The quality and quantity of natural resources is directly affected by the impacts of human activity (as well as natural processes). Natural systems are complex, interdependent, and often dynamic earth resources that constitute the organization of what is considered the natural environment. Natural systems often represent what is regarded as beautiful as well as functional and necessary. There are resources and natural systems that can sustain intensive use, and others that are ephemeral and fragile, and easily damaged with casual interaction. To encourage resource protection the recommended environmental inventory of natural resources is segregated into three basic, but distinct categories: physical, biological and cultural.
Physical resources include soils, rocks, petroleum, water and other non living elements. Biological resources include forests, plants, animals, and other living organisms (including humans). Cultural resources include transportation, recreation, utilities, health, and cultural preservation efforts.
The social (or cultural) resources category contains those human activities that are in direct competition for the use (location/allocation) of the physical and biological resources. The theoritical premise is that natural resource systems can co-exist effectively with human activities given the acknowledgment of the existence of these resources and effective implementation of GIS methodologies.
GIS technology allows us to quantify the effects of the numerous human activities within the environmental context of local conditions. Moreover, it allows for planning activities that make "best use" of the resources, whether they are physical, biological, or socio-cultural. It is understood that certain public and private land use activities, such as highway construction, residential development, and commercial development are vital and necessary.
The preferred method for minimizing the collective impacts of these vital human activities is to provide the least environmentally destructive solutions as we continue to utilize the natural resources.
