This course examines the political economy of natural resources by focusing on two components: (1) introduction: concept of natural resource, precondition of use of natural resources and the impact of resource use on social and economic change; (2) issues of main concern: (a) ecological processes and life support systems: agricultural systems and marine and fresh water systems; (b) ecological control, management and conservation: environmental degradation, sustainable utilization of resources and preservation of genetical diversity, industrial development; (c) conservation-based rural development: agricultural development – integrated land use planning and resettlement systems; animal husbandry and livestock population growth.