Natural Resources

Natural resources are naturally occurring materials that are useful to man or could be useful under
conceivable technological, economic or social circumstances or supplies drawn from the earth,
supplies such as food, building and clothing materials, fertilizers, metals, water and geothermal
power. A resource is a source or supply from which a benefit is produced and that has some utility.
Different types of natural resources are Forest resources, Mineral resources, Soil resources, Water
resources, Food resources and Energy resources.

5 important natural resources are-

1. Air: Clean air is important for all the plants, animals and humans to survive on this planet.
So, it is necessary to take measures to reduce air pollution.
2. Water: 70% of the Earth is covered in water and only 2 % of that is freshwater. Initiative
to educate and regulate the use of water should be taken.
3. Soil: Soil is composed of various particles and nutrients. It helps plants grow.
4. Iron: It is found as mineral silica and is used to build strong weapons, transportation and
buildings
5. Forests: Forests provide clean air and preserve the ecology of the world. Trees are being
cut for housing and construction projects.
Types of natural resources:

Renewable: resources that are available in infinite quantity and can be used repeatedly are called
renewable resources. They are inexhaustive and can be regenerated within a given span of time.
Example: Forest, wind, water, etc.

Non-Renewable: resources that are limited in abundance due to their non-renewable nature and
whose availability may run out in the future are called non-renewable resources. Examples include
fossil fuels, minerals, etc.

Land Resources: Landforms such as hills, valleys, plains, river basins and wetlands include
different resource generating areas that the people living in them depend on. Many traditional
farming societies had ways of preserving areas from which they used resources. Land, a critically
important national resource, supports all living organisms including plants as well as every primary
production system such as roads, industries, communication and storage for surface and ground
water, among others. Land is a major resource for agricultural development worldwide. Land
resource refers to the land available for exploitation, like non-agricultural lands for buildings,
developing townships etc. Land resources (natural resources) (economically referred to as land or
raw materials) occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind,
in a natural form.
Land Degradation: Land degradation is the process of deterioration of soil or loss of fertility of
soil. The causes of land degradation can be divided into natural hazards, direct causes, and
underlying causes. Natural hazards are the conditions of the physical environment which lead to
the existence of a high degradation hazard, for example steep slopes as a hazard for water erosion.
Direct causes are unsuitable land use and inappropriate land management practices, for example
the cultivation of steep slopes without measures for soil conservation. Underlying causes are the
reasons why these inappropriate types of land use and management are practiced; for example,-
the slopes may be cultivated because the landless poor need food, and conservation measures not
adopted because these farmers lack security of tenure.

Causes of land degradation

Population
Human Activities like deforestation, overgrazing and pollution.
Urbanization leads to deforestation which in-turn affects millions of plant and animal species.
Fertilizers and Pesticides
Damage to top soil

Impact of land degradation

Loss of soil organic matter and nutrients.
Loss of soil structure.
Loss of soil biodiversity.
Loss of water holding capacity and water infiltration.
Soil pollution.
Reduced yields of crops.
Reduced land value and resilience to future events.
Impact on food security.
Reduces ability to adapt to climate change.

SOIL EROSION
‘Soil erosion’ has been defined as the gradual removal of the top soil by running water, wind,
glacier, sea-waves, anthropogenic agents and animals. – Soil erosion is a universal phenomenon.
According to one estimate about 75, 000 million tonnes of soil is removed by these agents annually.
Types of soil erosion
Normal erosion: This is caused by the gradual removal of topsoil by natural processes. The rate
of erosion is slow.

Accelerated erosion: This is caused by manmade activities. In this case, the rate of erosion is
much faster than the rate of formation of soil.

Causes of soil Erosion

Running water
Wind Erosion
Anthropogenic factors

Biotic agents: Overgrazing, mining and deforestation are the major biotic agents causing soil
erosion.

Landslides cause soil erosion: Construction of dams, buildings and roads removes the protective
vegetal cover leading to soil erosion.

Harmful Effects of Soil Erosion

Loss of fertile top soil leading to gradual loss of soil fertility and agricultural productivity.
Loss of mineral nutrients from soil through leaching and flooding.
Loss of soil ability to hold water and sediment.
Sediment runoff can pollute water courses and kill aquatic life.
Lowering of the underground water table and decrease in the percentage of soil moisture.
Drying of vegetation and extension of arid lands.
Increase in frequency of droughts and floods.
Silting of river and canal belts.
Recurrence of landslides.
Adverse effect on economic prosperity and cultural development.

DESERTIFICATION: Desertification is a type of land degradation in which relatively dry area

of land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and
wildlife. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as through climate change and through the
overexploitation of soil through human activity.
The cause of desertification
Desertification is caused by two main categories of factors: natural factors and, more importantly,
human activities. The natural factors causing desertification include the following:

1. The climate has a major influence through rainfall, solar radiation and wind, which affect the
rates of physical and mechanical erosion as well as chemical and biological degradation of soil.
2. The relief of a land affects the rate of soil erosion by water.

3. The textile, structure, and chemical and biological status of soil are predominant factors
determining the soil properties in dry sub-humid zones.

Human activities play a crucial role in the vulnerability of land to desertification. The reasons
behind these activities are the increasing demand for food due to the rapid population growth, and
inappropriate agricultural practices.
The following are some of the human activities that cause desertification:
1. Uncontrolled use of fire for regenerating pasture, for hunting or for agricultural clearing.
2. Over-exploitation of woody resources, particularly for fuel wood and timber.
3. Over-grazing of selective vegetation.

4. Removal of hedges, which can act as wind breaks, on soil so that the soil is more susceptible to
erosion by wind.
5. Over-harvesting which results in abandoned fields.
6. Agricultural practices that destroy the soil structure such as intensive ploughing.
7. Agricultural practices that result in continuous removal of soil nutrients.
8. Monoculture of cash crops, leading to severe reduction in soil fertility.

9. Inappropriate irrigation of soil, leading to salinization, waterlogging and abandoned fields

eventually. Based on the above factors, we can see that soil erosion is in fact a process of
desertification. It usually involves the removal of nutrient-rich topsoil, leaving coarse, sandy
particles with poor water-retaining ability. As a result, the soil becomes unsuitable for vegetation
growth and is turned eventually into a desert.

The environmental impact of desertification Farmlands are important natural resources. Humans
rely on them for food. Desertification results in the loss of farmlands, and significantly threatens
the living standard and well-being of people inhabiting the areas concerned. This also leads to
social problems such as environmental refugees whose lands are too eroded for cultivation or
rearing livestock. Desertification also has serious impact on the natural environment. It breaks
down the fragile balance that allows plant and animal life to develop in arid, semi-arid and dry
sub-humid zones. This breakdown of the equilibrium represents the start of a process that destroys
the natural and stable ecosystem.

Forest Resources
A forest can be defined as a biotic community predominant of trees, shrubs or any other woody
vegetation usually in a closed canopy. It is derived from latin word ‘foris’ means ‘outside’. In
India, forests cover 24.39 percent of the total geographical area.

Functions of Forest
It performs very important function both to human and to nature.
They are habitats to millions of plants, animals and wild life.
They recycle rain water.
They remove pollutant from air.
They control water quality.
They moderate temperature and weather.
They influence soil condition and prevent soil erosion.

Deforestation: It is process of removal of forest resources due to natural or manmade activities

(i.e.) destruction of forests.

Causes of Deforestation:
1. Developmental projects. Ex: big dams, hydroelectric projects, road construction etc.
2. Mining operations: It reduces forest areas. Ex: Mica, coal, Manganese and lime stone.

3. Raw materials for industries: Wood is an important raw material for various purposes. Ex:
Making boxes, furniture and paper etc.
4. Fuel requirement: Wood is the important fuel for rural and tribal population.

5. Shifting cultivation: Replacement of natural forest ecosystem for mono specific tree plantation.
Ex: Teak 6. Forest fires: Forest fire destructs thousands of acres of forest.
7. Over grazing: Over grazing by cattle reduces the cultivation land.

Impacts of Deforestation:
1. Economic loss.
2. Loss of biodiversity.
3. Destructs the habitats of various species.
4. Reduction in stream flow.
5. Increases the rate of global warming.
6. Disruption of weather patterns and global climate.
7. Degradation of soil and acceleration of the rate of soil erosion.
8. Induces and accelerates mass movement / landslides.
9. Increases flood frequency, magnitude / severity.
10. Breaks the water cycle.
11. Breaks the nutrient cycle.

Conservation of forest resources:

As a result of increased exploitation of forests for timber, firewood and other forest products,
without putting in adequate efforts to regenerate them, the forests are known to be fast
disappearing. This has caused an environmental imbalance. For example, most of the rainwater is
lost as runoff which flows over the mountain slopes unchecked often causing floods. The excessive
washing away of top soil results in low fertility and reduces crop yields. It is because of these
consequences of deforestation, a strong forest policy has been adopted by our Indian Government
to protect forests and to plant more trees. Some of the conservation measures practiced in India
and other parts of the world are as follows:

i) Increase in area of forest plantation: The Tree plantation can be raised in vacant or unused
lands and waste, degraded and marginal lands, especially on road side, along railway tracts, on
contours and on land not suited for agricultural production. Planting trees outside forest areas will
reduce pressure on forests for timber, fodder and fuel wood. Apart from this, the deforested areas
need to be reforested.

ii) Developing alternative sources and promoting the substitutes: It has become necessary to
find alternative fuels as well as raw materials to manufacture paper, sports goods, packing cases,
furniture and beams used in buildings. Research is going on to develop alternate sources; in some
cases, plastics and composite materials have been successful in replacing the use of timber.

iii) Increase the area of forest permanently reserved for timber production: The most serious
impediment to sustainable forest management is the lack of dedicated forests specifically set aside
for timber production. If the forest does not have a dedicated long-term tenure for timber
production then there is no incentive to care for the long-term interests of the forest. FAO (2001)
found that 89 per cent of forests in industrialized countries were under some form of management
but only about six per cent were in developing countries. If 20 per cent could be set aside, not only
could timber demand be sustainably met but buffer zones could be established to consolidate the
protected areas.
iv) adoption and promotion of sustainable management of forest: Achieving ecological
sustainability means that the ecological values of the forest must not be degraded and if possible
they should be improved. This means that silviculture and management should not reduce
biodiversity, soil erosion should be controlled, soil fertility should not be lost, water quality on and
off site should be maintained and that forest health and vitality should be safeguarded. However,
management for environmental services alone is not economically and socially sustainable. It will
not happen until or unless the developing nations have reached a stage of development and
affluence so that they can accommodate the costs of doing so. There are vast areas of unused land
some of which is degraded and of low fertility. Technological advances are being made to bring
this land back into production. This should be a major priority since a significant proportion of
cleared tropical forest will eventually end up as degraded land of low fertility.

v) Developing a reliable mechanism of information base and regular monitoring: Knowledge

of how much forest, where it is and what it is comprised of seems to be straightforward. However,
surprisingly, this most basic information is not always available. It is not possible to properly
manage a forest ecosystem without first understanding it. Remote sensing technologies make it
feasible and affordable to identify hotspots of deforestation. The international community could
undertake monitoring efforts that would have immediate payoffs. A priority is to fund and
coordinate basic monitoring on the rate, location and causes of global deforestation and forest
poverty along with the impacts of project and policy interventions.

vi) Establishing an effective system of fighting forest fires.

vii) Strictly enforcing laws to deal with unauthorized cutting of trees.
viii) Promoting agro-forestry and social forestry: Rural people partly meet their needs for fire
wood and small timber by growing fast growing trees planted within the limits of their village,
along the footpaths, roadsides, alongside railway tracks, side roads or canals and streams,
boundaries of fields and empty spaces. The aim of social forestry is to meet the needs of fuel,
fodder, fruits, timber and other requirements of local people.

Water Resources: Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful to
humans. 97 % of water on the Earth is salt water, leaving only 3 % as fresh water of which slightly
over two thirds is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps. Fresh water is a renewable resource, yet
the world's supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing.

Groundwater Resources:
 Of all the freshwater resources, groundwater in the water natural resources is perhaps the
most abundant. Part of the water that filters down into the soil via layers of dirt, clay, and
rock stacks to the uppermost layers, providing water to the plants.

 This water is in the vadose region, which means it is unsaturated. Instead of water, almost
all of the pores in the vadose zone are filled with air.
  Inputs, outputs, and storage are the same for groundwater as they are for surface water. The
crucial distinction is that, due to the slow turnover rate, groundwater storage is typically
much greater (in volume) than surface water storage in comparison to inputs.

 Because of this distinction, humans may use groundwater in an unsustainable manner over
an extended period of time without suffering serious repercussions. Nonetheless, the
average rate of drainage above a groundwater source is the upper limit for average
groundwater use during the longer run.
Surface Water Resources:
 The water in lakes and rivers is known as surface water. Potable water, recreation, industry,
agriculture, transportation, livestock, and hydroelectric energy are all uses for this water.

 Groundwater natural resources provide over 63 percent of the municipal water supply.
Irrigation relies on surface water for 58 percent of all its water supply. Irrigation relies on
groundwater for 58 percent of its water system.

 Surface water systems have nearly 98 percent of the water used by industry. As a result,
maintaining and improving the surface water quality is critical. Watershed entities track
streamflow and groundwater management on a regular basis.

 Flooding and drought conditions are predicted by monitoring streamflow. Since surface
water provides most of the water used within the United States, water resources
information and management are important. It is a chemical, biological, and physical test
that determines how acceptable the water is.

 Electrical conductivity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen levels, phosphorus levels,

bacteria levels, and nitrogen levels are evaluated as indicators of water quality.

Though earth is called the water planet as it is occupied by 75 percent of water, this water cannot
be used for domestic purposes. Ocean water is saline in nature and is not fit for human
consumption. Freshwater is just around 2.7 percent of the total water on the earth. Issues such as
global warming and perpetuating water pollution have made a considerable amount of impact on
making freshwater unfit for human consumption.
Uses of Freshwater
Water resources are used in various fields such as agricultural, industrial, domestic, recreational,
and environmental activities. Most of the uses require fresh water.
However, around 97 percent of the water on the earth is saltwater and only three percent is
freshwater. About two-thirds of the available freshwater is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.
The remaining freshwater is found underground and a negligible portion of it is present on the
ground or in the air.
 Agricultural Use It is estimated that 69% of worldwide water use is for irrigation, with
15-35% of irrigation withdrawals being unsustainable.
  Industrial Use It is estimated that 22% of worldwide water use is industrial. Major
industrial users include power plants, which use water for cooling or as a power source, ,
ore and oil refineries, which use water in chemical processes, and manufacturing plants,
which use water as a solvent.
 Domestic Use It is estimated that 8% of worldwide water use is for household purposes.
 Use for Hydropower Generation
 Use for Navigation and Recreation
Overutilization of Surface and Groundwater
Water scarcity has become a big global issue. The UN has held several conventions on the water
in recent decades. Continuous overutilization of surface and groundwater has led to increased
water scarcity in the world today.
The depleting sources for high growth in the human population over the centuries and increased
man-made water pollution across the world have created unforeseen water scarcity around the
globe. As a result, there has been continuous overutilization of the existing water sources due to
unconditional growth in the world population.
Groundwater is the major source of water in various parts of the world. However, there has been
continuous depletion of this source due to its overexploitation by the rising human population and
the rapid rise in industrialization and urbanization in modern times.
Water and conflict
Conflicts and tensions over water are most likely to arise within national borders, in the
downstream areas of distressed river basins. Areas such as the lower regions of China's Yellow
River or the Chao Phraya River in Thailand, for example, have already been experiencing water
stress for several years. Additionally, certain arid countries which rely heavily on water for
irrigation, such as China, India, Iran, and Pakistan, are particularly at risk of water-related conflicts.
Political tensions, civil protest, and violence may also occur in reaction to water privatization. The
Bolivian Water Wars of 2000 are a case in point.

FLOOD:- happens when water quantity of any region exceed the normal requirement level
damaging the physical, infrastructural, economic and social set up of the affected area. Heavy
rainfall mainly causes flood in an area when the natural watercourse fails to channelize the excess
water. When the banks of the river fail to contain the heavy flow of water due to heavy rainfall,
inundation occurs; even high storms during tsunamis or cyclones can cause inundation near coastal
areas. Places without proper drainage system also get flooded during heavy rainfall.
Causes of Flood: Flood can cause due to any of the following or combination of the following
reasons:
Excessive precipitation: Heavy precipitation or rainfall in an area than normal along with poor
drainage system can cause flood like situation. Flood can occur in both cases of heavy rainfall for
shorter duration and continuous light rainfall for many days.
River runoff: Excessive supply of water in the upstream due to heavy rainfall or otherwise can
cause the downstream river water to run into the land or flood plain areas causing inundation.

Strong coastal wind or cyclone or tsunami: Strong coastal winds have the capacity to carry water
from the sea to the land causing inundation in the coastal areas. Besides, Cyclones and strong
winds can also bring heavy rainfall, causing flood on inland areas as well.

Breakage of dams or embankments: Embankments or levees are built alongside the river to
prevent overflowing of water or avoid flood like situation on the adjoining land. However,
breakage or leakage on the embankment can lead to overflowing of river water on the flood plain
also heavy water flow can break embankment and cause flood. Similarly, dams, which are built to
capture water flowing down from upland can cause floods if broken due to excessive pressure of
the stored water, even at times extra water from dams are knowingly released to avoid possible
breakage or leakages, which can also cause flood like situation in the lower lands.

Breakdown of ice dam: Ice dams occurs when glaciers or ice blocks restrict flow of river water
during freezing weather. This stored water behind ice sheets/ blocks or proglacial lakes when
released due to ice melting is more powerful than normal river water flow and can cause inundation
at the lower catchment areas. E.g. The Flood in Russel Fjord in Alaska USA in 1986 caused due
to breakage of Ice dam.

Volcanic eruptions: Volcanic eruptions has caused floods in country like Iceland where volcanic
vent covered by thick layer of ice/ glacier got melted due to emission of hot lava. The melting
glaciers turns into fast flowing water down the steep volcanoes causing inundation in the nearby
areas.
Impacts of Flood: economic impact and environmental impact.

DROUGHT: is also an extreme situation, which happens due to insufficiency of precipitation over
a longer period causing damages to crops. Definition of drought varies in different countries and
regions depending on the average precipitation level of the country such as countries or regions
generally receiving lesser annual average rainfall don’t consider 5 to 6 days without rainfall as
drought however similar condition is called a drought situation in countries receiving higher
rainfall throughout the year.
Droughts are generally classified into four categories:
Meteorological drought refers to a precipitation deficiency, possibly combined with increased
potential evapotranspiration, extending over a large area and spanning an extensive period of time.
Soil moisture drought is a deficit of soil moisture (mostly in the root zone), reducing the supply
of moisture to vegetation. Soil moisture drought is also called agricultural drought, because it is
strongly linked to crop failure.
Hydrological drought is a broad term related to negative anomalies in surface and subsurface
water. Examples are below-normal groundwater levels or water levels in lakes, declining wetland
area, and decreased river discharge.
Socioeconomic drought is associated with the impacts of the three above-mentioned types. It can
refer to a failure of water resources systems to meet water demands and to ecological or health-
related impacts of drought.
Causes of Drought:
Reduction of surface water flow: When the flow of surface water bodies like streams and rivers
reduces or the rivers get dried up due to storage of water in dams/ reservoirs in the upstream for
hydro power plants and irrigation facilities, drought like situation happen in the downstream
regions of the river.

Deforestation:-Hydrological cycle (including evaporation, precipitation and condensation) of the

earth is maintained by plants and trees. Trees have water retention capabilities, can control
evaporation and maintain ground water level. Deforestation due to excessive population growth
and various economic activities has exposed the surface to erosion and reduced the level of ground
water and the ability of the earth surface to hold water, as a result with prolong period of dryness,
desertification and drought crises appears.

Global warming: Rise in global temperature due to increase in greenhouse gases has impacted
the climate drastically as a result many areas goes dry and forest catches fires leading to
desertification and drought like condition.

Energy resources
Energy can be defined as the capacity produce an effect to do some work. Energy is one of the
most important building blocks for human life on earth and economic development of the country.
The demand for energy resources are increasing day by day in the development of industries,
transportation and agricultural activities.

Sources of Energy
Sources of energy can be classified into:

 Renewable Sources
 Non-renewable Sources
Renewable sources of energy are available plentiful in nature and are sustainable. These resources
of energy can be naturally replenished and are safe for the environment. These energy resources
are also known as non-conventional energy resource, which can be regenerated continuously. It
can be used again and again in an endless manner because these resources are available in large
amount.
Examples of renewable sources of energy are: Solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy,
biomass, hydropower and tidal energy.
A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that is found underneath the earth. These type of
energy resources do not replenish at the same speed at which it is used. They take millions of years
to replenish. These energy resources are also known as conventional (traditional) energy
resources. It cannot be replenished when these sources are exhausted because these resources are
present in limited amount and take a long period of time to resynthesize The main examples of
non-renewable resources are coal, oil and natural gas.
Examples of non-renewable sources of energy are: Natural gas, coal, petroleum, nuclear energy
and hydrocarbon gas liquids.
Fossil fuels
Fossil energy sources are non-renewable energy resources, it include coal, petroleum and natural
gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animal.

Alternative source of energy Alternative energy refers to energy sources other than fossil fuel.
This includes all renewable sources.
Hydroelectricity: Electricity produced from water is usually referred as hydroelectricity.
Solar energy
Geothermal energy: The term geothermal comes from Greek word Geo means Earth and
Thermos means Heat. Energy which obtained from the earth’s core is known as geothermal energy.

Biomass: It is formed by the excreta or waste materials of living organism (like sewage, cow dung
etc.) and dead plants & tress (firewood, wood shavings, fruit stone etc.).
Biogas: It is formed by the bacterial degradation of biomass under anaerobic condition.

Nuclear energy: Nuclear energy is produced by the nuclear fission or nuclear fusion reaction,
which start with decay of radioactive elements like uranium, thorium, radium etc.