic product (GDP), an alternative measure of quality of institutions and additional regressors. This finding is robust to different econometric specifications and the type of natural resources.

Short communication. Economics of natural resources: in search of a unified theoretical framework

This paper proposes a unified theoretical framework for dealing with the optimum economic use of any type of natural resource. After formulating and economically interpreting the unified framework, the basic rules governing the economic exploitation of the different natural resources can be easily obtained by particularizing the different values of its basic parameters. Taking this approach, it is easy to understand what commonalities there are, in terms of economic logic, between the different types of natural resources. This considerably increases the amount of consilience and understanding about the discipline.

Land Inequality and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa

This note succinctly reviews the existing literature on natural resources and conflicts while giving special emphasis on a particular type of natural resource, productive land. Treating land as a separate natural resource constitutes an essential step in our understanding of the roots of conflicts because of the intrinsic peculiarities of productive land. Indeed, contrary to other “lootable” resources, the opportunity cost of fighting over land is the agricultural product itself, while a second major distinction lies in the value of the prize, i.e. agricultural production, which is typically very low, thus implying that the fighting technologies are rather rudimentary. Putting in perspective the existing theoretical and empirical literature, we construct a convincing argument underlying the determinant role of relative (versus absolute) land scarcities in triggering conflicts.

Complementarity, Impatience, and the Resilience of Natural-Resource - Dependent Economies

We study how human preferences affect the resilience of economies that depend on more than one type of natural resources. In particular, we analyze whether the degree of substitutability of natural resources in consumer needs may give rise to multiple steady states and path dependence even when resources are managed optimally. This is a major shift in the interpretation and analysis of resilience, from viewing (limited) resilience as an objective property of the economy-environment system to acknowledging its partially subjective, preference-based character. We find that society tends to be less willing to buffer exogenous shocks if resource goods are complements in consumption than if they are substitutes. Hence, the stronger the complementarity between the various types of resource goods, the less resilient the economy is.

Democracy, foreign direct investment and natural resources

Empirical studies that examine the impact of democracy on foreign direct investment (FDI) assume that the relationship between democracy and FDI is the same for resource exporting and non-resource exporting countries. This paper examines whether natural resources in host countries alter this relationship. We estimate a linear dynamic panel-data model using data from 112 developing countries over the period 1982–2007. We find that democracy promotes FDI if and only if the value of the share of minerals and oil in total exports is less than some critical value. We identify 90 countries where an expansion of democracy may enhance FDI and 22 countries where an increase in democratization may reduce FDI. We also find that the effect of democracy on FDI depends on the size and not the type of natural resources.

CADASTRAL ASSESSMENT OF CRIMEAN BEACHES AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT

One of the important steps towards sustainable development of territories is the assessment of the reserves and rate of consumption of natural resources. Such assessments are also supported at the international level. The recreational resources represent the most important type of natural resources for the coastal zone of Crimea. They are the basis for recreational tourism and, therefore, determine the economic status of the peninsula as a whole. Currently, however, the coastal zone of Crimea is being developed quite chaotically. The need for a specialized information system capable of timely reflecting natural and manmade changes in the coastal zones is widely recognized. The paper presents a system that was developed using ESRI ArcGIS formats capable of not only capturing changes occurring in the environment, but to also identifying options for a more efficient use of the recreational resources of the peninsula. The approach and unique algorithms developed by the authors of this paper were applied to four Crimean beaches.

Economic aspects of natural resource exploitation

Low entropy accumulations of matter and energy are more economic for humans to exploit as natural resources. This accumulation of a resource takes place over time and the most concentrated resources, such as fossil fuels, are created over geological ages. As the most concentrated resources become depleted it may be possible for technology to enable the exploitation of less concentrated resources, such as low-grade metal ores or thinly populated fishing grounds. Analysis of the timescales necessary to create different types of natural resource reveals three distinct groups. Further consideration of economic characteristics of resources, including ownership and access, and rate of consumption relative to rate of supply confirms the grouping of resources into the three distinct groups. Rate of change of entropy as a resource is exploited is an indicator of its impact on the environment. Consideration of this again suggests three distinct groups of resources, and this paper identifies them as: continuous natural resources (CNR), such as solar power and wind power; potentially renewable resources (PRR), such as fish and forests; and non-renewable resources (NRR), such as fossil fuels and metals.

Resource abundance and internal armed conflict: Types of natural resources and the incidence of ‘new wars’

Recent armed domestic conflicts have been described as being related to natural resource abundance and as being characterized by new features not present in earlier internal conflicts (multiplicity of actors, devastation of production structures). The paper develops and tests a framework that captures both the role of natural resource abundance and the stylized facts from the descriptive literature in a simple two-sector model in which violent appropriation of natural resources imposes a negative externality on the production sector. The model predicts that the probability of armed conflict varies directly with the size and value of ‘lootable’ resource endowments and inversely with variables that increase labor productivity. In contrast to mineral resources, abundance of agricultural resources reduces conflict probability, by raising labor productivity. These predictions are supported by cross-country ordered probit estimations. In quantitative terms, the negative effect of agricultural resources on conflict probability is almost twice as large as the positive effect of mineral resources.