Natural resources form the basis of human civilization and its economic potential. All the necessary materials for production people get from the environment. Of course, the development of science and technology, changes in the economic sphere often dramatically change the direction, scale and forms of use of natural resources. At present, a fund of secondary materials created by labor has been formed. Nevertheless, natural resources are the primary source of material and energy potential.
Environmental issues in Russia
What is the natural resource base of the Russian economy? On the territory of the country there is a huge amount of natural materials and raw materials. It must be said that with the development of scientific and technical progress, their role in the development of society is only increasing. This is primarily due tothe growing needs of the population. To produce a sufficient amount of products, an appropriate amount of raw materials is needed. Therefore, more and more materials are extracted from the environment. In the 17th century, the natural resource base of the Russian economy was formed mainly at the expense of forests and cultivated land. By the 19th century, iron ore and coal had come to the fore.
What are the problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy?
At present, one can observe an increase in the production of oil, non-ferrous metals, and gas. Untouched landscapes suitable for recreation, rare reserves, nuclear raw materials, fresh water are becoming increasingly important today. The natural resource base of the Russian economy requires a careful attitude. Natural resources are limited. Maintaining the intensity of economic growth by increasing the use of natural resources is almost exhausted today. At present, the limited land, forest, and water reserves have become more and more obvious. What problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy are considered the most relevant today? These include:
- Water and air pollution.
- Land degradation.
- Noise pollution.
- Intensive use of forests, fauna, flora, subsoil.
- Radiation contamination.
Problems of the natural resource base of the economy in Russia should be addressed at the government level. Currently developedvarious stock management programs.
Types of stocks
The natural resource base of the Russian economy is classified into different groups depending on certain characteristics. So, according to economic value, they distinguish:
- Balance reserves. They are also called conditioning. Balance resources are those resources, the use of which is economically justified and expedient at the current moment. They meet industrial requirements both in terms of quality and specifications of use.
- Off-balance sheet (substandard). These include resources, the exploitation of which today is inexpedient. This is due to the low thickness of the deposits, the low content of the valuable component, the complexity of operating conditions, and the need to introduce special processing methods. However, off-balance reserves may subsequently become an object of development.
On an economic basis, resources are divided into:
- Material production, industrial and agricultural including. This group includes: metals, fuel, fish, wood, water bodies, etc. Agricultural stocks include fodder plants, soil, game animals, etc.
- Non-production resources. Among other things, these include objects of direct consumption (wild crops, game animals, drinking water) and indirect consumption (free landscapes for recreation, for example).
Air and water pollution
These problems of natural resourcethe foundations of the Russian economy are considered a priority today. Air pollution is especially important in large cities. In such cities, natural ventilation practically does not bring the desired effect. In addition, mobile and stationary sources of pollution have a negative impact. As for water bodies, their pollution is caused by the development of the industrial complex and urbanization. Available resources in areas surrounding cities are often rapidly depleted or degraded so that the marginal cost of water supply increases several times. This is primarily due to the need to develop objects at a considerable distance from settlements. In addition, a large amount of money is spent on the purification and processing of incoming water due to its poor quality.
Consequences
Problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy affect other areas of public life. Thus, the negative impact of polluted air leads to constant complaints of the population about intrusive, unpleasant odors, a statistically significant increase in morbidity and mortality. As for water, it is currently noted that about 50% of the population is forced to use raw materials that do not meet sanitary and hygienic requirements. More than 60% of coastlines are subject to erosion and flooding. This causes serious damage to the national economic complex and acts as an additional polluting source of the sea area.
Possiblesolutions
The natural resource base of the Russian economy, whose problems are becoming more and more widespread every year, requires close attention not only from the state, but also from society itself. To improve the air, for example, targeted programs are being developed at the federal level, as well as projects for the reconstruction and reorganization of hazardous industries. Scientific work is being carried out, new units are being created, new methods of water purification are being developed. To solve the existing problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy, it is necessary to strictly comply with the established requirements and standards. It depends on the users themselves, the consumers. Control services have been formed at the state and regional levels to ensure compliance with the instructions.
Noise pollution
It has long been proven that such exposure causes significant harm to he alth. As the results of studies show, citizens living in the territory of acoustic discomfort, more often than others, suffer from diseases of the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, sleep and breathing disorders. To correct this situation at the municipal and interdepartmental levels, it is necessary:
- Develop better transport schemes, build bypass roads, redistribute traffic flows.
- Expand highways, deepen, build protective screens.
- Construct new houses as far as possible from city streets, major roads.
- Construction of buildings with noise protection, etc.
Land degradation
The natural resource base of the Russian economy and its assessment are of key importance for the development of agricultural production. Currently, there is a deterioration in the condition of the land. Soil degradation is proceeding at a rapid pace. It has been established that the content of humus has decreased on 43% of plowed areas. The balance sheet natural resource base of the economy in Russia is in an extremely tense state. In connection with the crisis in agriculture, the culture of agriculture is at a rather low level. There is no reduction in the areas exposed to radioactive impact.
Violations
The main problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy arise from the unwillingness to fulfill the requirements or their improper fulfillment by economic entities. In 55% of the country's regions, mandatory land reclamation work is not carried out. For 30% of the regions, this problem is assessed as a priority. These mainly include territories with a developed mining industry, northern regions, where the self-healing system practically does not work.
Use of subsurface resources
The state of the natural resource base of the Russian economy, the problems and prospects for the development of the production sector are relevant for all business entities. They are especially important for mining and processing industries. Mining activities have a negative impact on the environment. This effect is exacerbated by the severethe situation of many extractive enterprises, the lack of an effective program for the use and protection of subsoil. The natural resource base of the Russian economy, the problems and prospects for its further exploitation should be regulated by regulatory documents. However, they have a lot of shortcomings and gaps. This further exacerbates the situation. The relevance of the issue of the integrated use of mineral raw materials does not decrease. Today, the emergency resistance of hazardous objects in the ore industry is at a rather low level. The problems of the natural resource base of the economy in many cases are provoked by the obsolescence of technological equipment, technologies and methods of extraction and processing.
Animals, forest, plants
They form a renewable natural resource base of the economy. However, due to large-scale human activity, this part of natural reserves is actively degraded. Forest fires cause significant damage. In some territories, the intensity of desertification processes does not decrease. Today, the problem of preserving the animal world, including fish resources, is considered a priority. Its decision is related to the protection, supervision, regulation of the use of natural habitats.
Radiation contamination
It can relate to water bodies, surface air, terrain. Radiation pollution causes serious problems for the natural resource base of the economy. They are mainly conditioned by:
- Absencereliable technologies and methods of waste storage.
- The slow pace of modernization at nuclear facilities, the untimely replacement of equipment elements that have worn out their life, the insufficient degree of safety during the repair of installations.
- Accumulation at industrial enterprises and in medical institutions of products with radiation protection from depleted uranium, to be replaced or not used.
Environmental policy
The natural resource base of the Russian economy, whose problems require immediate solutions, should be under the protection of the state. The environmental policy of the country is aimed at creating appropriate conditions for reducing the anthropogenic impact on the environment to an acceptable level and restructuring this impact. Maintenance of life-supporting systems of the biosphere, protection and reproduction of reserves are the primary actions required by the natural resource base of the Russian economy. The problems facing today can be solved in the following way:
- Improving the regulatory system. This includes a reasonable delimitation of the powers of federal, local, regional executive structures.
- The development of the institution of state property, taking into account the division of competence between the state and subjects.
- Reforming and improving the system of economic evaluation and accounting of natural resources, environmental restrictions, licensing the use of reserves.
- The gradual change in tax legislation aimed at increasing the share of environmentalpayments when rates for other charges are reduced.
- Improvement of economic and financial mechanisms for the reproduction of reserves, development of the market for services and works in the field of nature management.
It is also important to carry out research activities, the development and implementation of new technologies and methods in the field of rational use, protection and restoration of subsoil.
