Land as a Factor of Production

Prepared by Sandrea Butcher

Definition

– on the earth’s surface, for example forests

– above the earth’s surface, for example oxygen

– beneath the earth’s surface, for example diamonds

• Land (or natural resources) refers to all naturally occurring gifts of nature which are:

Characteristics

• It is fixed in supply at any point in time.

• It is geographically immobile.• Land can be non-renewable (coal)

or renewable (fish stocks).

Types of land (use)

• Recreational – leisure activities

• Agricultural – land used to provide food

• Horticultural – land used for cultivation of medicinal and ornamental plants

• Construction – residential, commercial and transportation uses

The Ministry can’t be

serious about these

potholes.

• Extraction – removal of carbon based raw materials which are not ingested

• Uninhabitable – land that will not sustain human life for long periods

• Aquaculture - breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments.

Importance• No production can currently take

place without land.• Natural resources are the basis for

energy generation. Different sources include:– fossil fuels

Coal Mining Natural gas lighted as it seeps out of the ground

Oil spill

– solar energy

– wind energy

– hydropower (water)

– geothermal energy (steam and hot water)

– atomic energy

• Natural resources are needed to build productive assets.

Productivity

• Land is more productive when it is flatter.

• Productivity will also depend on the climatic conditions.– Land that is prone to slippage will be

less productive

• Productivity will diminish if land is not used in a sustainable manner.

It took me 10,000 years to get this big. It only took one year for humans to pollute the water and

bleach the coral.

What is so hard about planting two trees when

you cut down one? It took me 200 years to get this

big.