中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所（以下简称“地理资源所”）于1999年9月经中国科学院批准，由中国科学院地理研究所（前身是1940年成立的中国地理研究所）和中国科学院自然资源综合考察委员会（1956年成立）整合而成。   

地理资源所的定位是：以解决关系国家全局和制约长远发展的资源环境领域的重大公益性科技问题为着力点，以持续提升研究所自主创新能力和可持续发展能力为主线，建设成为服务、引领和支撑中国区域可持续发展的资源环境研究战略科技力量。   

发展目标是：成为在中国陆地表层过程、区域可持续发展、资源环境安全、生态系统及地理信息系统核心科学与技术研究中起引领作用的综合研究机构，成为国家区域发展、资源利用、环境整治和生态文明建设重要的思想库、人才库，成为国际地理科学、资源科学和生态建设领域的著名综合性研究机构。   

The Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of CAS (hereinafter referred to as the "Institute of Geographic Resources") was approved by CAS in September 1999. It was integrated by the Institute of Geography of CAS (formerly the Institute of Geography of China established in 1940) and the Committee for Comprehensive Investigation of Natural Resources of CAS (established in 1956).

The orientation of the Institute is to focus on solving major public welfare scientific and technological problems in the field of resources and environment that affect the overall situation of the country and restrict long-term development, to continuously improve the institute's ability of independent innovation and sustainable development as the main line, and to build itself into a strategic scientific and technological force for resources and environment research that serves, leads and supports China's regional sustainable development.

The development goals are: To become a comprehensive research institution that plays a leading role in the core science and technology research of China's land surface processes, regional sustainable development, resources and environmental security, ecosystem and geographic information system, and to become an important think tank and talent pool for national and regional development, resource utilization, environmental remediation and ecological civilization construction. It has become a famous comprehensive research institution in the field of international geographic science, resource science and ecological construction.