alpbacher architekturgespräche 2003 - ATP

What is a resource?
Roland Psenner
Institut für Zoologie und Limnologie,
Universität Innsbruck
To avoid misunderstandings in the use of the term “resources” I would like to
introduce a simple concept.We may talk about
1. resources which may be replaced by others or can be “regrown”
2. unique resources
An example for type 1 is clearcutting of a secondary forest, followed by appropriate
afforestation measures: it will take a century to “reconstruct” the forest,
but it is possible, at least in principle. If done in a “sustainable” way, one may
expect to go on forever. An example for type 2 resources is clearcutting of a
natural forest, because we cannot restore the original conditions.The best we
can possibly achieve is “second-hand” nature.This secondary forest may be even
better for certain uses (wood for constructions etc.), but we will lose another
good (a “type two resource”), and we will lose it forever.
An example in my own field is the use of rivers for the generation of electricity,
because it is generally seen as a “clean” process that saves other resources (gas
and oil).What it consumes, however, is a resource of type 2, i.e. a natural ecosystem,
a natural landscape. Once we recognize that there is almost no natural river
left in Central Europe and that only 4% of all rivers in Austria are defined as
“natural”, we have to consider the importance of type 1 versus type 2 resources.
Of course, if you live in northern Africa, you may so strongly depend on drinking
water supplies that all other aspects become secondary. Living in Europe,
however, means that we have to think about those resources which are actually
at the brink of extinction - an expression used to describe the status of endangered
species.
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