NATURAL RESOURCES

Objectives

The student will be able to:

o   Explain what Natural Resources are and give some examples of Natural Resources.

o   Distinguish between renewable and Non- Renewal Natural Resources.

o   Explain the need for conserving Natural resources and identify the methods of their conservation.

o   Explain the ecosystem approach to Natural Resource Management 

  


Natural resources refer to all naturally occurring materials and components on Earth that are not man-made. They encompass everything available in nature, such as plants, animals, water, minerals, and fossil fuels.


Types of Natural Resources

Natural resources can be categorized based on their origin, abundance and availability, and renewability.


Origin

  • Biotic (Organic) Resources: Derived from the biosphere, including living organisms and their by-products. Examples include plants, animals, and fossil fuels like coal and petroleum.
  • Abiotic (Inorganic) Resources: Obtained from non-living, non-organic materials such as land, water, air, and metals like gold, iron, and copper.


Abundance and Availability

  • Inexhaustible Resources: Resources that are abundant and not likely to be depleted by human use, such as air, clay, sand, tidal energy, and precipitation.
  • Exhaustible Resources: Resources with a limited supply that can be exhausted by human activities, including coal, petroleum, and natural gas.


Renewability

  • Renewable Resources: Resources that can be replenished naturally or through human intervention. These include crops, wildlife, fisheries, air, soil, and solar energy.
  • Non-Renewable Resources: Resources that cannot be replenished once depleted, such as metallic minerals, rocks, and fossil fuels. They take millions of years to form.


Conservation

Conservation involves the protection, preservation, and careful management of natural resources to ensure their continuity and sustainability.


Ways of Conserving Natural Resources

  • Preserving Existing Resources: Protecting current natural resources from depletion.
  • Reusing or Recycling Renewable Resources: Encouraging the reuse and recycling of renewable resources whenever possible.
  • Wise Management of Non-Renewable Resources: Implementing strategies to manage non-renewable resources efficiently.
  • Instituting and Enforcing Conservation Laws: Establishing regulations to protect natural resources.
  • Preventing Pollution: Limiting the use of pesticides and toxic chemicals, controlling wastewater and airborne pollutants, regulating petroleum drilling and transportation, and avoiding radioactive material production.


Human Activities Leading to Resource Depletion


Problems in Conservation


Forest Resources

Forests are vital natural resources, especially in regions with high rainfall and altitude.


Importance of Forests

  • Maintaining ecological balance
  • Providing firewood
  • Supplying raw materials for industries
  • Offering medicinal herbs
  • Providing food
  • Conserving soil
  • Protecting wildlife
  • Supporting scientific research
  • Maintaining soil fertility through nutrient recycling
  • Preserving natural species


Methods of Forest Conservation

  • Replanting harvested trees
  • Regulating excessive forest clearing
  • Avoiding bush burning
  • Authorizing selective logging
  • Training forest rangers and foresters to guard the forest
  • Educating the public on the dangers of deforestation
  • Using pesticides to control pests and diseases


Soil Resources

Soils support plant growth and form the basis of the biosphere.


Importance of Soil

  • Containing mineral resources
  • Providing nutrients to plants
  • Serving as habitats for organisms
  • Acting as a medium for agricultural production


Methods of Soil Conservation

  • Using manures and fertilizers
  • Practicing crop rotation
  • Inoculating nitrogen-fixing organisms
  • Reducing overgrazing
  • Afforestation
  • Terracing to prevent soil erosion
  • Cover cropping
  • Contour plowing


Mineral Resources

Minerals are valuable resources obtained from the Earth's crust, including hematite, pyrite, bauxite, and dolomite.


Importance of Mineral Deposits


Mineral Conservation Methods


Crude Oil

Crude oil is a hydrocarbon-based natural resource used to produce various refined petroleum products like diesel and petrol.


Importance of Oil

  • Producing energy
  • Generating electricity
  • Serving as a raw material for industries


Water Resources

Water resources include both marine and freshwater resources. Marine resources encompass plants and animals living in oceans, while freshwater resources refer to those in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Additionally, water bodies contain mineral wealth, such as common salt and shells of mollusks.


Importance of Water


Water Conservation Methods



Wildlife

Wildlife includes all undomesticated plants and animals. Natural disasters and human activities like hunting, deforestation, overgrazing, and pollution pollution have severely affected the habitats of many species, leading to their endangerment or extinction.


Endangered Species

Endangered species are those whose population or habitat has become so small that they face the risk of extinction if not protected. Examples include elephants, ostriches, and grey whales.


Human Activities Causing Species to Be Endangered

  • Bush burning
  • Deforestation and mining
  • Poaching
  • Water pollution (e.g., oil spills)
  • Urbanization


Reasons for Conserving Wildlife


Methods of Wildlife Conservation

A national park is a tract of land reserved and maintained by a national government solely for the welfare of the wildlife within it. Cultivation and grazing are prohibited in these areas to protect the environment.


Conservation of natural resources is critical to ensuring the sustainability of our environment for future generations. By understanding the importance and methods of conserving various resources, we can contribute to the protection and preservation of our planet's natural wealth.


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