ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Natural Resources
Resources
Resources include everything, from air to gold. Let us take a look at the two broad types of
resources: natural resources and man-made resources. Examples of man-made resources
include plastic, paper, sheet metal, rubber, and brass. These contrast with natural resources
such as water, air, sunlight, crude oil, timber, gold, etc. The differences between natural and
man-made resources are:

Natural Resource Man-made Resource

Natural resources are resources provided by Resources made by human beings are
nature. called man-made resources.

Natural resources are not always readily Man-made resources are easily available
available for human consumption. Example: for human consumption. Example: Petrol
crude oil or iron ore. Crude oil and iron ores and Diesel. Hydroelectric energy is not a
are natural, but need work to make them natural resource because people use
into usable refined oil and steel. turbines to convert the energy from moving
water.
Natural Resources
Natural resources develop over a long period of time without human assistance. A natural
resource is something that people can use that comes from nature. Natural resources include
things like air, water, lumber, natural gas, crude oil, and coal.

Types of Natural Resources

Natural resources can be divided into two types, such as renewable and non-renewable
resources.

● A renewable resource is one which can be used again and again. For example, soil, sunlight
and water. However, in some circumstances, even water is not easily renewable. Wood is a
renewable resource, but it takes time to renew. Soil, if it is washed away, is not easy to
renew.

● A non-renewable resource is a resource that does not grow and come back, or a resource
that would take a very long time to come back. For example, coal is a non-renewable
resource. When we use coal, there is less coal afterward.
Types of Non-renewable Resources
A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be readily replaced by natural
means at a pace quick enough to keep up with consumption. An example is fossil fuels.
Non-renewable resources can be further divided into two categories: recyclable and
non-recyclable resources.

Recyclable

These are non-renewable resources, which can be collected after they are used and can be
recycled. These are mainly the non-energy mineral resources, which occur in the earth’s
crust, e.g. ores of aluminium, copper, tin, etc.

Non-recyclable

Non-renewable resources are natural resources that cannot be recycled in any way.
Examples of these are fossil fuels and uranium, which provide 90 per cent of our energy
requirements.
Soil Resource
Soil is a finite resource, meaning its loss and degradation is not recoverable
within a human lifespan. It is the basis for food, feed, fuel, etc. It is therefore a
highly valuable natural resource, yet it is often overlooked.

As the global population increases, the need for more productive soil is
increasing. Unfortunately, the global soil is being degraded through erosion,
salinization, compaction, chemical pollution, and nutrient depletion, hampering
soil functions and affecting food production. Soils need to be recognised and
valued for their productive capacities as well as their contribution to food
security. There are a few steps we can take to manage our soil resources.

1. Increasing soil organic matter content

2. Using nutrients wisely
3. Promoting crop rotations
4. Reducing soil erosion by keeping the soil surface vegetated

Sustainable soil management can lead to an average crop yield increase of

58%.
Water Resources
Water is a renewable resource, yet the world's supply of groundwater is steadily
decreasing. Water scarcity begins to hamper economic development and human
health and well-being.

In 2000, the world population was 6.2 billion. The UN estimates that by 2050
there will be an additional 3.5 billion people, with most of the growth in
developing countries that already suffer from water stress. Thus, water demand
will increase unless there are corresponding increases in water conservation and
recycling of this vital resource.

In general, the more developed nations of North America, Europe, and Russia will
not experience a serious threat to their water supply by the year 2025. This is due
to the fact that their populations will be more closely matched to the water
resources that are available. Africa, the Middle East, India, and China will
experience extremely severe water shortages.
Mineral Resources
Earth minerals and metal ores are considered non-renewable resources as
they get depleted with use as the supply is limited. Minerals take years to
form and, once used, cannot be replenished in a short period. Also, with the
high demand, the amount formed is minimal to the usage. They include the
fossil fuels we burn for energy, like natural gas, coal, oil, and minerals used
for making metals.

Measures to conserve minerals :

1. Use of minerals in a planned and sustainable manner

2. Recycle and reuse the scrap metal
3. Use of alternative renewable substitutes
4. Technology should be improved to use the low grade ores profitably
5. Awareness about the importance of these resources
Energy Resources
The energy consumption of a nation is usually considered as an index of its development. This is
because almost all development activities are directly or indirectly dependent upon energy. Energy
resources are primarily divided into two categories, viz., renewable and non-renewable energy
sources.

Renewable energy comes from natural sources and is replenished more quickly than it is used up.
Examples of such sources are the sun and the wind. We have access to a wide variety of
environmentally friendly forms of renewable energy.

Non-renewable energy would get exhausted and are responsible for pollution. The non-renewable
energy sources include coal, petroleum, natural gas etc.
Forest Resources
Trees are also very important to us as a renewable
resource. Forests are a natural resource that can be
renewed by the planting of trees and replacing the trees
that are harvested. Covering the earth like a green
blanket, these forests not only produce innumerable
material goods, but also provide several environmental
services which are essential for life.

Forests provide us with a large number of commercial

goods which include timber, firewood, pulpwood, food
items, gum, resins, non-edible oils, rubber, fibers,
bamboo canes, fodder, medicine, and many more items.
Half of the timber cut each year is used as fuel for
heating and cooking. One third of the wood harvest is
used for building materials such as lumber, plywood,
and hardwood, as well as particle board and chipboard.
One sixth of the wood harvest is converted into pulp and
used for the paper industry.
Ecological Uses of Forests
Production of oxygen: The trees produce oxygen by photosynthesis, which is so vital for life
on this earth. They are rightly called the earth’s lungs.

Reducing global warming: The main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, is absorbed by the
forests as a raw material for photosynthesis. Thus, the forest canopy acts as a sink for CO2,
thereby reducing the problem of global warming caused by greenhouse gases.

Wildlife habitat: Forests are the homes of millions of wild animals and plants. About 7
million species are found in the tropical forests alone.

Regulation of water cycle: Forested watersheds act like giant sponges, absorbing the rainfall,
slowing down the runoff and slowly releasing the water for recharge of springs. About 50-80%
of the moisture in the air above tropical forests comes from their transpiration, which helps in
bringing rain.

Soil Conservation: Forests bind the soil particles tightly with their roots and prevent soil
erosion. They also act as windbreaks.

Pollution moderators: Many toxic gases can be absorbed by forests, which helps to keep the
air pure and clean. They have also been reported to absorb noise and thus help in preventing
air and noise pollution.
Food Resources
Food is essential for the growth and development of living organisms. These
essential materials are called nutrients, and these nutrients are available from a
variety of animals and plants. The majority of people obtain food from cultivated
plants and domesticated animals. Although some food is obtained from oceans
and fresh waters, the great majority of food for the human population is obtained
from traditional land-based agriculture of crops and livestock.

Some species of crops provide food, whereas others provide commercial

products like oils, fibres, etc. By using different techniques for value addition,
raw crops are sometimes converted into valuable edible products. At a global
level, many species of crops are used for food, such as wheat, rice, corn,
potatoes, barley, sweet potatoes, soybeans, oats, millet, sugarcane, peanuts,
beans, chickpeas, bananas, and coconuts.

Domesticated animals are an important food source. The major domesticated

animals used as food sources by human beings are cattle, sheep, goats, camels,
reindeer, llamas, etc.
World Food Problems
As per estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 840 million people remain
chronically hungry, and of these, 800 million are living in the developing world. In the last decade, it
has been decreasing at a rate of 2.5 million per year, but at the same time, the world's population is
increasing, which is adding to the problem. Food insufficiency can be divided into two categories:
undernourishment and malnourishment. Both of these insufficiencies are global problems.

Undernourished: Undernourishment means a lack of sufficient calories in available food, resulting in

little or no ability to move or work. People who receive less than 90% of their minimum dietary intake
on a long-term basis are considered undernourished. Children in this category are likely to suffer from
stunted growth, mental retardation, and other social and developmental disorders.

Malnourishment: Malnourishment can be defined as the lack of specific components of food such as
proteins, vitamins, or essential chemical elements. A person may have an abundance of food but still
suffer from nutritional imbalance or an inability to absorb or utilise essential nutrients. If we compare
the diets of the developed countries with those of developing countries, people in developed countries
have processed foods which may be deficient in fibre, vitamins and other components, whereas in the
diets of developing countries there may be a lack of specific nutrients because they consume fewer
meat, fruits and vegetables due to poor purchasing power.
What can we do to reduce our dependence on natural resources?
It’s crucial that everyone take the depletion of natural resources
seriously and do everything we can to sustain our environment. We
can all do our part to protect the environment through recycling,
reducing power consumption, by walking instead of driving, and
carpooling with co-workers, just to name a few.

Businesses are regulated to keep carbon emissions low, and

governments are now attempting to create incentives for people to
install renewable power sources in and around their homes.

A sustainable future is a far-off vision, but with new technologies and

improvements in the use of older and cleaner fuel sources, many
governments and businesses now look forward to a post-fossil fuel
world. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the first fully
solar-powered airport in the world, has won the UN Environment
Award for Entrepreneurial Vision. "Cochin is showing the world that
our ever expanding network of global movement doesn't have to
harm the environment. "As the pace of society continues to increase,
the world's first fully solar-powered airport is proof positive that
Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)
green business is good business," said a release by the United
Nations Environment Programme.
What will happen if natural resources run out?
Here are six natural resources already under severe pressure from current rates of consumption:

Water: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is predicting that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions
with water scarcity.

Oil: The BP Statistical Review of World Energy in June measured total global oil at 188.8 million tons, from proven oil resources at the end of 2010.
This will last 46.2 years under current global production rates.

Natural Gas: Similarly to oil, we only have enough gas in proven reserves to meet 58.6 years of global production.

Phosphorus: Plants cannot grow without this element. With the need to feed 7 billion people, scientists from the Global Phosphorus Research Initiative
predict we could run out of phosphorus in 50 to 100 years.

Coal: Coal has the largest reserves, but as industrialization continues, demand may outstrip supply. At current rates, we can meet 188 years of global
production.

Rare Earth Elements: Scandium and terbium are two of 17 rare earth minerals used in wind turbines and smartphones. Exact reserves are not known.

Things are not getting better. Humans are using up their allowance for water, soil, clean air and other resources on Earth each year. The resources
provided by the Earth have allowed humans to evolve and make progress in industry, agriculture, and technology. However, if we continue to use these
resources as if they will always be available, human life will be in danger around the globe. It is our responsibility to make strides in environmental
innovation and use more alternative resources to meet our needs. Harnessing alternative energies and resources will extend our ability to continue
functioning at current levels.
Question
Part A

1. What are natural resources?

2. What are the different types of resources?
3. What are two types of natural resources?
4. What are the two types of non-renewable resources?
5. Write a short note on recyclable resources?
6. Write a short note on non-recyclable resources?

Part B

1. Write a short essay on the ecological uses of forests.

2. Write a short essay on renewable and non-renewable resources.
3. Write a short essay on soil resources and what are the steps to conserve it.

Part C

1. Write an essay on any five types of natural resources with examples.