The main problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy

Natural resources form the basis of human civilization, its economic potential. People get all the necessary materials for production from the environment. Of course, the development of science and technology, changes in the economic sphere often dramatically change the direction, scale and form of use of natural resources. Currently, a fund of secondary materials created by labor has been formed. Nevertheless, the natural resources are the primary source of material and energy potential.

Environmental Issues in the Russian Federation

What is the natural resource base of the Russian economy? In 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 to the increasing needs of the population. To produce a sufficient quantity of products, an appropriate amount of raw materials is needed. Therefore, more and more materials are being extracted from the environment. In the 17th century, the natural resource base of the Russian economy was formed mainly due to forest and cultivated land. By the 19th century, iron ore and coal were in first place.

What are the problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy?

Currently, one can observe an increase in the production of oil, non-ferrous metals, gas. Untouched landscapes suitable for recreation, rare reserves, nuclear materials, fresh water are becoming increasingly important today. The natural resource base of the Russian economy requires a careful attitude. Natural reserves are limited. Maintaining the intensity of economic growth by increasing the use of nature's resources is almost exhausted today. At present, the limitation of land, forest, and water reserves has become increasingly apparent. What problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy are considered the most relevant today? These include:

1. Water and air pollution.
2. Land degradation.
3. Noise pollution.
4. Intensive use of forests, animals, flora, bowels.
5. Radiation pollution.

The problems of the natural resource base of the economy in Russia should be addressed at the government level. Currently, various stock management programs have been developed.

Stock Types

The natural resource base of the Russian economy is classified into different groups depending on certain characteristics. So, according to economic value, there are:

1. Balance reserves. They are also called conditional. Balance resources are those resources whose use is economically justified and appropriate at the current time. They meet industry requirements in terms of both quality and specifications.
2. Off-balance reserves (substandard). These include resources whose operation is not practical today. This is due to the low capacity of the deposits, the low content of a valuable component, the complexity of the 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:

1. 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.
2. Non-productive resources. These include, among other things, objects of direct (wild crops, game animals, drinking water) and indirect consumption (free landscapes for recreation, for example).

Air and water pollution

These problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy are considered priority today. Air pollution is especially important in large settlements. 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 the territories surrounding cities are often depleted or degraded so that the marginal cost of water supply increases several times. This is primarily due to the need to develop facilities at a considerable distance from settlements. In addition, a large amount of money is spent on cleaning and processing incoming water due to its low quality.

Effects

The 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 obsessive, unpleasant odors, a statistically significant increase in morbidity and mortality. As for water, it is currently noted that about 50% of the population are forced to use raw materials that do not meet sanitary and hygienic requirements. More than 60% of coastlines undergo erosion and flooding. This causes serious damage to the national economic complex and acts as an additional polluting source of sea water.

Possible solutions

The natural resource base of the Russian economy, the problems of which are becoming increasingly widespread every year, requires close attention not only from the state, but also from society itself. For air recovery, for example, targeted programs, projects for the reconstruction and reorganization of hazardous industries are being developed at the federal level. Scientific work is underway, 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, consumers. At the state and regional levels, control services have been formed to ensure compliance with the requirements.

Noise pollution

It has long been proven that this effect causes significant harm to health. According to research results, citizens living in the territory of acoustic discomfort are most often affected by 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:

• To develop more advanced transport schemes, to carry out the construction of bypass roads, to redistribute traffic flows.
• Expand trunk lines, deepen, build protective screens.
• Conduct the construction of new houses at the maximum distance from the streets of urban significance, major roads.
• The construction of buildings with noise protection and so on.

Land degradation

The natural resource base of the Russian economy and its assessment are of key importance for the development of agricultural production. Currently, land conditions are deteriorating. Soil degradation is proceeding rapidly. It was found that humus content decreased by 43% of the plowed areas. The balanced natural resource base of the economy in Russia is in an extremely tense state. In connection with the crisis in agriculture, the crop culture is at a rather low level. There is no reduction in areas exposed to radioactive exposure.

Violations

The main problems of the natural resource base of the Russian economy arise due to unwillingness to comply with requirements or their improper implementation by business entities. In 55% of the regions of the country compulsory land restoration is not carried out. For 30% of regions, this problem is rated as a priority. They mainly include territories with a developed sphere of extractive industry, the northern regions, where the self-healing system practically does not work.

Subsoil use

The state in which the natural resource base of the Russian economy is located, the problems and prospects for the development of the production sphere are relevant for all business entities. They are especially important for mining and processing enterprises. Mining operations have a negative environmental impact. This influence is amplified due to the difficult situation of many mining enterprises, and the lack of an effective program for the use and protection of mineral resources. The natural resource basis of the Russian economy, problems and prospects for its further operation should be regulated by regulatory documents. However, there are a lot of shortcomings and gaps in them. This exacerbates the current situation. The relevance of the issue of the integrated use of mineral raw materials does not decrease. Today, the emergency stability of hazardous facilities in the ore industry is at a fairly 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 the renewable natural resource base of the economy. However, due to large-scale human activity, there is an active degradation of this part of natural reserves. Forest fires cause significant damage. In some territories, the intensity of desertification processes does not decrease. The priority is considered today to be the conservation of wildlife, including fish resources. Its decision is connected with the protection, supervision, regulation of the use of natural habitats.

Radiation pollution

It can relate to water bodies, surface air, terrain. Radiation pollution causes serious problems of the natural resource base of the economy. They are mainly determined by:

1. Lack of reliable technologies and methods for storing waste.
2. The slow pace of modernization at nuclear facilities, the untimely replacement of equipment elements that have exhausted their life, and the insufficient degree of safety during the repair of plants.
3. The accumulation at industrial enterprises and medical facilities of products having radiation protection from depleted uranium, to be replaced or not used.

Environmental policy

The natural resource base of the Russian economy, the problems of which require immediate resolution, should be protected by the state. The country's environmental policy is aimed at creating appropriate conditions for reducing the anthropogenic impact on the environment to an acceptable level and restructuring this impact. Maintaining life-supporting biosphere systems, protecting and reproducing reserves are the primary actions that the natural resource base of the Russian economy requires. The problems today can be solved as follows:

1. Improving the regulatory system. This includes a reasonable separation of powers between federal, local, and regional executive structures.
2. The development of the institution of state property, taking into account the division of competence between the state and entities.
3. Reforming and improving the system of economic assessment and accounting of natural resources, environmental restrictions, licensing of the use of reserves.
4. A gradual change in tax legislation aimed at increasing the share of environmental payments while reducing rates on other fees.
5. Perfection of economic and financial mechanisms of stock reproduction, development of the market of services and work in the field of nature management.

Of no small importance is the conduct of research activities, the development and implementation of new technologies and methods in the field of rational use, protection and restoration of the subsoil.