Natural Resources: Types, Uses & Environmental Challenges
🔸 What Are Natural Resources?
Natural resources are materials from nature used by humans for survival and development.
👉 They can be renewable (replenished naturally) or non-renewable (finite supply).
🔹 Classification of Natural Resources
✅ Renewable Resources:
✔️ Replenish naturally (e.g., sunlight, wind, water, forests)
✔️ Can be used sustainably
❌ Non-renewable Resources:
❗ Limited supply – once used, cannot be regenerated easily
➤ Recyclable: Can be reused (e.g., aluminum, copper)
➤ Non-recyclable: Cannot be reused (e.g., fossil fuels, uranium)
🌲 1. Forest Resources
➤ Deforestation
➤ Cutting down forests for farming, cities, industries
🔁 Effects:
→ Loss of biodiversity
→ Soil erosion
→ Climate change
→ Displacement of tribal communities
➤ Timber Extraction
🌲 Overharvesting of wood
→ Forest degradation
→ Ecosystem imbalance
➤ Other Threats to Forests
⛏️ Mining and 🏞️ dam construction can damage forests and affect tribal life
💧 2. Water Resources
➤ Overuse and Over-utilization
🚰 Excess withdrawal from rivers, lakes, and underground
→ Water scarcity
→ Depleted groundwater
→ Conflicts among users
➤ Floods
🌧️ Heavy rainfall = overflowing rivers
→ Property damage
→ Waterborne diseases
→ Population displacement
➤ Dams – Benefits & Problems
✅ Generate hydroelectricity
✅ Water storage for agriculture
❗ But…
→ Displace people
→ Submerge forests
→ Disturb aquatic life
➤ Conflicts
⚔️ Disputes over water between states or countries (e.g., river sharing)
⛏️ 3. Mineral Resources
➤ Use and Exploitation
→ Mining for metals, fuels, etc.
→ Environmental pollution (air & water)
→ Habitat destruction
→ Health issues in nearby areas
➤ Overexploitation
→ Depletion of minerals
→ Long-term damage to land and ecosystems
🍚 4. Food Resources
➤ World Food Problems
🌍 Uneven food distribution
→ Hunger & malnutrition
→ Food wastage in rich nations
→ Poverty and climate change worsen it
➤ Modern Agricultural Practices
→ Overuse of fertilizers & pesticides
→ Soil nutrient loss
→ Waterlogging & salinity
→ Loss of traditional farming diversity
🔋 5. Energy Resources
➤ Renewable Energy Sources
🌞 Solar, 🌬️ wind, 💧 hydropower
✅ Clean and sustainable
✅ Less environmental impact
➤ Non-renewable Energy Sources
🛢️ Coal, oil, natural gas
❌ Finite and polluting
→ Release greenhouse gases → Global warming
➤ Need for Alternatives
🚀 Promote eco-friendly sources to reduce pollution and ensure energy security
🌾 6. Land Resources
➤ Land Degradation
→ Deforestation, mining, poor farming practices
→ Loss of fertile soil
→ Reduced agricultural output
➤ Soil Erosion
🌬️ Wind + 💦 water remove topsoil
→ Lower crop yield
→ River siltation
➤ Desertification
🌵 Fertile land → desert due to:
→ Overgrazing
→ Deforestation
→ Climate change
🌱 Role of Individuals in Conservation
👉 Use resources wisely
👉 Avoid wastage
👉 Plant trees
👉 Promote sustainable practices
👉 Use renewable energy
🌐 Equitable Use for Sustainable Lifestyles
⚖️ Fair sharing of resources among people and generations
→ Essential for long-term survival
→ Focus on sustainable development
