NATURAL

RESOURCES,

CONSERVATION

& DEPLETION OF

RESOURCESBY,

JONATHAN VINCENT, MBA(S-2),

ROLL NO.-16

RESOURCES

Any thing, which is useful man, or can be

transformed into a useful product or can be

used to produce a useful thing, can be

referred as ‘resources’.

Example: rocks, minerals, soil, rivers,

plants & animal.

NATURAL RESOUCES

Materials that come from the Earth.

Something useful for humans need to survive.

Those resources that are drawn directly from the

nature and used without modifications are called

Natural Resources.

E.g.: air, water, minerals etc.

TYPES OF NATURAL RESOURCES On the basis of origin:

Abiotic

Biotic

On the basis renewability

Renewable

Non-renewable

Inexhaustible

Exhaustible

ON THE BASIS OF ORIGIN:

ABIOTIC RESOURCES

Abiotic natural resources are all the non-living resources

that cannot replace themselves easily and are obtained

from the surface of the earth’s crust.

Some of these resources are reproduced at extremely

slow rates in terms of human life periods.

Examples would include water, land, mineral ores such as

copper, gold, silver and aluminium.

BIOTIC RESOURCES

Biotic natural resources are all living resources

that are able to reproduce, replace life and

grow in numbers.

These are all the resources that are obtainable

from the biosphere.

Example agriculture, fish, wildlife etc.

ON THE BASIS RENEWABILITY:

RENEWABLE RESOURCES

There are some resources that cannot be exhausted and are

available in plentiful.

These can be easily replenished through natural processes in

different ecosystems and are often known as renewable natural

resources.

For example, sunlight and wind are two examples of renewable

natural resources.

NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES

These are those resources which are not

renewed/replenished and are affected by

human activity

Non renewable resources are exhaustible and

are extracted faster than the rate at which they

formed. For e.g. fossil fuels.

INEXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES

It is a natural resource that will never run out so if

we take advantage of the greatest natural

resources will not be depleted and will continue

to exist, such as water, sunlight, tidal energy,

ocean energy and wind energy.

Wind power technology is one of inexhaustible

resources examples.

EXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES

These resources are limited in nature

and they are non-maintainable.

Comes under non-renewable category.

Example: coal, petrol.

CONSERVATION OF NATURAL

RESOURCESConservation of Water

Conservation of Soil

Conservation of Energy

Conservation of WaterConservation of water are essential for the survival of mankind, plants and animals. This can be achieved by adopting the following methods:

Constructing dams and reservoirs to regulate supply of water to the fields, as well as to enable generating hydroelectricity.

Sewage should be treated and only the clear water should be released into the rivers.

Industrial wastes (effluents) should be treated to prevent chemical and thermal pollution of fresh water.

Judicious use of water in our day-to-day life.

Rainwater harvesting should be done by storing rainwater and recharging groundwater.

Conservation of Soil

Soil conservation means checking soil erosion and improving soil fertility

by adopting various methods. Let us know some of these methods.

Maintenance of soil fertility: The fertility can be maintained by adding

manure and fertilizers regularly as well as by rotation of crop.

Make compost from your kitchen waste and use it for your kitchen-

garden.

Reforestation: Planting of trees and vegetation reduces soil erosion by

both water and wind.

Do not irrigate the plants using a strong flow of water as it would wash

off the soil.

Better use sprinkling irrigation.

Conservation of EnergyAt Home:

We should not keep lights unnecessarily switched on.

Reduce the energy your appliances consume by analysing star ratings.

Use solar cooker for cooking, which will make the food more nutritious and will

save your LPG expenses..

At Public Places :

Switch off the fans and lights in the places like bus terminal and railway stations

when not necessary.

Drive less, make fewer trips and use public transportations whenever possible.

Big Hoardings, lightened up for the whole evening and nights are other wastage

of power which can be and should be avoided.

DEPLETION OF NATURAL

RESOURCES

Resource depletion is the consumption of a resource faster than

it can be replenished.

Over a period of time, many of our natural resources are being

depleted. Many activities of human society are responsible for

this degradation of the environment.

Agricultural practises such as indiscriminate use of fertilizers and

pesticides contaminate the soil.

Urbanisation, overpopulation, increase in use of carbon

monoxide producing automobiles, deforestation, deterioration

of water resources are all factors contributing to this depletion.

Depletion of natural resources refers to the exhaustion of raw

materials within a region. Our resources are getting depleted at

a faster rate than they are produced or renewed by nature.

Types of Degradation

Types

Deforestation

Desertification

ExtinctionErosion

Emission

DEFORESTATION : Deforestation is the clearance of forests by logging and/or

burning.

DESERTIFICATION: Desertification is a type of land degradation in which a

Relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies

of water as well as vegetation and wildlife.

EMISSION: When human or natural forces release chemicals or other

substances into the environment, the process is known as emission. Many

natural processes cause emissions. When a volcano erupts, it lets out acid,

and acid, ash, and many toxic gases.

EROSION: Erosion is the action of exogenic processes (such as water flow or

wind) which remove soil and rock from one location on the Earth's crust, then

transport it to another location where it is deposited.

KINDS OF RESOURCES

Forest Resources

Water Resources

Mineral Resources

Energy Resources

Land Resources

FOREST RESOURCES

Forest is an area with a high density of trees, together with other plants, covering a large area of land.

Forests are home to 50% to 90% of earth’s species.

These forests not only produce innumerable material goods, but also provide several environmental services which are essential for life.

Functions of Forest Resources

• Timber, bamboos, food, essential oils

• Latex, medicines etc.Productive Functions

• Conversation of soil and water

• Prevention of drought

• Protection against wind, cold, radiation, noise.

Protective Functions

• Absorption, storage and release of gases, water, mineral elements & radiant energy.Regulative

Functions

Direct Benefits

from

Forest

Timber for Buildings &

furniture

Natural habitat for

tribal

Beauty of landscape-

Tourism

Manure & wood fuel

Raw materials for

industries

Causes of Deforestation

Construction of Roads

Mining

Hydroelectric projects

Forest fires

Effects of Deforestation

Threatens the

survival of tribes

Reduces forest

resources

Contribut-es to

global warning

Runoff water & floods

Soil erosion

Extinction of

organisms

WATER RESOURCES

Water resources are sources of water that are useful

or potentially useful to humans. Uses of water

include agricultural, industrial, household,

recreational and environmental activities. Virtually

all of these human uses require fresh water.

Water is an essential natural resource for sustaining

life.

Water forms 60% of our body weight.

Water is a renewable and limiting resource.

About three – fourth of earth’s surface is occupied by

oceans.

About 97% of the earth’s water is strong saline.

The rest 3% is freshwater.

Pure, usable water on land is only 0.3%.

WATER USE

About 70% of the total consumption is used in

agriculture.

About 1.1% is used for domestic and municipal

supplies.

Rest is used by various industries.

FRESH WATER SOURCES

Surface Water Under river flow

Ground Water Frozen Water

FRESH WATER USERS

Agriculture Industrial

House hold Recreation

WATER DEPLETED

It is caused by over exploitation, excessive use and

unequal access to water among different social

groups.

Increasing population, intensive industrialization,

deforestation and mismanagement of water resources

have caused a crisis

MINERALS RESOURCES

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solids having

a definite chemical composition and characteristic physical

properties.

Minerals are exhaustible and non-renewable.

Minerals are relatively plentiful.

Minerals are over used by industries.

Disposal of minerals have negative effects on environment.

Metallic minerals – e.g., iron, copper, silver, gold

Non-metallic minerals – e.g., sand, stone, salt, phosphates

USES OF MINERALS

The main uses of minerals are as follows:

Development of industrial plants and machinery.

Generation of energy e.g. coal, lignite, uranium.

Construction, housing, settlements.

Defence equipment weapons, armaments.

Transportation means.

Communication- telephone wires, cables, electronic

devices.

Medicinal system- particularly in Ayurveda System.

Agriculture – as fertilizers, seed dressings and fungicides

(e.g. Zineb: containing zinc, Maneb: containing manganese

etc.).

Jewellery– e.g. Gold, silver, platinum, diamond.

CONSERVATION OF MINERALS

Recycling – Minerals in products can be recycled.

Reuse – reuse the beneficial items e.g. glass

bottles

Substitution – Scarce minerals can be substituted

with more abundant minerals. e.g. ceramics,

alloys

Reduce consumption – Consumers must decrease

their mineral consumption.

Recycle industrial wastes – One industry may use

the waste products of another industry.

ENERGY RESOURCES

The substances from which we produce energy are known

as energy sources. We need energy for our day to day life.

The energy we use are of two broad categories:

1. Renewable source of energy

2. Non-renewable source of energy

Non-renewable

The sources of energy that once used , cannot be reused are known as

non-renewable sources of energy. These are the energy sources which are

mined from the earth crust. These sources of energy are known as fossil

fuels and these took millions of years to form and cannot be regenerated in

a matter of years. The rate of consumption far exceeds the rate of

production of these resources

These include:

* Coal

* Petroleum

* Natural gas

* Nuclear fuel

Renewable sources

The virtually unlimited sources of energy which will not be exhausted in any

near future are known as the renewable sources of energy. These energy

sources are continuously replenished at a constant rate. About 16.7% of

global final energy consumption comes from renewable energy sources.

The renewable sources of energy include:

Solar power

Hydel power

Wind energy

Tidal energy

Geothermal energy

Biogas

LAND RESOURCES

In the direct words

‘Natural resource in the form of arable land.’

Arable land (from Latin arabilis, "able to be plowed") is land

capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.

Land is among the most important natural resources. It covers

up only 29% of the earth’s surface and all parts of the land are

not habitable. The uneven distribution of population in different

parts of the world is mainly due to varied characteristics of land

and climate.

The change in the characteristic and quality of soil which adversely affect its

fertility is called as Degradation.

Land degradation is the most important environmental problem currently

challenging sustainable development in many parts of the world.

Land degradation means:

1) Loss of natural fertility of soil because of loss of nutrients.

2) Less vegetation cover

3) Changes in the characteristic of soil.

4) Pollution of water resources from the contamination of soil through which

water sweeps into ground or runoff to the water bodies.

5) Changes in climatic conditions because of unbalance created in the

environment.

Causes of land degradation

Deforestation

Soil erosion by wind or water

Mining

Industrialization

Unsustainable agricultural practices

Urban expansion

SOIL EROSION

Soil erosion is the washing or blowing away of the top

layer of the soil.

It washes away the nutrients in soil such as nitrogen,

phosphate and potassium are lost resulting in

infertility of the soil.

In India in 1971 alone 6000 million tons of soil was lost.

CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION

RAINFALL- raindrops directly strike the soil surface and

detach the soil particles.

WIND- transportation of soil and sand particle by wind

by wind is best seen in deserts and along the

seashore.

BIOTIC FACTORS- grazing by cattle, cutting down of

trees, agricultural activities, construction of buildings

and laying of roads.

DESERTIFICATION

Desertification is a process by which fertile land

becomes desert. Causes for the origin of

manmade deserts,

Removal of trees .

Modern methods of agriculture instead of more

traditional .

Over exploitation of fertile soil particularly in

areas of low rainfall by cultivating cash crops.