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Understanding Natural Resource Management

Natural resources are elements from nature that humans utilize for survival and various needs, classified as biotic or abiotic, and renewable or non-renewable. Effective management of these resources is crucial to prevent depletion and environmental damage, ensuring their availability for future generations. Understanding the impact of human activities on natural resources is essential for sustainable living and ecosystem stability.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
186 views6 pages

Understanding Natural Resource Management

Natural resources are elements from nature that humans utilize for survival and various needs, classified as biotic or abiotic, and renewable or non-renewable. Effective management of these resources is crucial to prevent depletion and environmental damage, ensuring their availability for future generations. Understanding the impact of human activities on natural resources is essential for sustainable living and ecosystem stability.

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sadia_00
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Chapter 07

Natural resources

What are natural resources?

A natural resource is something in nature that people can use. People do not make natural
resources, but gather them from the earth. Natural resources:

1. Exists naturally in the environment


2. Are required for human survival or are useful to humans in some way.

Classify the following items

1. Mosquitoes
2. Land
3. Solar power
4. Shrimp
5. Fish
6. Teak trees
7. Coal
8. Petroleum
9. Diamonds
10. Cars
11. Firewood
12. Wind
13. Plastic
14. Worms
15. Paper
16. Iron
17. Copper
18. Soil
19. Stainless steel
20. Glass

Not a natural resource Natural resource

Classification of natural resources

Natural resources can be biotic or abiotic

1. Biotic natural resources are those that come from living organisms such as trees, plants,
animals or fish. Fossil fuels-coal, natural gas, and oil- are biotic natural resources since they
come from plants that died millions of years ago.
2. Abiotic natural resources are those that come from non-living thing sources. These include
land, sunlight, air, water, minerals (such as silver, tin, iron, gold) and gems (such as rubies
and diamonds).

Natural resource can be renewable or non-renewable

 Renewable natural resources.


The name says it all-these are resources that can re-new themselves. Renewable resources
can replenish or replace themselves fairly quickly after they are used/consumed. Or they are
resources that can never be used up. There are two types:

o Plentiful: these natural resources are always available and are not affected by
human consumption. Plentiful natural resources will never run out. Examples
include: sunlight, wind and air. (Although air will never run out. It can become
polluted or contaminated by toxins. We must treat this resource carefully.
o Limited: these resources can come back. However, if they are not wisely used, they
could be used up and disappear. Examples include: wild fish, fresh water, and
forests.

 Non-renewable natural resources

These are natural resources that take million of years to make. They are used faster than
they can be replaced and eventually will be used up. Fossil fuels and diamonds are an
example of non-renewable resources.

What are fossil fuels?

Coal, oil and natural gas which are made from remains of plants and animals that died millions of
years ago.

Natural resource can be global, national or multinational

Global: natural resources are found all over the world and cannot be owned by one nation.
Examples include: air, wind, and sunlight

National: natural resources are found entirely within the boundaries of one country. Crude oil is one
of the most important national resources and can bring great wealth to individual countries.
Sometimes countries go to war in order to get control of natural resources owned by another
country.

Multinational: natural resources cross international boundaries such as river. (Rivers are
multinational resource because they often begin in one country but flow through other countries.
Problems and conflict occur when countries near the top of the river, dam the river or divert it for
the irrigation.
Natural resource management

The air we breathe, the food we eat, the petrol we put in our cars, the water we drink, the wood and
metal and cement we use to build our homes and schools and hospitals, are all made from natural
resources.

If we do not use natural resources carefully, they could be destroyed of used up entirely. Effective
natural resource management will help protect our existing natural resources so that they will last
and future generations will be able to enjoy them as well

Natural resource management - the big picture

Every moment of our lives we use the resources that nature provides. We breathe the air
that encircles our earth. We eat plants grow in the soil and other living species. We use
vegetation for food, pasture and shelter. We live in houses made from wood that was once
trees, brick that was once clay. Steel that was once minerals in the earth. We drink water
that falls from the heavens and use it to irrigate the land. We use energy provided by coal
and oil or the sun. We depend on nature to supply all our basic needs - air, food, water,
sheller, warmth, energy - yet few of us consciously acknowledge these gifts or think about
the price nature pays for such generosity.

If we are to be a truly sustainable society, we need to understand the impact our lives have
on nature and the resources it provides. We need to make decisions that minimise our
impact so that the natural systems we are part of can continue,

What is Natural Resource Management?

Natural resource management means the management of natural resources such as water,
land, plants and animals. This management has a focus on the interaction between people
and natural landscape.
Natural resource management includes land use planning, water management, sustainable
development and biodiversity conservation and industries like agriculture, fisheries,
forestry, mining and forestry. It focuses on improving the quality of life of the present and
future generation s as people rely on natural resources for their livelihood and health.

Why is Management of Natural Resources Important?

The reasons why the management of natural resources is necessary are:

 To maintain the stability of the ecosystem.

 To prevent further damage to the environment.

 Avoiding over-consumption of natural resources.

Why do we need to Manage Natural Resources?

Following are the reasons why we need to manage natural resources.

 Everything we use today – food, clothing, home, automobiles, electricity, books,


furniture, cooking gas, utensils, toys, roads, etc. – are acquired from earth’s natural
resources.

 A large amount of the energy we consume today comes from non-renewable sources.
Which means they are irreplaceable after usage. Fossil fuels, which have taken millions
of years to form, are the most significant source of non-renewable energy used widely.
 Managing resources will not only guarantee its rational usage. It would also limit the
degradation it causes to the environment. For example, the use of resources in various
ways produces a lot of waste, which, is being disposed into the water bodies. Which, in
fact, pollutes rivers and lakes. Limiting use would also reduce waste generation and
pollution.

Common questions

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Renewable natural resources can replenish themselves or are inexhaustible, such as sunlight, wind, and fresh water, though some require careful management to prevent depletion . Non-renewable resources, like fossil fuels and diamonds, take millions of years to form and are consumed faster than they can be replaced, leading to sustainability challenges as they risk being depleted . Effective management is key to prolonging availability and minimizing environmental impact .

The extraction and usage of non-renewable resources like fossil fuels release pollutants into the air and water, contributing to climate change, air quality degradation, and water pollution . Their unsustainable usage also results in significant waste production, further impacting ecosystems negatively .

Natural resource management intersects with biodiversity conservation by focusing on the sustainable use of resources that maintain ecological balance. It involves preserving habitats, implementing sustainable land-use planning, and promoting practices that protect biodiversity while supporting economic development . These efforts align with sustainable development goals to ensure environmental health and resource availability for future generations .

Solar power and wind are global resources because they are naturally available worldwide and cannot be owned or exhausted by any single nation . Their global nature requires international cooperation in resource management to maximize their potential as sustainable energy sources and influence global energy policies .

'Plentiful' renewable resources, like sunlight and air, are inexhaustible regardless of human consumption, requiring minimal management except for pollution control . In contrast, 'limited' renewables, such as wild fish and forests, can be depleted if not managed wisely, necessitating policies promoting sustainable use and conservation .

National ownership of resources like crude oil significantly influences global geopolitics due to its economic importance and strategic value. Countries may engage in conflicts to secure access or control over these resources, affecting international relations and economic stability . Managing these resources requires diplomatic negotiations and international economic policies to avoid geopolitical tensions .

Biotic natural resources are derived from living organisms like plants, animals, and fossils such as coal, natural gas, and oil, which result from decomposed plants and animals over millions of years . Abiotic natural resources originate from non-living sources, including land, sunlight, air, water, and minerals like iron and diamonds .

Multinational natural resources, such as rivers crossing international boundaries, can cause conflicts when upstream countries alter their flow through dams or diversions, impacting downstream nations . To prevent disputes, collaborative international resource management agreements should be established, ensuring equitable sharing and sustainable usage across national boundaries .

Sustainability of natural resources requires integrated strategies such as promoting renewable energy, enforcing regulations to reduce pollution, developing efficient resource use technologies, and fostering cross-border cooperation on multinational resources. Education and policy-oriented approaches to enhance public awareness and conservation measures are also essential .

Effective natural resource management ensures that natural resources are conserved and used sustainably, thus maintaining ecosystem stability, preventing environmental degradation, and avoiding over-consumption . It enables current and future generations to continue enjoying essential resources like air, food, and water without compromising their availability .

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