Definition, classification, observation and monitoring of natural resources and their application in territorial planning and governance

This paper is the result of natural resource survey engineering.

Objective At present, there are many problems, such as the different connotations of natural resources, the differences in classification, the inconsistency in data acquisition, and the overlapping of resources in spatial management caused by the different departments of resource management.We need to solve above-mentioned problems to investigate the situation of resources in China to recognize the variation laws of resource, and to manage utilization of territory.

Methods This paper adopted the method of literature review to sort out the definition, classification and observation and monitoring index of natural resources.

Results (1) We clarified the conception of natural resources under the observation and monitoring system which were resources that could generate value through production in natural state or unprocessed state.They were divided into three categories: Climatic resources, surface cover resources, and groundwater resources; (2) We summarized the object, content and observation method of the comprehensive observation and monitoring of natural resources; (3) We analyzed the role of natural resource observation and monitoring in resources assets management and ecological environment restoration with examples.

Conclusions  Based on the analysis above, this paper pointed out that natural resources observation and monitoring were indispensable technical means to study the interaction between resources, resources and environment, resource asset management, and ecological environment restoration.