Department of Geography and Resource Development

Geog 302/322: Resource Analysis

2014/2015

Instructors:
Dr. J.K. Teye: Office Phone: 0302500394
S.K. Kufogbe: Office Phone: 0302500394
Lecture Time and venue: Monday, 1.30 -3.30 pm, Jones Quartey Building.
Course Description:
This course deals with the linkages between the use of natural resources, development
and environmental problems. The man-environment relationships are analyzed using case
studies from Ghana and other parts of the world.
Objectives
The main objective of the course is to provide students with the opportunity to broaden
their experiences of resource use in the world. The course is expected to enable students
appreciate how to ensure sound environmental stewardship at the individual and society
levels. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

explain the concept resources and its cultural dimensions

examine the various perspectives on resource scarcity

discuss the various political and economic issues associated with the use and
management of forestry and water resources

explain the geography of energy production and patterns of energy consumption

in the world.

outline the food production systems in the world and discuss the impact of
globalization on food production in developing countries.

discuss the theories explaining savannasation/desertification.

explain the procedures of environmental impact assessment in Ghana.

Assessment:

1. Assignments
2. Interim Assessment
3. End of semester examination
Week 1: The concept of Resources
Course overview
The concept of resources
Resource creation
Relationship between natural resource distribution and economic development
Week 2: Classification of Natural Resources and Measures of Resource Availability
Classification of natural resources according to renewability criteria
Measures of stock resources availability
Measures of renewable resources availability
Week 3: Population resource relationship (scarcity debate)
History of resource scarcity concern
The pessimistic school
The market response model
Week 4: Water Resources
Global Water Distribution
Water Stress
Rainwater Harvesting and usage
Integrated Water Resource Management
Privatization of water management in developing countries
Weeks 5: Forest Resources
Types and importance of Forest Resources
The lumbering industry
Deforestation (causes, effects and control)
REDD+
Week 6: Natural Resource Governance and Development

Principles of natural resource governance

Decentralised vrs centralised governance
Corruption in the natural resource sector
Resource exploitation and conflicts

Week 7 & 8 : Energy Resources

Classification of energy resources
2

Global Patterns of Energy Production and consumption

Energy production/use and environmental degradation
Biomass and Forestry Energy
Recent fluctuations in global crude oil prices
Energy crisis in Ghana
Ghanas Oil and Gas industry

Weeks 9: Mineral Resources

Types of mineral resources
Mining activities and economic development in developing countries
The Ghanaian mining industry
Mining and environmental problems
Week 10: Food Resources

Trends in global food production and consumption

Effects of globalisation on food production in developing countries
Malnutrition

Week 11: Savanasation/desertification

Man-environment relationships
Paradigm shifts in theorizing savannasation/desertification
Controlling savannasation/desertification in Ghana

Week 12: Environmental Impact Assessment

Objectives and principles of environmental impact assessment
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures in Ghana
Challenges of environmental impact assessment in developing countries
Week 13: Revision
Weeks 1-6: Dr. J.K. Teye
Weeks 7 -12: Mr. S.K . Kofugbe
Week 13: Dr. J.K. Teye & Mr. S.K. Kofugbe

Selected References

Daniels et al. (eds) 2005. An introduction to Human Geography. Issues for the 21st
Century. Second Edition. Prentic Hall. Essex
Rees, J. (1990): Natural resources: Allocation, economics, and policy. Second edition.
Routledge. London.
Teye, J.K. (2011). Ambiguities of forest management decentralization in Ghana. Journal
of Natural Resource Policy Research, Vol. 3, No. 4, 355369. Taylor and Francis, UK
Teye, J.K (2013) Corruption and Illegal logging in Ghana. International Development
Planning Review. 35 (1), 19 39, University of Liverpool Press.
Teye, J.K. 2013. Ghanas National Strategy on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation
and Degradation (REDD+): Implications of Existing Benefit Sharing Mechanisms. In S,
Maillet, L, Valcourt (Eds). Natural Resources: Conservation Strategies, Globalisation &
Politics and Sustainable Uses. New York: Nova Science Publishers Pp. 103-128
Owusu, K and Teye, J.K. 2014. Supplementing urban water supply with rainwater
harvesting in Accra, Ghana. International Journal of Water Resources Development,
DOI: 10.1080/07900627.2014.927752. Taylor and Francis.
Yaro. J A. (2008). An examination of theories on savannasation and the PeasantEnvironment debate. West African Journal of Applied Ecology. Vol. 13: 1-21. Ecolab,
Legon.