Natural resources: A resource is anything needed by an organism or group of organisms.

The sum of all physical,

chemical, biological and social factors, which compose the surroundings of man, is referred as environment and each
element of these surroundings constitutes a resource on which man draws in order to develop a better life.

Resources which are not reproducible and are obtained from the finite non-living reserves are called non-
renewable resources (eg.) Coal and metals. Any material which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more
valuable and useful can be termed as a resource. Thus, only part of our natural environment, such as land, water, air,
minerals, forest, rangeland, wildlife, fish or even human population that man can utilize to promote his welfare may be
regarded as a natural resource. In the case of humans, a resource is any form of energy of matter essential for the
fulfillment of physiological, socio-economic and cultural needs, both at the individual level and that of the community.
The five basic ecological variables - energy, matter, space, time and diversity are sometimes combinedly called natural
resources.

Classification of natural resources: Based on quantity, mutability and reusability schematic representation of
classification of natural resources:

 Based on Availability-
Inexhaustible Exhaustible
. Unlimited or unending Limited quantity
Both qualitative, and quantitative degradation Quality may be degraded, not

Renewable Non -renewable

Perpetual harvest No-replacement
Ex. Human power, fertility of soil Ex. Species of wild life
 Based on origin-
Biotic ( All living things) and Abiotic ( All non living things)
 Based on potentiality-
We have these resources at present but have lack of the technology to extract and implement it on large scale.
Ex- Uranium deposits in Ladakh.
 Based on distribution-
National- Which are the personal property of a nation (Coal, Fuel reserves),
Multinational- Shared by two nations (Rivers, Migratory birds),
International- Utilize by Globally (light, Air).

Short notes on Types of Natural Resources

1. Renewable and Non-renewable Natural Resources
a. Renewable natural resources
Renewable resources are the ones that are consistently available regardless of their use. They can be fairly recovered or
replaced after utilization. Examples include vegetation, water, and air. Animals can also be categorized as renewable
resources because they can be reared and bred to reproduce offspring to substitute the older animals.
As much as these resources are renewable, it may take tens to hundreds of years to replace them. The renewable raw
materials that come from living things namely animals and trees are termed as organic renewable resources while those
that come from non-living things such as sun, water and wind are termed as inorganic renewable resources.
b. Non-renewable natural resources
Non-renewable resources are the ones that cannot simply be substituted or recovered once they have been utilized or
destroyed. Examples of such natural resources include fossil fuels and minerals. Minerals are categorized as non-
renewable because, even though they take shape naturally through the rock cycle, their formation periods take thousands
of years. Some animals mostly the endangered species are similarly regarded as non-renewable because they are at the
verge of extinction.
It brings about the many reasons the endangered species have to be protected by all means. The non-renewable materials
that come from living things such as fossil fuels are known as organic non-renewable resources while those that come
from non-living things such as rocks and soil are referred to as inorganic non-renewable resources.
2. Biotic and Abiotic Natural Resources
a. Biotic natural resources
The Biotic natural resources are the ones that come from the ecosphere (organic and living materials). These include
resources such as animals, forests (vegetation), and other materials obtainable from them. Fossil fuels such as petroleum,
oil, and coal are also included in this grouping because they are generated from decayed organic matter.
b. Abiotic natural resources
The abiotic natural resources are the ones that come from non-organic and non-living materials. Examples of abiotic
natural resources are water, land, air and heavy metals like iron, copper, silver, gold, and so on.
3. Stock Natural Resources
Stock natural resources are those that are present in the environment but t the necessary expertise or technology to have
them exploited. Hydrogen is an example of a stock natural resource.

Threats to Natural Resources

1. Overpopulation Which Brings About Over-exploitation
As the human population keeps on enlarging, there is a lot of pressure on the utilization of almost all natural resources.
This often causes over-exploitation of the natural resources. To worsen matters, exhaustible natural resources such as
arable land, coral reefs, fresh water, fossil fuels, and wilderness forests drop sharply due to over-exploitation to sustain the
ever increasing population. This creates competitive demands on the vital life-sustaining resources and contributes to an
incredible decline in the quality of life.
According to a study by the UNEP Global Environment Outlook, excessive human consumption of the naturally
occurring non-renewable resources can outstrip available resources in the near future and remarkably depletes them for
future generations. Overpopulation typically heightens the demands of natural resources such as food, timber, fish,
clothes, leather, natural gas, electrical equipment and so on.
2. Intensive Agricultural and Farming Practices
Intensive agricultural practices have claimed much space of the natural resources because farmers resort to converting
forests and grasslands to croplands. In the modern world, the pressure to convert lands into resource areas for producing
priced foods, crops, and livestock rearing has increasingly led to the depreciation of natural resources especially forests,
wild life and fertile lands. Runoff of agricultural waste, fertilizers, and pesticides into marine and freshwater environments
has also negatively threatened various natural crop species, natural water resources and aquatic life.
3. Climate Change and Global Warming
The severe changes in climate patterns as a result of human activities and overpopulation that generate greenhouse
gases and carbon footprint in the atmosphere threatens biodiversity as well as other numerous natural resources. Species
that have acclimatized to specific environments are highly affected as the climate change and global warming alters the
favorable survival conditions.
The profound effect of climate change and global warming is habitat loss to an extent of threatening biodiversity and the
survival of species. For instance, wildlife that requires cool temperatures of high elevations such as the rock rabbit and
mountain gorillas may in the near future run out of habitat due to global warming.
4. Environmental Pollution
The majority of natural resources have been destroyed and a large portion is under immense threat due to the toxic
substances and chemicals emitted from industries, homemade utilities, and agricultural products among other processed
materials. Land, air, and water pollution pose long-term cumulative impacts on the natural resources and the quality of the
environments in which they occur.
Seriously polluted natural resources have become obsolete in value because pollution makes it harsh for the sustainably of
biotic and abiotic components. Pollution impacts the chemical compositions of lands, soil, ocean water, underground
water and rocks, and other natural processes. A good example is an acidic lake which cannot support aquatic life forms.
5. Land Use and Development
The conversion of lands into urban settings, housing development projects, office spaces, shopping malls, industrial sites,
parking areas, road networks, and so on takes away the naturally occurring land that provided habitat for wildlife and
other living organisms. This practice has substantially led to the loss and destruction of millions of acre of natural
habitable environments.
HOW CAN PEOPLE PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES?
These traditional values and ways of living can also be summed up in the concept of the ―3Rs — Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle.‖
Reduce: By making choices in the products we buy and reducing the amount we consume, we can reduce our
environmental impact. For example, by borrowing from friends and neighbors, renting, or sharing, instead of buying or
harvesting something we will only use infrequently, we can reduce the physical amount we consume. By powering down
our electronics when not in use, we can reduce the amount of energy we consume. By walking or riding a bike or
skateboard, we can reduce the amount of fuel we need. By choosing not to have a bag, or bringing our own bag to the
store, we can reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our landfills.
Reuse: Many times, people choose to dispose of items that could be reused, or up-cycled (made into something else).
Coffee tins, shoe boxes, and other plastic food containers can be repurposed into storage containers for beading supplies,
tools, and machine parts. Torn clothes can be repaired or turned into other items, like pillowcases, bags, and baskets.
Broken machines can be saved, and their parts salvaged for repairing other items.
Recycle: Where facilities exist, many things can be recycled: paper bags, soda cans, and plastic bottles. In remote areas,
however, recycling facilities do not exist, and it can be expensive to export collected items for recycling. In these cases, it
is important to make wise decisions in the purchases we make; choose to purchase items that are made from recycled
materials. Rather than purchasing tissue paper that is made from first generation trees, for example, purchase tissue that is
made from recycled papers. Conserving and protecting our natural resources is important not only so that the resources
will be available in the future, but also for reasons of cultural value and spiritual importance. Learn from elders and
culture bearers in your community what resources are most valuable and what you can do to help preserve them.

Detailed note on Natural resources: FOREST; wildlife, energy and food resources
1. Forest:
In India, forests form 23 percent of the total land area. A forest is a natural, self-sustaining community characterized by
vertical structure created by presence of trees. Trees are large, generally single-stemmed, woody plants. The forests area
differs state to state in India. Madhya Pradesh Stands at the top in the total forest covered area, followed by Arunachal
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Orissa. Haryana has least forest cover area.
The direct benefits from forests are:
(a) Fuel Wood: Wood is used as a source of energy for cooking purpose and for keeping warm.
(b) Timber: Wood is used for making furniture, tool-handles, railway sleepers, matches, ploughs, bridges, boats etc.
(c) Bamboos: These are used for matting, flooring, baskets, ropes, rafts, cots etc.
(d) Food: Fruits, leaves, roots and tubers of plants and meat of forest animals form the food of forest tribes.
(e) Shelter: Mosses, ferns, insects, birds, reptiles, mammals and micro-organisms are provided shelter by forests.
(f) Paper: Wood and Bamboo pulp are used for manufacturing paper (Newsprint, stationery, packing paper, sanitary
paper)
(g) Rayon: Bamboo and wood are used in the manufacture of rayon (yarns, artificial silk-fibres)
(h) Forest Products: Tannins, gums, drugs, spices, insecticides, waxes, honey, horns, musk, ivory, hides etc. are all
provided by the flora and fauna of forests.
The indirect benefits from forests are:
(a) Conservation of Soil: Forests prevent soil erosion by binding the soil with the network of roots of the different plants
and reduce the velocity of wind and rain — which are the chief agents causing erosion.
(b) Soil-improvement: The fertility of the soil increases due to the humus which is formed by the decay of forest litter.
(c) Reduction of Atmospheric Pollution: By using up carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen during the process of
photosynthesis, they act as carbon sink so forests purify the environment.
(d) Control of Climate: Transpiration of plants increases the atmospheric humidity which affects rainfall and cools the
atmosphere.
(e) Control of Water flow: In the forests, the thick layer of humus acts like a big sponge and soaks rain water preventing
run-off, thereby preventing flash-floods. Humus prevents quick evaporation of water, thereby ensuring a perennial
supply of water to streams, springs and wells.
Some Facts about Indian forest resources:
 First Reserve forest of India was Satpura National Park (1955) situated in Hoshangabad district in M.P. now
after 1958 declared as Wild life Sanctuary.
 M.P. has largest area of Teak forest and largest producer of Bamboo followed by Maharashtra and Arunachal
Pradesh.
 Sal forests are extended from Himachal Pradesh to the Tarai area of Assam.
 Shisam forests are found in Utter Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu.
 Deodar Trees found in Himalayan region (used to make railway sleeper).
 Mulberry forests are mostly found in Karnataka. Karnataka is largest producer of raw silk.

Deforestation:
Deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands. The term does not include the removal of
industrial forests such as plantations of gums or pines. Deforestation has resulted in the reduction of indigenous forests to
four-fifths of their pre-agricultural area. Indigenous forests now cover 21% of the earth’s land surface. The World
Resources Institute regards deforestation as one of the world’s most pressing land-use problems. The difference between
forests and woodlands is that whereas in a forest the crowns of individual trees touch to form a single canopy, in
woodland, trees STOW far apart, so that the canopy is open.
Of great concern is the rate at which deforestation is occurring. Currently, 12 million hectares of forests are cleared
annually. Almost all of this deforestation occurs in the moist forests and open woodlands of the tropics. At this rate all
moist tropical forest could be lost by the year 2050, except for isolated areas in -Amazonia, the Zaire basin, as well as a
few protected areas within reserves and parks.
The destruction of forests due to unscrupulous and indiscriminate felling of trees has lead to an overall
deterioration of our environment and is posing a serious threat to the quality of ―life in future. Forest area in world has
dwindled from 7,000 million hectares (year 1900) to 2590 million hectares (year 1975).
Causes of Deforestation:
(1) Population Explosion: Population explosion poses a grave threat to the environment. Vast areas of forest land are
cleared of trees to reclaim land for human settlements (factories, agriculture, housing, roads, railway tracks etc.) growth of
population increases the demand for forest products like timber, firewood, paper and other valuable products of industrial
importance, all necessitating felling of trees.
(2) Forest Fires: Fires in the forests may be due to natural calamities or human activities:
(a) Smoldering of the humus and organic matter forming a thick cover over the forest floor (i.e. ground fires).
(b) Dried twigs and leaves may catch fire (i.e. surface fires).
(c) In densely populated forests, tree tops may catch fire by heat produced by constant rubbing against each other (i.e.
crown fires).
(d) Human activities like clearing forest for habitation, agriculture, firewood, construction of roads, railway tracks and
carelessness (throwing burning cigarette stubbs on dried foliage). Fire destroys fully grown trees, results in killing and
scorching of the seeds, humus, ground flora and animal life.
(3) Grazing Animals: Trampling of the forest soil in the course of overgrazing by livestock has four reaching effects
such as loss of porosity of soil, soil erosion and desertification of the previously fertile forest area.
(4) Pest Attack: Forest pests like insects etc. destroy trees by eating up the leaves, boring into shoots and by spreading
diseases.
(5) Natural Forces: Floods, storms, snow, lightening etc. are the natural forces which damage forests.
Effects of Deforestation: Forests are closely related with climatic change, biological diversity, wild animals, crops,
medicinal plants etc.
Large scale deforestation has many far-reaching consequences:
(a) Habitat destruction of wild animals (tree-using animals are deprived of food and shelter.)
(b) Increased soil erosion due to reduction of vegetation cover.
(c) Reduction in the oxygen liberated by plants through photosynthesis.
(d) Increase in pollution due to burning of wood and due to reduction in Car- bon-dioxide fixation by plants.
(e) Decrease in availability of forest products.
(f) Loss of cultural diversity
(g) Loss of Biodiversity
(h) Scarcity of fuel wood and deterioration in economy and quality of life of people residing near forests.
(i) Lowering of the water table due to more run-off and thereby increased use of the underground water increases the
frequency of droughts.
(j) Rise in Carbon dioxide level has resulted in increased thermal level of earth which in turn results in melting of ice caps
and glaciers and consequent flooding of coastal areas.

Efforts to Control Deforestation:

In order to check the detrimental effects due to deforestation, the following control measures should be undertaken:
(i) All nations should promote the regeneration of degraded forest lands to increase permanent forest cover, reduce pressure on natural
forest, conserve biodiversity, protect water sheds and soils and stabilize climax.
(ii) There should be a concerted effort to prevent encroachment pressures by providing land security to small and landless farmers
through land tenure law, land reform or agarian reform.
(iii) There should be proper modification in the development schemes (i.e., mining, hydroelectric, road building, plantation etc.) to
minimise their direct and indirect impacts on natural forests.
(iv) Over grazing in forest areas should be regulated by government.
(v) There should be efforts to relieve pressure on forests by decreasing waste in wood processing, increasing the efficiency of wood
burning stoves and seeking alternative raw materials.
(vi) Ecological stability should receive precedence over the economic stability in the matter of forest growth.
(vii) Efforts should be made to involve local people, NGOs and forest department in developing degraded forest lands as well as
conserving the existing forests.
(viii) There should be effort to encourage sustainable forest management in order to maintain ecological balance.
(ix) Public awareness should be created against the hazards of deforestation.
(x) Forest should be honored not as a source of revenue but as a global asset to be protected for the well being of the globe.
In view of the vital importance of the forest in maintaining ecological balance and preserving biophysical system of the
environment, the Government of India has revised the old forest policy of 1952 in 1988.
What is Conservation?
Conservation is the management of nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems
from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions.
Forests are an extremely important natural resource that can potentially be sustainably harvested and managed to yield a
diversity of commodities of economic importance. Wood is by far the most important product harvested from forests. The wood is
commonly manufactured into paper, lumber, plywood, and other products. So the must be conserved by social and government efforts.

Afforestation
It is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees (forestation) in an area where there was no previous tree cover. Afforestation is
highly important to maintain biodiversity and ecological balances. It is also important to prevent global warming, soil erosion and
pollution. Afforestration purifies the environment and helps in reducing the carbon dioxide level.
 The basic components of India's forest conservation efforts include protecting existing forests, putting a check on the
diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes, encouraging farm forestry/private area plantations, expanding the protected area
network and controlling forest fires. Forests cover 19.4% of the country's landmass. Forests with a crown cover of more than 40% have
been increasing. The National Forestry Action Programme has been formulated for sustainable forest development and to bring one-
third of the country's geographical area under forest/ tree cover as mandated in the National Forest Policy, 1988.
A major programme of afforestation is being implemented with the people's participation under the Joint Forest Management.
The National Forest Policy envisages the participation of people in the development of degraded forests to meet their requirements of
fuel wood, fodder and timber. Twelve biosphere reserves have been set up to protect representative ecosystems. Management plans are
being implemented for 20 wetlands with coral reefs and mangroves being given a priority. The National Wasteland Development Board
is responsible for regenerating private, non-forest and degraded land. The National Afforestation and Eco Development Board are
responsible for regenerating degraded forest land, land adjoining forests and ecologically fragile areas.

Chipko movement (Indian environmental movement)

Chipko movement, also called Chipko andolan, nonviolent social and ecological movement by rural villagers, particularly
women, in India in the 1970s, aimed at protecting trees and forests slated for government-backed logging. The movement originated in
the Himalayan region of Uttar Pradesh (later Uttarakhand) in 1973 and quickly spread throughout the Indian Himalayas. The Hindi
word chipko means ―to hug‖ or ―to cling to‖ and reflects the demonstrators’ primary tactic of embracing the trees to impede the loggers.
Deforestation doesn’t only mean the loss of pretty trees to the farmers, but it also means loss of fodder, firewood,
and drinking and irrigation water. Hence, the protests against cutting of trees began when the trees were
increasingly cut down for commercial and industrial purposes. Concerned Sunderlal Bahuguna – a noted
environmentalist heard about the cutting down of trees in the Himalayan region and he decided to take charge along
with the Indian villagers, by absorbing Mahatma Gandhi’s method of Satyag raha – non-violent resistance by
hugging the trees to stop the cutting down of trees.

Agroforestry
Agroforestry is any sustainable land-use system that maintains or increases total yields by combining food crops (annuals) with tree
crops (perennials) and/or livestock on the same unit of land, either alternately or at the same time, using management practices that suit
the social and cultural characteristics of the local people and the economic and ecological conditions of the area. It combines
1. Production of multiple outputs with protection of the resource base.
2. Places emphasis on the use of multiple indigenous trees and shrubs.
3. Particularly suitable for low-input conditions and fragile environments.
4. It involves the interplay of socio-cultural values more than in most other land-use systems, and
5. It is structurally and functionally more complex than monoculture.

Social forestry
Social forestry means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands with the purpose of helping in the
environmental, social and rural development. The term, social forestry, was first used in India in 1976 by The National Commission
on Agriculture, Government of India.
It also aims at raising plantations by the common man so as to meet the growing demand for timber, fuel wood, fodder etc.,
and thereby reducing pressure on traditional forest areas. This concept of village forests to meet the needs of rural people is not new. It
has existed through the centuries all over the country, but it is now being given a new name.
In India, it has five objectives-
1. Fuel wood supply, so as to replace cow-dung as a source of energy (conventional energy).
2. Small timber supply.
3. Protection of agricultural fields against wind and desertification.
4. Fodder supply, and
5. Recreation needs.
Intensive farming
Intensive farming is the latest technique used to yield high productivity by keeping large number of livestock indoors and using
excessive amount of chemical fertilizers on a tiny acreage. It is carried out to meet the rising demand for cheap food and prevent future
shortages. Intensive farming is an agricultural system that aims to get maximum yield from the available land. This farming technique
is also applied in supplying livestock. You could say that under this technique, food is produced in large quantities with the help of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are appropriately used to save such agricultural land from pests and crop diseases.
Products, such as eggs, meat, and other agricultural items that are easily available in many supermarkets today are produced
using modern intensive farming methods.
One of the major advantages of this farming technique is that the crop yield is high.
1. It helps the farmer to easily supervise and monitor the land and protect his livestock from being hurt or hounded
by dangerous wild animals.
2. With the introduction of intensive farming, farm produce, such as vegetables, fruits, and poultry products have
become less expensive. It also aids in solving the worldwide hunger problems to a great extent. This means that
common people can now afford a balanced and nutritious diet.
3. Many opine that organic food can be afforded only by the elite strata of the society. Apart from that, large
farming spaces are required to cultivate organic crops using natural manure. However, with the introduction of
intensive farming, the space, equipment, and other requirements for farming are less and more economical.
4. Another advantage is that large productivity of food is possible with less amount of land. This leads to
economies of scale and directly contributes towards meeting the ever-growing demand for food supplies.
Disadvantages-
1. Intensive farming involves the use of various kinds of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides. Apart
from this, it is also associated with farms that keep livestock above their holding capacity, which in turn leads to
pollution, various diseases, and infections brought about by overcrowding and poor hygiene.
2. Reports and studies reveal that intensive farming affects and alters the environment in multiple ways. Forests are
destroyed to create large open fields, and this could lead to soil erosion. It affects the natural habitat of wild
animals. Use of chemical fertilizers contaminates soil and water bodies, such as lakes and rivers.
3. Pesticides sprayed on crops not only destroy pests and contaminate the crops, but also kill beneficial insects.
Heavy use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers also affects the workers (who spray the pesticides) and the
people residing nearby. Eventually, these chemicals are passed on to human beings, who consume the
agricultural produce.
4. Fruits and vegetables purchased from farms that promote intensive farming are covered with invisible pesticides.
These cannot be washed off easily. Exceeding the use of pesticides affects the health of human beings severely,
leading to skin allergy, physical deformity, and congenital disease.
5. Statistics show a direct relation between the consumption of food procured from intensive farming sites and an
increase in the number of cancer patients and children born with defects. Researchers opine that consumption of
inorganic poisonous vegetables, fruits, poultry, and meat could probably be one of the reasons for causing such
damage in the human body.
6. There are many hybrid varieties of livestock, plants, and poultry available today. The livestock and poultry are
injected with hormones and other chemicals to increase the yield.