Depletion of Natural Resources

Members of our Group:

Brianna Baker

Reisa Guyadeen

Jandell Thomas-John

Nataqi Vilafanna

What are Natural Resources?

Natural resources (economically referred to as land or raw materials) occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity existent in various ecosystems

Resource Depletion

Resource depletion is an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials within a region. Resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable resources. Use of either of these forms of resources beyond their rate of replacement is considered to be resource depletion.

Causes of Resource Depletion Excessive or unnecessary use of resources

Non-equitable distribution of resources

Overpopulation

Slash and burn agricultural practices, currently occurring in many developing countries

Technological and industrial development

Erosion

Irrigation

Mining for oil and minerals

drainage of wetlands

forestry

Effects of Resource Depletion

An increasing world natural resource price leads, in the long-term perspective, to decreasing rates of economic growth of a resource-exporting country. The higher the share of a natural resource sectors the lower the equilibrium growth rate of GDP of a resource-rich country.