Session Name:

NATURAL RESOURCES
Delivered By:
Dr. Abanikanta Bhadra
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Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

➢ Define the Concepts of natural resources and their classification.

➢ Discuss the Forest resources, uses and exploitation.
➢ Discuss the Water resources, uses and exploitation.
➢ Discuss the Mineral resources, use and exploitation.
➢ Discuss the Food resources, sources and food problems.
➢ Discuss the Energy resources, use of alternate energy sources.
➢ Discuss the Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles.
Introduction to Natural Resources

Anything that has some utility is known as resource. The resource which exists freely in nature for
human use is known as natural resource. Natural resources are the key aspect that is necessary for the
survival of humans and other life forms on earth. These resources include land, rocks, forests
(vegetation), water (ocean, lakes, streams, seas, and rivers), fossil fuel, animals (fish, wild life, and
domesticated animals), minerals, sunlight and air. Human beings for their survival need the life
supporting materials like air, water, land, fish, forests, fuels, minerals that are included under natural
resources. Thus, the natural resources are the naturally occurring materials that are essential or useful
to the humans for their survival.
Classification of natural resources
Natural resources can be classified on the basis of their availability (i.e., exhaustibility), origin, use and
economical value. The most widely used classifications are based on their (i) availability, and (ii) origin.

Classification on the basis of availability

➢ The natural resources may be classified (a) Renewable or Inexhaustible resources, (b) Non-renewable or
Exhaustible resources, and (c) Abstract (or Intangible or Untouchable) resources.

➢ Renewable resources (materials) that can be removed (i.e., replenished or replaced) by natural processes within a
time framework (i.e., grow again, if exhausted before the required time). If these resources are excessively used,
they are not going to be exhausted. That is why these resources are called inexhaustible resources. Renewable
resources can renew themselves and be used indefinitely if they are not overexploited.
➢ The resources which cannot be renewed or replaced, after they are completely exhausted, within
a time framework are termed as non –renewable natural resources. Once exhausted, these types
of resources cannot be replaced within any useful time framework. That is why these resources
are also known as exhaustible resources.
Classification on the basis of origin

On the basis of origin, the natural resources can be classified as:

(a) Biotic (living organisms), and
(b) Abiotic (non-living things)
Classification on the basis of stages of development
Natural resources can be classified on the basis of their stages of development into:
(a) Actual resources, and
(b) Potential resources.
The resources pass through different stages of development before they are actually available.
The resources available actually in stock are called Actual Resources. These resources may not be
used to the full extent. The portion of the resources which can be used profitably by following the
available technology is called Potential Resources. The size and quantity of this type of resources
may change with changes in technology and time.
Abstract Natural Resources

In addition to renewable and non-renewable resources, there is another type called Abstract
natural resources. These include scenic place, grazing land (or open space), rare animals and
plants, information management, serenity, lake (Chilika lake in Odisha), bird watching (in
Chilika lake), fishing, sight-seeing, hiking, etc. These are both exhausted and inexhausted.
These can be destroyed easily. Renewable and Abstract resources are infinite provided they are
not over utilized or destroyed while the non-renewable resources are finite.
Finally, other classifications of resources are:
(i) Recoverable resources, and (ii) Unrecoverable resources.

The used up resources (e.g., wastewater, solid waste, etc.) can be recovered by the help of
modern technology and can be used in future. These are called recoverable resources. On the
other hand, the resources which are scattered or diffused and cannot be recovered by the help of
modern technology belong to unrecovered resources (e.g., burnt fossil fuels, used up radioactive
fuels, etc.).
Primary natural resources
The resources, whether exhaustible or inexhaustible, are created by nature. Human beings for their
survival depend on the natural resources, e.g., air, water, land, forests, etc. The life supporting
resources are air, water, land and forests. These are known as primary natural resources. We will
discuss below these resources.

Forest Resources

About 27% of the earth’s surface or 36% of the earth’s land surface are covered with forest. The total
forest land includes closed canopy forests (e.g., in these forests, the leaves and small branches of
adjacent trees touch), i.e., dense forests; open canopy forests, i.e., less dense forests, scrub land (low
bushes), and deforested areas. Nearly, 50% of the total forest is the tropical forest. Forests play a vital
role in providing various services to the living systems. These are

(I) Consumptive or Productive values, (ii) Protective values, and (iii) Regulative values.
CONSUMPTIVE VALUES

• Forests produce many medicinal plants which have very high commercial values.
• Forests produce food materials in terms of fruits, leaves, seeds, and roots for the living organisms
including human beings. Many seeds of the forest trees are used to get vegetable oils for
consumption.
• Forests provide raw materials for paper, rubber, and textile industries.
• Forests provide shelters to wild life, and raw materials in terms of wood. And timber to many
industries. People use wood for heating and cooking fuel.
• Forests provide a good source of tourism and recreation.
• Forests provide the major source of nectar for the apiculture (bee keeping)industry and the
sericulture (silk) industry, Industrial uses of the forest resources include the use of saw logs for
furniture, packing, ship building, construction, etc. Pulp wood is used for newsprint, paper board,
printing and writing papers, etc.
PROTECTIVE VALUE

The forest provides shelter and protect the wild life from worst climatic conditions.

• Forests also protects the endangered species of flora and fauna in the form of parks.
• The plants, trees, herbs, shrubs, grasses etc. in the forest prevent soil erosion and prevent water
flow to save soil from desertification and increases the groundwater level.
• Forests also protect the fertility of the soil because of leaves litters, humus and other organic
materials present in forest floor.
• Forests preserve the biodiversity providing shelters to many birds, animals and endangered
species.
REGULATIVE VALUES

• Gaseous balance: Forests act as air purifier as the plants absorb carbon dioxide for process of
photosynthesis and release oxygen which the animals and humans need for their respiration. Thus,
forests help in balancing the gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• Energy flow: Solar energy is the Source of all energy. Plants, the producers prepare the food in the
photosynthesis by absorbing solar energy. The Plants are consumed by herbivores which are then
consumed by secondary consumers, called carnivores which in turn are consumed by herbivores
consumers (higher carnivores or omnivores) Thus, the energy from sun to the producers and then to
consumers through food chain. and finally the dead bodies of producers and consumer are
consumed by decomposers.
REGULATIVE VALUES

• Mineral cycles: The decomposers (i.e., micro-organisms like bacteria, fungi, etc.) decompose the
dead organisms which become the nutrients in the soil. The plants take up the nutrients from the
soil and then the plants are consumed by the herbivores followed by carnivores. Thus, the nutrients
and other minerals are cycle.
• Maintaining air humidity: The moisture content of air is called humidity which varies from place
to place. The relative humidity in the open ground is less than in the forest. Because of evapo-
transpiration, water from the forest area is evaporated to form clouds followed by precipitation (i.e.
rain). In this way, the humidity of air in the forest is maintained.
• Forest also influence local, regional, and global climate.
• Wild animals and plants living in the forest balance the nature itself.
• Forests buffer the human beings against noise and absorb air pollutants thereby reducing Pollution
drastically.
OVER-EXPLOITATION OF FOREST RESOURCES

Forests are overexploited in different ways. The most important ways of overexploitation are
deforestation, mining and dam building. When the area under the forest cover is decreased due to
certain reason, the overall prosperity of the country must suffer. Moreover, the tribal people who
depend on the forests for their livelihood are most affected.
CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION
The destruction of forest area may be due to natural causes, or due to human activities.
These causes are
➢ Population growth and poverty
➢ Mining
➢ Road construction and dam building
➢ Shifting cultivation

➢ Cattle grazing
Environmental Impacts Of Overexploitation Of Forest Resources
Because of the deforestation, the impacts are

• Loss of fertile top soil, i.e., soil erosion.

• Loss of biodiversity.
• Loss of great habitats for many wild lives.
• Change in the forest structure.
• Loss of economic resource to the inhabitants.
• Causes flooding in the down -stream.
• Causes drought to occur.
• Changes in atmospheric conditions.
• Depletion of groundwater table converting forest land into desert.
• Loss of flora and fauna.
Forest Resource Management

From the Preceding discussion it may be stated here that forest resources are of much beneficial to the
human beings. It is, therefore, necessary to give stress on the forest resource with reference to the
followings:

(j) Afforestation, (ii) Reforestation, and (iii) Forest conservation.

Conservation of Forests

Conservation of forests means to conserve the existing forests and restore the degraded forests. The
main objectives of the forest conservation are

• To check the uncontrolled and over utilisation of the forest resource.

• To protect and preserve the flora and fauna.
• To ensure regeneration of forest by reforestation.
• To encourage and maintain the productive function of the forests.
Academic Poll
1.Forest is the largest terrestrial pool of carbon. (True/False)
2. Renewable resources are always preferable over non renewable resources.
(True/False)
3. Solar energy is not a renewable source of energy. (True/False)
4. Natural resources are being depleted at faster rate than rate at which it is being
generated due to rapid human population growth. (True/False)
5. Fossil fuels are not the source of renewable energy. (True/False)
Case Study / Business Application

Knowledge and principles on Natural resources will help apply in the conservation efforts,

project implementation, and socio - economic development.

Session Summary
In this session, we have discussed about:
❑ Natural resources are the key aspect that is necessary for the survival of humans and other life forms
on earth.

❑ The natural resources may be classified (a) Renewable or Inexhaustible resources, (b) Non-renewable
or Exhaustible resources, and (c) Abstract (or Intangible or Untouchable) resources.

❑ Human beings for their survival depend on the natural resources, e.g., air, water, land, forests, etc.
The life supporting resources are air, water, land and forests. These are known as primary natural
resources.
❑ The rapid change of climate, mineral cycles, land cover and biotic communities causes anthropogenic
global change radically.

❑ Moreover, because of overexploitation of the natural resources, these have reached beyond their
generation capacity. Finally, the future generation will be deprived of the natural resources. In order
to pass on the resources to the future generation, each individual should reduce consumption levels,
controls population increase, cultivate vegetables and fruits for their needs in their own land, and
finally, should lead a simple life.
Happy Learning!