This blog contains information about Natural Resource Management. In the start we will discuss about what are Natural Resources. Then we will discuss some Types of natural resources and their uses. Secondly we will discuss the importance of Natural Resources. After that we will study what is Natural Resource Management and Natural Resource Management Strategies.
What are Natural Resources?
All the natural substances that can be used by humans, we can consider it as natural resources. Natural resources are found naturally in nature and any type of life cannot survive without support of natural resources.
We use natural resources for aesthetic value, industrial use, commercial use, cultural value and scientific use. Natural resources form the base of every good we use and everything we see around us.
Non-living natural resources includes salt, water, oil, gas, coal, minerals and other things that we mine from the earth for human use.
Living natural resources includes plants, birds, trees, fishes, animals and all other living species that are used by humans. All of these are natural resources.
Natural resources can be used for aesthetic value, industrial use, commercial use, cultural value and scientific use. Everything that we use in our daily life is made up from natural resources. They can be categorized into two types as Renewable Natural Resources and Non-renewable Natural Resources.
Renewable resources are those which continuously replenish throughout lifetime i.e. solar energy, water, wind, geothermal energy, biomass, biofuels, animals, plants. These are the types of resources that are available on their own and does not require any outer force.
Non-renewable Resources are those which cannot be renew on their own and takes thousands of years for them to generate for use. They have a threat of depletion upon exploitation i.e. fossil fuels (natural gas coal petroleum), nuclear energy, minerals, metals, ground water, soil. These resources require a sustainable management for them to last long otherwise they’ll deplete and will no longer available for future use. We will study about the Natural Resource Management Strategies in detail.
Types of Natural Resources and there uses:
Natural resources are abundantly used in daily life without them not a single species can sustain a life on this Earth. Important natural resources and their uses are as follows:
Solar energy
Solar energy is a type of energy that comes from the sun’s heat. People have been using solar energy for thousands of years in different ways, such as heating, cooking, and drying. Nowadays, it is also in use to create electricity in areas where other sources of power are not available, such as remote locations and even outer space. Solar energy is harnessed through various technologies that includes Photovoltaic (PV) Cells and Panels in PV cells directly convert sunlight into electricity. Its panels, often mounted on rooftops, capture solar energy and generate power for homes, businesses, and schools. Solar thermal systems heat water for residential and commercial use. Solar water heaters are especially popular in sunny regions, providing energy-efficient hot water.
Concentrated solar cookers use mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight, allowing for eco-friendly cooking without conventional fuels. Buildings can be designed to maximize natural light and passive solar heating. Features like large windows, solar chimneys, and thermal mass help regulate indoor temperature. Desalination Solar-powered desalination plants use solar energy for distillation, converting seawater into freshwater.
Water
Water plays a vital role in sustaining the life on planet Earth. About 70% of Earth is covered with water in the form of oceans. The human body is also mainly compose of water and need a daily consumption to survive otherwise they can have serious health issues. It helps in regulating the body temperature, optimize the nutrients balance and wash down all the toxins from the body through urine. Humans also uses water for cleaning purposes and to prevent from various diseases.
It serves an important role in the field of agriculture where plants use water to make their food and it also helps them for bringing up the nutrients from ground to the leaves through roots and shoots. In most parts of the worlds water is used to produce electricity through hydropower plants. In industrial water is used for production, processing, cleaning and dilution purposes.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy uses the heat within Earth, which can be harness for various purposes. It’s used for direct heating in buildings, district heating systems, and even hot springs where people believe in their health benefits. Geothermal energy provides air conditioning in summer and heating in winter. Remarkably, it reduces overall energy consumption by up to 70% and can also replace boilers by heating water for kitchen and bathroom use. Beyond being sustainable and secure, it’s cost-effective once the initial setup is complete. The Earth’s internal heat results from processes like radioactive decay and friction along tectonic plate margins. Despite its abundance, tapping geothermal power for electricity remains challenging.
Wind
Wind energy is electricity from the naturally flowing air in the Earth’s atmosphere. As a renewable resource that won’t get deplete through use, its impact on the environment and climate crisis is significantly smaller than burning fossil fuels.
Wind turbines harness energy from the wind without burning any fuel or polluting the air. Wind energy helps avoid millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to the emissions from millions of cars. The wind industry provides good-paying jobs, with over 125,000 people working in the U.S. wind sector. Wind turbine service technicians are among the fastest-growing jobs. Wind power contributes to the U.S. economy.
In 2022, wind projects added $20 billion to the economy. Wind projects benefit communities by delivering state and local tax payments and land-lease payments. These funds can support schools, reduce homeowners’ tax burden, and address local infrastructure projects. Land-based wind turbines offer one of the lowest-priced energy sources. Advances in wind energy technology continue to improve its cost competitiveness so wind energy is a valuable resource that supports sustainability, economic growth, and cleaner energy production.
Bio-fuels
Biofuels are fuels from renewable biological sources, such as plants, algae, and organic waste materials. Unlike fossil fuels (such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas), which form over geological time spans, biofuels can be replenished readily.
Made by fermenting starch or sugar, ethanol is common as a fuel additive (e.g., in “gasohol”) in the United States (from corn) and Brazil (from sugarcane). Another one derived from low-value biomass (e.g., wood chips, crop residues), cellulosic ethanol it’s a “second-generation” biofuel. We mainly get Biodiesel from vegetable oils or animal fats; biodiesel can replace or blend with diesel fuel. Biogas is generated from organic waste (e.g., sewage, agricultural residues) and used for electricity or heating. Directly burned for heat or electricity (e.g., wood, grass).
We use Liquid biofuels (like ethanol and biodiesel) in vehicles. Biofuels can provide heat for residential, industrial, and commercial purposes. We can use Biomass to produce electricity. Biofuels offer a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels, but their expansion should be balanced with economic and environmental considerations.
Plants
Plants (autotrophs) are the primary natural resource on Earth for all other organisms (heterotrophs). They not only serve a recreational purpose but are very important for daily life for humans as well as animals. Animals rely directly or indirectly on plants for their food. A large portion of humans diet is based on plants i.e. rice wheat vegetables fruits beans etc. Plants provide raw materials for manufacturing different products that we can use in daily life such as furniture paper clothes plastic rubber and medicine. Most of the material used in construction material is from plants.
We can use plants also for the production of biofuels. The by-products of harvest are for making biomass through aerobic or anaerobic digestion which produces environmentally friendly fuel.
Flowers are an important part of celebrations which are also from plants they enhance the aesthetic value of any place. Hence every part of a plant can used without generating non-biodegradable waste.
Minerals
Minerals are naturally occurring substances found in the Earth’s crust. They are usually solid, inorganic, and possess a crystal structure. Over two thousand minerals have been identified, most of which form through various combinations of elements. These minerals serve as essential natural resources for human development. More than 95% of our energy, 80% of industrial raw materials, and 70% of agricultural resources come from minerals. Metallic minerals, such as iron, copper, and gold, we use them in industries like construction, transportation, and jewelry. Non-metallic minerals, like gypsum and sand, find applications in various sectors. Minerals are the foundation of our socio-economic progress, making them vital for our survival and growth.
Soil
Soil is a vital natural resource that anchors plant roots, holds water, and stores essential nutrients so It teems with earthworms, termites, and microorganisms that fix nitrogen and break down organic matter. We build on soil and rely on it for agriculture. Healthy soil supports crop cultivation, providing the necessary nutrients for plant growth. We can call other natural resources as fossil fuel biotic and abiotic components nuclear energy and land.
We will discuss the Natural Resource Management Strategies in this blog.
Importance of Natural Resources:
Everything around us is from or extracted from natural resources. Important natural resources and their importance is as follows:
Water:
Water is the essential part of life for every living organism. Every living organism from plants to humans, all are dependent on water for their survival and proper growth. Without water, they will die.
Plants:
Plants comprises most of the food for humans and animals. They also provide shelter and protection to birds and small animals. Plants are a big source of nutrition for all the living organisms. Plants also provide aesthetic value to the land and it is soothing to see green plants. Wood of trees are for manufacture of furniture, decorative materials, houses, roofs and much more.
Sun:
Sun is the biggest source of energy. It makes the earth suitable for life by giving warmth to the planet. Sun is also for generating electricity by extracting solar energy.
Wind:
Wind is necessary for life as we breathe because of the air or wind around us. No living organism have ability to breathe without wind. Now a days, in modern technology wind energy to run the turbine and produce electricity in huge amounts.
Animals:
All the animals play a role in running the ecosystem. We use these animals as food by humans and by other animals. There are many beautiful animals that humans love and adopt as pets for their homes and then raise them. Animals are beauty of our green spaces.
In the same way limestone, salt, coal, oil and other natural resources are for industrial purposes and daily life use by humans. Every natural resource has its own importance and use in our lives.
Natural Resources
Natural Resource Management:
As we know that rise in population around the world, has created a great pressure on the natural resources of Earth so this is causing the depletion of natural resources without restoring it. If the same will repeat for one more decade, we will not be able to survive on available natural resources.
Natural Resource Management is a process that works on the management of natural resources such as water, wind, sun, plants, oil, gas etc. It deals with the management of processes that are in the relationship between humans and natural resources.
This field is the need of present time. Because industrialization and economic development is leading to the depletion of these natural resources at an exponential rate. This blog contains Natural Resource Management Strategies.
Strategies for Natural Resource Management:
Following strategies will help us to stop the depletion of natural resources:
1.Reforestation:
As we know that development and manufacturing (furniture, medicines, supplements, food etc.) is completely dependent on forest resources so this cause high level of deforestation in almost all parts of the world. We should practice reforestation and afforestation to avoid depletion of Forest resources.
2.Switch to Renewable Energy:
Instead of using bulk of natural gas, oil and coal in industries, we should shift to renewable energy sources such as wind, water and solar energy. It is because they are present on earth in unlimited amounts and can help us to avoid depletion of limited resources on Earth.
3.Conservation of Wetlands:
Wetlands provide us drinkable clean water. It also provide habitats to thousands of rare species of plants and animals. Conserving a wetland is equal to conserving the whole biodiversity.
4.Treat wastewater:
The water is the target of water pollution in the whole world so freshwater is depleting everyday leading to the condition of water scarcity in most of the regions of the world. The best way to fulfil needs of water resources, is to treat the polluted water and use it for irrigation and sanitation purposes. With high technology treatments it can also become drinkable.
5.Avoid Over-Mining of Resources:
Overmining is a big cause of extinction of the natural resources such as coal, gas, oil and minerals. Their mining should limit by new policies and administration to avoid extinction of valuable resources. This will help us to create sustainability and protect these resources for our future generation, otherwise they will not be able to see them.
6.Population Control:
World population is rising on an exponential level. This rise in population is creating unbearable pressure on natural resources, because more people will need more resources to survive. We should work on the awareness about population control among young people to manage the utilization of resources.
This blog contains Natural Resources and Natural Resource Management Strategies in detail.
To learn about more topics, Click the links below:
Population Growth and Land use change
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