Depletion of Natural Resources

Members of our Group: Brianna Baker Reisa Guyadeen Jandell Thomas-John Nataqi Vilafanna

What are Natural 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. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity existent in various ecosystems

Resource Depletion
Resource depletion is an economic term

referring to the exhaustion of raw materials within a region. Resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and nonrenewable resources. Use of either of these forms of resources beyond their rate of replacement is considered to be resource depletion.

Causes of Resource Depletion

Excessive or unnecessary use of resources Non-equitable distribution of resources Overpopulation Slash and burn agricultural practices, currently

occurring in many developing countries Technological and industrial development Erosion Irrigation Mining for oil and minerals drainage of wetlands forestry

Effects of Resource Depletion

An increasing world natural resource price leads,

in the long-term perspective, to decreasing rates of economic growth of a resource-exporting country. The higher the share of a natural resource sectors the lower the equilibrium growth rate of GDP of a resource-rich country.