189174742 natural resources
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What is nature and resources Nature as all living organisms and the environments in which they live, and
Resources in ecological point of view as anything in the environment whichcan be used. The definition of these two terms brings to mind of the word
natural resources. Natural resources are any form of matter or energy obtained from the
physical environment that meet human needs. This definition of natural resources is not as simple as it appears. Most
resources are created by human ingenuity. Oil was once a useless fluid until
humans learned how to locate it, extract it from the ground, and separate it by
distillation into various components such as gasoline, home heating oil, and
road tar.
Whether something is classified as a resource depends on technology, economics,
cultural beliefs, and the environmental effects of finding and using it.
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Classification of natural resources:
Renewable resourcesThe resources that can
be replenished through rapid natural cyclesare known as renewable resource. They are
generally living resources (fish, and forests, for
example), which can restock (renew) themselves
if they are notoverharvested.
Non-renewable resources The non-
renewable resources are the earthsmaterials. The resources that cannot be
replenished through natural processes areknown as non-renewable resources. fossil
fuels, such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are
considered non-renewable resources.
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a) Re-cycleale: These are non-renewable resources,which can be collected after they are used and can berecycled. These are mainly the non-energy mineralresources, which occur in the earthscrust (e.g. ores of
aluminium, copper, mercury etc.) and deposits offertilizer nutrients (e.g. phosphate sock and potassiumand minerals used in their natural state (asbestos, clay,mica etc.)
b) Non-recyclable: These are non-renewable resources,which cannot be recycled in any way. Examples ofthese are fossil fuels and uranium, which provide 9090 per cent of our energy requirements.
Non-renewable resources can further be divided into two
categories, viz. a) recycle able and b) non-recyclable
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Resources can also be classified on biotic
and abiotic:
Biotic resourcesare derived
from animals and plants
(living world). Abiotic resoucesare derived
from the non-living world e.g.
land, water, and air.
Mineral and power resources
can also be abiotic resources
some are derived from nature.
In terms of availability, resources could be classed as inexhaustibleand exhaustible
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NATURAL RESOURCES
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Air
Water
Water purification
Waste treatment
Nonrenewable
minerals
iron, sand)
Oil
Soil
Soil renewal
Nonrenewable
energy
(fossil fuels)
Solar
capital
Land
Food production
Nutrient
recycling
Life
(biodiversity)
Population
control
Pest
control
Renewable
energy
(sun, wind,
water flows)
Air purification
Climate control
UV protection
(ozone layer)
Natural resourcesNatural services
NATURAL CAPITAL
Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Natural Services
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Natural resources and their usesSoil: Used for growing crops (only 10% of the earth's surface).
Soil can be used for shelter. Many tribal people around the world create shelters with thehelp of soil.Water:
Used for drinking (only 0.0007% of earth's water is suitable for drinking. The rest is saltwater, water trapped in glaciers, or polluted.
Freshwater is used for irrigation of crops.
Water bodies such as oceans, lakes, and rivers of the world can be used for transportation. Fishing is a valuable source of food within certain water bodies.
The water from rivers is used to generate hydro-electricity.Minerals: Minerals can be defined as naturally occurring substances obtained from the ground. Some
examples are coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron, copper, gold, etc. They are also absorbed byplants from the earth's surface, and are transferred to humans through food.
They (coal, natural gas, and fossil fuels) are a source of energy.
Used as ingredients to make other materials like iron ore, steel, and petroleum. Petroleum isused to make a variety of by-products like gasoline, plastic, etc.
Can be used in its natural form like salt.
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Natural resources and their uses
Vegetation: Land is used for farming from which vegetables, grains, and fruits are grown.
Wood from trees is cut and processed to make furniture for homes and to provide
for construction materials.
It's used for cooking and also as fuel to produce heat for warmth.
Clothing - clothes are made from cotton. Plants are used as an ingredient in medicines.
Animals:
Animals are used as food, and their waste is used as fertilizer for crops. We get fur and hide from animals which are both used for making clothes.
Used for transportation.
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he history of human resource use
wood and the sun food, basic housing and weapons
Wood consumption much higher
fossil fuels-coal, oil and gas
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Category Direct impacts of extraction
and distribution
Disturbance to material
cycles
Other relevant
environmental impacts
Use of fossil fuels Large local/regional impacts onthe landscape and Eco-
toxicological pollutionCarbon cycle is greatly enlarged
(greenhouse effect) Metal fluxes are
increased (metals are present as
contaminants)
Sulphur cycle is enlarged
Greatest cause of acidification,
important source of acidifying
compounds in Western countries
Calamities during extraction
and distribution with large
impacts on nature
Use of mineral reserves Large local/regional impacts onthe landscape and eco-toxicological pollution
The use on non-ferrous metal in
particular (e.g. copper, zinc, lead andcadmium) is responsible for a steep
rise in metal fluxes
Disasters during extraction and
distribution with large impacts onnature.
Use of wood fibres as
fueland material (forestry)
Clearance and loss of forest area,
loss of soil,
consumption of groundwater
reserves
Disruption of nutrient cycles,
reduced carbon storage function
Other greenhouse gas cycles
affected Eutrophication and
acidification due to use of nutrients
or exhaustion due to use ofnutrients
Ecotoxicological impacts ofpesticide use
Fisheries Overexploitation andshrinkage of fish stocks, loss of
biodiversityDisruption of nutrient cycles
Use of water Falling water tables,salination, exhaustion of
groundwater reserves, damage to
ecosystems
Table : an indication of the type of environmental impacts resulting from the use of anumber of important groups of natural resources
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Resource Depletion
Resource depletion is an economic term
referring to the exhaustion of raw materials
within a region. Use of either any forms of
resources beyond their rate of replacement isconsidered to be resource depletion.
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NATURAL CAPITAL
DEGRADATION
Air pollution
Climate
change
Soil erosion
Aquiferdepletion
Decreased
wildlife
habitats
Species
extinction
Shrinking
forests
Declining ocean
fisheries
Water
pollution
Degradation of Normally Renewable Natural Resources
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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
Climate change
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Challenges in sustainable use of resources1. Human behaviour
Human behaviours have said to make things worse by these activities;
having too many children agricultural burning
over consumption of resources
failure to re-cycle
production/disposal of toxic waste
improper disposal of human waste
improper disposal of garbage mis-use of pesticides
overcrowding
economic dependence on growth
depletion of soils by over farming
2. Human population and consumption level
The world population is projected to exceed 9 billion people by 2050. As always, population
growth has a marked influence on levels of consumption and the efficiency of resource use.
The impacts of the growing world population on land, water, energy, and biota resources are
real and indeed overwhelming.
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3. Economic growth
Historically there has been a close correlation between economic
growth and environmental degradation. As communities grow, so
do the environment declines. There is concern that, unless
resource use is checked, modern global civilization will follow the
path of ancient civilizations that collapsed through overexploitation of their resource base.
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(a) Inability to replace ecological functions - While it is possible that we can find ways to
replace some natural resources, it is much more unlikely that they will ever be able toreplace eco-system services, such as the protection provided by the ozone layer, or the
climate stabilizing function of the Amazonian forest.
(b) Natural resources multifunction - A further obstacle to sustainability lies also in the
multi-functionality of many natural resources. Forests, for example, does not only provide
the raw material for paper which can be substituted quite easily, but they also maintainbiodiversity, regulate water flow, and absorb Carbon dioxide.
(c) Partial irreversibility of natural resources - Another problem of natural resources
deterioration lies in their partial irreversibility. For example, the loss in biodiversity is often
definite and consumption of natural capital or resources may have no observable impact
until a certain threshold is reached.
(d) Complementary role of resources The Ecological Economist Herman Daly had once
asked, "What use is a saw mill without a forest?" From this perspective, the economy is a
subsystem of human society, which is itself a subsystem of the biosphere and a gain in one
sector is a loss from another.
Obstacle to sustainability in the use of resources
R l f I di id l i C i f N l R
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Role of an Individual in Conservation of Natural Resources
Conserve Water:
1. Dont keep water taps running while brushing, shaving, washing or bathing.
2. In washing machines fill the machine only to the level required for yourclothes.
3. Install water saving toilets that use not more than 6 liters per flush.
4. Check for water leaks in pipes and toilets and repair them promptly.
5. Reuse the soapy water of washing from clothes for gardening, driveways etc.
6. Water the plants and the lawns in the evening when evaporation losses are
minimum. Never water the plants in mid-day.
7. Install a system to capture rain water.
Protect the Soil:
1. Grow different types of ornamental plants, herbs and trees in your garden.Grow grass in the open areas which will bind the soil and prevent its erosion.
2. Make compost from your kitchen waste and use it for your kitchen-garden.
3. Do not irrigate the plants using a strong flow of water as it would wash off thesoil.
4. Better use sprinkling irrigation.
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Conserve energy:
1. Turn off lights fans and other appliances when not in use.
2. Obtain as much heat as possible from natural sources. Dry the clothes in suninstead of direr if possible.
3. Use solar cooker for cooking which will be more nutritious and will save yourLPG expenses.
4. Build your house with provision for sunspace which will keep your housewarmer and will provide more light.
5. Drive less, make fewer trips and use public transportations whenever
possible. Share a car-pool if possible.6. Control the use of A.C.
7. Recycle and reuse glass, metals and papers.
8. Use bicycle or just walk down small distances instead of using vehicle.
Promote Sustainable Agriculture:1. Do not waste food; Take as much as you can eat.
2. Reduce the use of pesticides.
3. Fertilize your crop with organic fertilizers.
4. Use drip irrigation.
5. Eat local and seasonal vegetables.6 Control pests
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