In the past few decades, management of natural resources has become an important topic in practically all societies. Natural resources are materials created in nature that are used and usable by humans. They include natural substances (such as soil) and energy supplies (such as coal) that serve to satisfy human needs (Barsch and Bürger 1996; Minc 1976). Materials occurring in the environment thus only become a resource if people attach great importance to them (Barsch and Bürger 1996; Ewert et al. 2004; Mitchell 2003). As Zimmermann stated: „Resources are not, they become“ (Zimmermann 1951, citied in Barsch and Bürger 1996).

If you would like to know more about natural resources and their classification, click on this hyperlink and a new page will provide you with more detailed information.

On the following pages you will get to know

• the meaning of the terms management and planning;
• the requirements of management and development;
• the importance and meaning of an integrated natural resource management;
• the challenges for managers and planners of natural resource management and rural development;
• the way planning is feasible and first of all
• the backround to the increasing importance of natural resource management.