The correct option is A poor economic utilisation of resources
This is an easy fact-based question and the answer can be directly found in the first paragraph of the passage. The degradation of natural resources will lead to poor economic utilization of resources. Hence, option A is the apt choice. Refer to the following lines in this case to identify the answer: This is a desirable development in the face of the alarming rate of natural resources degradation, which greatly hampers their optimal utilisation.