Natural Resources : Materials that help humans to meet their needs.
Natural resources are materials that help humans to meet their needs. Any natural material that humans use can be called natural resources. There are different kinds of natural resources on Earth. We use them daily basis directly or indirectly.
Different Types of Natural Resources
Depending on the recovery rate, natural resources are divided into two categories.
- Renewable Resources: These resources are quickly recovered, like sunlight, air, water, etc. After we use these resources, it fills up again. Therefore, we do not see a considerable change in its quantity. Though these resources can deplete too if not appropriately managed. Nowadays, there are a lot of places suffering from the scarcity of water. The government of India has taken different initiatives to make people understand the value of water. A resource is considered renewable until the time its recovery rate exceeds its consumption rate.
- Non-renewable Resources: These resources take a more extended period to reform. It means their consumption rate exceeds their recovery rate. For example, oil, natural gas, petroleum, etc. can take a lot of time to recover if used excessively. So, we must consider using it carefully so that future generations can meet their need from these resources too.
Depending on the origin, resources are of two types:
- Biotic Resources: These resources come from living things such as plants, animals, etc. Milk, honey, fruits, etc. are biotic resources.
- Abiotic Resources: These resources come from non-living things such as air, water, soil, etc.
The Challenges of Using Natural Resources
The extraction and procession of natural resources can be challenging at different times as it may disrupt the ecosystem or disturb the biodiversity. It can also become a cause of pollution. For example, from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas, carbon dioxide is produced. Carbon dioxide is a potent greenhouse gas. The researchers believe that greenhouse gas is causing global climate change, which is a severe matter of concern worldwide.
It can cause drought, flooding, diseases, etc. over time. It can also disrupt the ecosystem. If we cut trees from a forest, many birds and wild animals lose their shelter. Even, we lose trees with pharmaceutical values. If we fill up a pond, fishes, snakes, and other animals living in the lake get affected.
Natural Resources are nature’s gifts to us, which we should use adequately. We need to use renewable resources more because excessive use of non-renewable resources can create trouble for our future generation. So, we must use natural resources properly without creating any problem for the next generation.
