The location of natural resources database

Creating a natural resource and conflict database

This paper examines how natural resources can be disaggregated by type and geographic location, and how such data can be manipulated using geographic information systems to create a database.

The author discusses the perceived link between global natural resources distribution and armed conflict. The author argues that current measures of natural resources are aggregated to country level, and recent empirical research on conflict has not accounted for the location of the natural resources in relation to the conflict area.

The paper describes the data requirements, compilation procedures, and the limitations and challenges associated with such a database. The paper provides the example of tantalum deposits and conflict regions in Africa to illustrate the use and interpretation of data.

Finally, future objectives for the compilation of global information and data analysis are discussed by the author.

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The location of natural resources database