Unit 3

Natural Resources
Introduction
Natural resources are what occur in nature in their original, untouched form- unless of course
mar disturbs this. They consist of all things that do not come under man-made creations, where
what we see around us that takes its course without the intervention of humans, is what would
be considered a natural resource.

Meaning: Natural Resources

Materials or substances occurring in nature which can be exploited for economic gain.

Classification 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 breed to reproduce offspring to
substitute the older animals
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.

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).
Examples are animals, forests (vegetation), and other materials like Fossil fuels such as
petroleum, oil, and coal.
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 the necessary
expertise or technology to have them exploited.
Hydrogen is an example of a stock natural resource.
Land resources and land use change
Human and natural activities need space for their location and development. This space is
provided by land which is put to various uses like food and energy production, waste-disposal,
industrial, commercial and residential purposes.

Definitions

● Land and Land Resources refer to a delineable area of the earth's terrestrial surface,
encompassing all attributes of the biosphere immediately above or below this surface,
including those of the near-surface climate, the soil and terrain forms, the surface
hydrology (terracing, water storage or drainage structures, roads, buildings, etc.)

● Land Use is characterized by the arrangements, activities and inputs by people to

produce change or maintain a certain land cover type. (Di Gregorio and Jansen, 1998).
Land use defined in this way establishes a direct link between land cover and the actions
of people in their environment.

● Land Cover is the observed (bio)physical cover on the earth's surface (Di Gregorio and
Jansen, 1998)

● Land use change is a process by which human activities transform the natural
landscape, referring to how land has been used, usually emphasizing the functional role
of land for economic activities.

The basic functions of land in supporting human and other terrestrial ecosystems
1. A store of wealth for individuals, groups, or a community.
2. Production of food, fiber, fuel or other biotic materials for human use.
3. Provision of biological habitats for plants, animals and microorganisms.
4. Co-determinant in the global energy balance and the global hydrological cycle, which
provides both a source and a sink for greenhouse gasses.
5. Regulation of the storage and flow of surface water and groundwater.
6. Storehouse of minerals and raw materials for human use.
7. A buffer, filter or modifier for chemical pollutants.
8. Provision of physical space for settlements, industry and recreation.
9. Storage and protection of evidence from the historical or pre-historical record (fossils,
evidence of past climates, archaeological remains, etc.)
10. Enabling or hampering movement of animals, plants and people between one area and
another Land

Types of land use in India

1. Forests area - During 1950-51 the area under forest was only 40.48 million hectares
(14.2%) in India But it has been increased to 80.20 million hectares (24.39%) in
2017-2018. According to National Forest Policy 1952, the reporting area of the forest
must be 33.3% of the total land.
 2. Land not available for cultivation - The land used for human settlements, transport
routes, canals, quarries, the mountains, deserts, marshes etc. are coming under this
category.
3. Cultivable waste land- It refers to the land, which has been kept uncultivated for more
than 5 agricultural years.
4. Fallow land - The land which is not utilized for cultivation for the last 3 to 5 years is
considered as fallow land.
5. Net area sown - India has a net sown area of 46.2% of the total reporting land in India.

Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification

Land degradation
Currently, land resources are clearly under stress; 16 percent of arable land is degraded and the
percentage is increasing .Traditional systems of land management are either breaking down or
are no longer appropriate, and the management and technology needed to replace them is not
always available.

Meaning: Land degradation

Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a
combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land.

Characteristic of Land degradation

1. Loss of natural fertility of soil because of loss of nutrients.
2. Less vegetation cover.
3. Changes in the characteristics of soil.
4. Pollution of water resources from the contamination of soil through which water sweeps
into ground or runoff to the water bodies.
5. Changes in climatic conditions because of unbalance created in the environment.

Causes of Land degradation

1. Deforestation
2. Agricultural practices
3. Urbanization
4. Overgrazing
5. Industrialization

The effects of land degradation

1. In India, some 144 million hectares of land are affected by either wind or water erosion.
In Pakistan, 8.1 million hectares of land have been lost to wind erosion and 7.4 million
hectares to water erosion.
2. Deforestation is also widespread. During the 1980s, an estimated four million hectares of
forest were lost each year in Asia and the Pacific.
 3. The region's grasslands are also being destroyed - a matter of great economic
importance since grazing is the largest land use in Asia.
4. Land degradation is also altering hydrological conditions Where vegetative cover is
removed, the soil surface is exposed to the impact of raindrops which causes a sealing
of the soil surface.
5. The most authoritative estimates of the extent of land degradation are contained in a
report on South Asia prepared by UNDP, UNEP and FAO

Control Measures for Land Degradation

1. Strip farming:
It is a practice in which cultivated crops are sown in alternative strips to prevent water
movement.
2. Crop Rotation:
It is one of the agricultural practices in which different crops are grown in the same area
following a rotation system which helps in replenishment of the soil.
3. Ridge and Furrow Formation:
Soil erosion is one of the factors responsible for land degradation. It can be prevented by
formation of ridge and furrow during irrigation which lessens run off.
4. Construction of Dams:
This usually checks or reduces the velocity of run off so that soil support vegetation.
5. Contour Farming:
This type of farming is usually practiced across the hill side and is useful in collecting
and diverting the run off to avoid erosion.

Desertification
Land degradation has accelerated during the 20th century due to increasing and combined
pressures of agricultural and livestock production urbanization, deforestation, and extreme
weather events such as droughts and coastal surges which salinate land.

Meaning
Desertification is a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry area of land becomes
increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife

Causes of Desertification
1. Overgrazing:
Animal grazing is a huge problem for many areas that are starting to become desert
biomes. If there are too many animals that are overgrazing in certain spots, it makes it
difficult for the plants to grow back, which hurts the biome and makes it lose its former
green glory.
2. Deforestation:
When people are looking to move into an area, or they need trees in order to make
houses and do other tasks, then they are contributing to the problems related to
desertification.
 3. Farming Practices:
Some farmers do not know how to use the land effectively. They may essentially strip the
land of everything that it has before moving on to another plot of land.
4. Urbanization and other types of land development.
It can also cause issues with the soil due to chemicals and other things that may harm
the ground.
5. Climate Change:
Climate change plays a huge role in desertification. As the days get warmer and periods
of drought become more frequent, desertification becomes more and more eminent.
6. Stripping the land of resources.
If an area of land has natural resources like natural gas, oil, or minerals, people will
come in and mine it or take it out.
7. Natural Disasters:
There are some cases where the land gets damaged because of natural disasters,
including drought.

Effects of Desertification
1. Farming becomes next to impossible.
If an area becomes a desert, then it's almost impossible to grow substantial crops there
without special technologies.
2. Hunger:
Without farms in these areas, the food that those farms produce will become much
scarcer, and the people who live in those local areas will be a lot more likely to try and
deal with hunger problems.
3. Flooding:
Without the plant life in an area, flooding is a lot more eminent. Not all deserts are dry;
4. Poor Water Quality:
If an area becomes a desert, the water quality is going to become a lot worse than it
would have been otherwise.
5. Overpopulation:
When areas start to become desert, animals and people will go to other areas where
they can actually thrive.
6. Poverty:
All of the issues that we've talked about above (related to the problem of desertification)
can lead to poverty if it is not kept in check.

Preventive measures
1. Land and water management:
Sustainable land use can fix issues such as overgrazing, overexploitation of plants,
trampling of soils and irrigation practices that cause and worsen desertification.
2. Protection of vegetative cover:
Protecting soil from wind and water erosion helps to prevent the loss of ecosystem
services during droughts.
 3. Alternative Farming and Industrial Techniques:
Alternative livelihoods that are less demanding on local land and natural resource use,
such as dryland aquaculture for production of fish, crustaceans and industrial
compounds, limit desertification.
4. Establish economic opportunities outside drylands:
Unpacking new possibilities for people to earn a living, such as urban growth and
infrastructure, could relieve and shift pressures underlying the desertification processes.
5. Great Green Wall:
Eleven countries in Sahel-Sahara Africa Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Niger,
Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Senegal - have focused efforts to fight
against land degradation and revive native plant life to the landscape.

Soil erosion

Meaning: Soil
Soil is a mixture of mineral and organic matter, gases, liquids, and the countless organisms that
together support life on Earth.

Forms of soil or land pollution

1. Soil piping
It is a particular form of soil erosion that occurs below the soil surface. It causes dam
failure, as well as sinkhole formation Turbulent flow removes soil starting at the mouth of
the seep flow and the subsoil erosion advances up-gradient.
2. Soil salination
It is the accumulation of free salts to such an extent that it leads to degradation of the
agricultural value of soils and vegetation, Consequences include corrosion damage,
reduced plant growth, erosion due to loss of plant cover and soil structure, and water
quality problems due to sedimentation.
3. Erosion of soil
It is caused by water, wind, ice, and movement in response to gravity. More than one
kind of erosion can occur simultaneously. Erosion is distinguished from weathering,
since erosion also transports eroded soil away from its place of origin.

Causes of Soil Erosion

1. Wind
When strong winds blow, the topsoil along with the organic matter is carried away by the
wind. This happens more often when the land is not covered with grass or plants. Such
conditions are very common in desert and semi-desert regions where strong winds blow
very frequently.
2. Water
When it rains in the hilly areas, the soil gets washed away towards the plains. The
running water deposits the mineral-rich soil in the riverbed and over the years this
deposition of soil can change the course of the river.
 3. Overgrazing
When cattle are allowed to graze on the same field repeatedly, all the available grass,
including the roots are eaten by them. This makes the topsoil vulnerable to wind and
flowing water, leading to soil erosion.
4. Deforestation
Humans have taken land from the forest to cultivate in order to feed the ever-increasing
population and to build houses, industries, etc.

Soil Pollution Implications Soil pollution implications

1. Effects on human and other organisms
● Organ damage
The presence of heavy metals in soil in toxic amounts can cause irreversible
developmental damage in children, according to the website Tropical Rainforest
Animals.
● Bioaccumulation
Soil that is not significantly polluted may still harm humans indirectly, according to
Pollution Issues.
● Cancer
Many common soil pollutants are carcinogenic, or cancer-causing. According to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, humans who are exposed to these pollutants are far
more likely to develop cancer than humans who are not exposed to them.
Example : Regular exposure to benzene is known to cause leukemia in both children
and adults.
2. Effect on Plant Growth
The balance of the ecological system is affected due to contamination of the soil. Plants
are mostly unable to adapt to the change in the chemistry of the soil in a short time
period.
3. Soil fertility
The chemicals present in the soil due to pollution are toxic and can decrease the fertility
of the soil, thereby decreasing the soil yield. Agriculture on contaminated soil produces
fruits and vegetables that lack quality nutrients.

Soil conservation
1. Afforestation
Planting new trees and plants is afforestation. We live because plants live. If the plants
die, all living things will also die.
2. Crop Rotation
Between harvesting one crop and planting the next crop, the fields lie bare; there is a
time period when the farmland does not have any crops.
3. Terrace Farming
In hilly areas, farming is done by cutting steps on the slopes of the hills. This slows down
the flow of water and soil removed from one step is deposited on the next step.
 4. Building Dams
Dams are built to prevent floods, which not only damage the crops but also wash away
the topsoil.
5. Shelterbelts
The cover of plants and trees around the field also breaks the speed of strong winds and
protects the soil from being below away.
6. Embankments
Bib strong structures called embankments along the banks of the river can protect fields
from the floods.
7. Van Mahotsav
It is an annual tree planting festival started by the Government of India. The aim of this
programme is to create awareness about the need for conservation of forest and soil.

Deforestation

Meaning: Deforestation
Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for
other uses.

Causes of deforestation
1. To make more land available for housing and urbanization
2. To harvest timber to create commercial items such as paper, furniture and homes
3. To create ingredients that are highly prized consumer items, such as the oil from palm
trees
4. To create room for cattle ranching.

Deforestation and climate change

1. Deforestation is considered to be one of the contributing factors to global climate
change.
2. According to Michael Daley, an associate professor of environmental science at Lasell
College in Newton, Massachusetts, the First problem caused by deforestation is the
impact on the global carbon cycle.
3. Gas molecules that absorb thermal infrared radiation are called greenhouse gasses. If
greenhouse gasses are in large enough quantities, they can force climate change,
according to Daley.
4. While oxygen (0₂) is the second most abundant gas in our atmosphere, it does not
absorb thermal infrared radiation, as greenhouse gasses do. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the
most prevalent greenhouse gas.
5. CO₂ accounts for about 82.2 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Trees can help, though.
6. About 300 billion tons of carbon, 40 times the annual greenhouse gas emissions from
fossil fuels, is stored in trees, according to Greenpeace.
Dams and their Effects on Forests and Tribal People
1. The lack of awareness can be explained by the fact that for many years large
hydroelectric dams have been portrayed as synonymous with development.
2. Another reason can be that most users of hydro-electricity live far away from the
impacted areas and that the sites selected for dam building have been often those
inhabited by indigenous peoples, tribal people, ethnic minorities and poor communities
having little capacity of being heard by the wider national community.
3. The dams' effects have included much more than forest loss and the major
environmental changes have impacted on local people, at both the dam site and in the
entire river basin.
4. Not only are the best agricultural soils flooded by the reservoir, but major changes occur
in the environment, where the river's flora and fauna begin to disappear, with strong
impacts on people dependent on those resources.
5. At the same time, dams imply a number of health hazards, starting with diseases
introduced by the thousands of workers that are brought in to build the dam (including
AIDS, syphilis, tuberculosis, measles and others) and ending with diseases .

Impact of mining on environment, rural population and sources of livelihood

1. Water pollution is causality, mining activity results in making deep pits which intern
causes ground water tables to go down.
2. Air pollution is another casualty of mining activities, blasting of land produces a lot of
dust which invariably mixes with air and this reduces and disturbs the oxygen portion
and the air carries many toxic matter which prisoners and this support for 31.25 times.
3. Noise pollution is another serious effect. The ore-filled lorries move in the middle of the
village throughout the day and this has resulted in the noise pollution in the villages.
4. The mining has affected the population also. There are changes in the birth, death and
refugee areas. The mother and the child are facing many problems.
5. The child labors are increasing at an alarming rate, Most of the children are migrant
laborers They are working in highly hazardous and painful conditions in the mines and
related ancillary 'activities and the situation calls for urgent action,
6. The large amount of dust raised from mining had resulted in the influx of a number of
diseases and blood pressure. Diabetes, asthma, skin diseases, allergy are the gifts of
'mining'
7. There is a lot of influence of mining on occupation and jobs also. The agrarian or
agricultural occupation has lost its charm.
8. Mining has eaten up the livelihood of many people, People who had depended on
agriculture all these days have reached low standard of life, Forest which provided
livelihood to many people has lost their sources of livelihood because of mining,
9. Transport activities have a wide variety of effects on the environment such as
air-pollution, noise from road traffic.
10. The sanitation has been completely damaged. People are suffering from many diseases
because of the deposition of fed dust everywhere.
11. The mine owners and middlemen have destroyed the common property and resources
of many people. They have acquired rural tanks, ponds, lakes and Gomala's.
Loss of Biodiversity due to Mining
1. Mining has damaged the biodiversity of birds, animals, medicine plants, insects, flies,
reptiles, sponges etc.
2. According to study on "Amphibian assemblages in undisturbed and disturbed areas of
Kudremukh National park, Central Western Ghats India", mining activities have
fragmented amphibian habitats and affected amphibian diversity and distribution in
Kudremukh area.
3. Similarly more than 40 quarries are operating around Bannerghatta area in Bangalore
Rural District for building stone and granites.
4. It is closer to National Park and affects the flora and fauna of the region. Since 2002 the
Bellary district has lost 180 hectares of forest cover around 200 hectares of shrubs.

Water
Use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts
Water is a transparent fluid which forms the world's streams, lakes, oceans and rain, and is the
major constituent of the fluids of organisms. As a chemical compound, a water molecule
contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms that are connected by covalent bonds (H20).
Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface, it is vital for all known forms of life.

Floods
Flooding occurs when an extreme volume of water is carried rivers, creeks and many other
geographical features into areas where the water cannot be drained adequately. Often during
times of heavy rainfall, drainage systems in residential areas are not adequate, or unchecked
civil development severely impedes the functionality of an otherwise acceptable drainage
system.

Drought
A drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region; resulting in prolonged
shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or groundwater A drought
can last for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days.

Types of Drought
1. Meteorological drought is specific to different regions, depending on the amount of
yearly precipitation that's average for that area. For example, the southwest portion of
the United States averages less than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of precipitation per year,
while the Northwest gets more than 150 inches (381 cm) per year, according to the U.S.
Department of Interior. A decrease in precipitation compared to the historical average for
that area would qualify as a meteorological drought.
2. Agricultural drought accounts for the water needs of crops during different growing
stages, -For instance, not enough moisture at planting time may hinder germination,
leading to low plant populations and a reduction in yield.
 3. Hydrological drought refers to persistently low water volumes in streams, rivers and
reservoirs. Human activities, such as drawdown of reservoirs, can worsen hydrological
droughts. Hydrological drought is often linked with meteorological droughts.
4. Socioeconomic drought occurs when the demand for water exceeds the supply
Examples of this kind of drought include too much irrigation or when low river flow forces
hydroelectric power plant operators to reduce energy production.

The Effects of Drought

1. Environmental Impacts
● Drying out of water bodies.
● Reduction in soil quality.
● Unsuitable conditions for plant and vegetation survival.
● Migration and even death of Animals and Wildlife.

2. Economic Impacts of Droughts

● Increased budgetary spending by farmers.
● Reduced crop yields.
● Industrial and governmental losses.

3. Social Impacts
● Hunger, anemia, malnutrition, and deaths.
● Migration of people and anxiety.

Conflicts over water (international & inter-state)

Water conflict is a term describing a conflict between countries, states, or groups over an
access to water resources. The United Nations recognizes that water disputes result from
opposing interests of water users, public or private.

Conflicts over water: international

According to UNESCO, the current conflicts occur mainly in

● Middle East (disputes stemming from the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers among Turkey,
Syria, and Iraq;
● Jordan River conflict among Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and the State of Palestine), in
Africa (Nile River-related conflicts among Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan),
● Central Asia (the Aral Sea conflict among Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan).

Conflicts over water: inter-state

1. A recent dispute over use of the Yamuna River among the states of Delhi, Haryana and
Uttar Pradesh, was resolved by conferences involving three state Chief Ministers, as well
as the central government.
 2. The Krishna-Godavari water dispute- The Krishna-Godavari water dispute among
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Madhya Pradesh (MP), and Orissa
could not be resolved through negotiations.
3. The Cauvery water dispute- The Cauvery dispute The core of the Cauvery dispute
relates to the re-sharing of waters that are already being fully utilized. Here the two
parties to the dispute are Karnataka (old Mysore) and Tamil Nadu (the old Madras
Presidency).

Energy Resources
All things that are useful to us are called resources. Air, water, land, soil, forest etc are all
resources. Resources are useful raw materials that we get from nature.

Meaning: Renewable resources

Renewable resources are those resources that can be replenished or renewed naturally over
time. Air, water, wind, solar energy etc are all renewable resources. Renewable resources can
be easily renewed by nature.

Meaning: Non renewable resources

Non-renewable resources are those natural resources that are available in limited quantities.
These resources cannot be renewed or replenished in a short duration. Therefore they are also
known as exhaustible resources. Examples- coal, natural gas, petroleum etc.

Classification of Resources

Renewable Resources

1. Solar energy
Sun is a big source of energy. The energy that we get from the Sun is called solar energy. All
natural phenomena like the flowing of wind, water cycle, photosynthesis etc are possible only
due to solar energy.
2. Hydro-Energy
Water is an important natural resource. All living organisms need water to live. Humans need
water for many purposes such as drinking, cleaning, cooking and for growing crops.
3. Wind energy
Winds are constantly being created in nature. The windmill is a source of electrical energy.
These windmills are generally established only at places where most of the days in a year
experience strong winds.
4. Biogas
Biogas is a type of fuel which is a mixture of gasses such as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen
etc which is obtained by decomposition of animal and plant wastes like animal dung, with the
help of microorganisms in the presence of water.
5. Wood
Wood is an ancient and traditional source of energy. It is mainly a mixture of many carbohydrate
compounds. Wood is used to cook food. It leads to deforestation and pollutes air also.
6. Hydrogen
It is a good source of energy because it does not create pollution and produce maximum energy
on burning.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol has many commercial and medical purposes. It can use for producing energy. It can be
obtained while making sugar from sugarcane. Thus it is a very cheap source of energy.
8. Air
All living things need air to breathe. Therefore, air is an important natural resource.
9. Water
All living things water in order to survive. And the water cycle means we will essentially never
run out of the water. But we must be careful not to pollute water and make it unusable.
10. Soil
It is an important resource as this is the layer where plants grow. We all need food in order to
survive. We get most of our food from crops grown in the soil.

Non Renewable Resources

1. Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels like coal and petroleum are non-renewable resources. They are found deep inside
the earth and are made by natural processes over many centuries.
● Coal: It is also known as black diamond. Coal is used as a fuel, to generate electricity,
and in factories and steam engines.
● Natural gas: Natural gas is used as a fuel called Compressed Natural Gas or CNG.
Some wells dug into the earth produce only natural gas.
● Petroleum: Petroleum is also known as mineral oil or crude oil. This liquid mineral is
refined to make fuels such as petrol, diesel, cooking gas and kerosene. Plastic,
cosmetics, and lubricants are also products of petroleum.
2. Nuclear energy
In the classification of resources, nuclear energy is classified as non-renewable. The fuel used
for nuclear energy is generally uranium, which is in a limited supply. So we classify it as
nonrenewable.

Meaning of Alternative energy

Alternative energy is any energy source that is an alternative to fossil fuel. These alternatives
are intended to address concerns about fossil fuels, such as its high carbon dioxide emissions,
an important factor in global warming. Marine energy, hydroelectric, wind, geothermal and solar
power are all alternative sources of energy
Hydro electricity
Hydro electricity captures energy from falling water
Example

Power station State Total capacity (MW)

Tehri Dam Uttarakhand 2400 MW

Nagarjunasagar Andhra Pradesh 965 MW

Wind energy
Wind energy is the generation of electricity from wind, commonly by using propeller-like
turbines,
Example : Table Showing Major wind mills in India

Power plant Producer Location State Total capacity

(MW)

Acciona Tuppadahalli Chitradurga Karnataka 56.1

Tuppadahalli Energy India District
Private Limited

Kayathar Subhash Ltd Kayathar Tamil Nadu 30

Subhash

Solar energy
Solar energy is the use of energy from the sun. Heat from the sun can be used for solar thermal
applications or light can be converted into electricity via photovoltaic devices.

Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is the use of the earth's internal heat to boil water for heating buildings or
generating electricity.

Biofuel and ethanol Cepat

Biofuel and ethanol are plant-derived gasoline substitutes for powering vehicles.
(Example: Pongamia pinnata, Jatropha curcas).

Hydrogen can
Hydrogen can be used as a carrier of energy, produced by various technologies such as
cracking of hydrocarbons or water electrolysis.
Growing energy needs in India
1. India's energy consumption is set to grow 4.2% a year by 2035, faster than that of all
major economies in the world, according to BP Energy Outlook.
2. India, Asia's second biggest energy consumer since 2008, had in 2015 overtaken Japan
as the world's third largest oil consuming country behind the US and China.
3. "We project that India's energy consumption grows the fastest among all major
economies by 2035.
4. As a result, the country remains import dependent despite increases in production," the
publication said.
5. India's consumption growth of fossil fuels will be the highest by 2035 and it will overtake
China as the largest growth market for energy in volume terms by 2030.
6. Globally, energy demand will increase by about 30% by 2035. Natural gas consumption
will grow faster than either oil or coal, expanding at 1.6% a year.
 Chapter 4
Biodiversity and conservation

Meaning: Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including aquatic
ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within
species, , and of ecosystems.

Definition: Biodiversity
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), biodiversity typically
measures variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level. in genes

Benefits of Biodiversity
1. Provisioning services such as food, clean water, timber, fiber and genetic resources.
2. Regulating services such as climate, floods, disease, water quality and pollination.
3. Cultural services such as recreational, aesthetic and spiritual benefits.
4. Supporting services such as soil formation and nutrient cycling.

Levels/Types/ Elements of Biodiversity

1. Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity is present within a population because individuals have different genes
due to slight differences in their DNA sequences.
2. Species diversity
It is the biodiversity observed within a community. It stands for the number and
distribution of species.
3. Ecological Diversity
It defines the diversity observed among the ecosystems in a particular region. Different
ecosystems like mangroves, rainforests, deserts, etc.,
4. Ecosystem diversity
Ecosystem Diversity can be defined as the variety of different habitats, communities and
ecological processes.

Biodiversity is defined & measured on two components viz. richness & evenness
• Richness: Expressed as the number of species found in a community
• Evenness: Proportions of species or functional groups present on a site.

Biogeographic Zones of India

1. Trans-Himalayan Region
An extension of the Tibetan Plateau, harboring high-altitude cold desert in Ladakh (J and
K) and Lahaul Spiti (H.P.) comprising 5.7 per cent of the country's landmass.
2. Himalayan Zone
The entire mountain chain running from north-western to north-eastern India, comprising
a diverse range of biotic provinces and biomes, 7,2 percent of the country's landmass
 3. Indian Desert Zone
The extremely arid area west of the Aravalli hill range, comprising both the salty desert
of Gujarat and the sand desert of Rajasthan. 6.9 per cent of the country's landmass.
4. Semi Arid Region
The zone between the desert and the Deccan plateau, including the Aravalli hill range.
15.6 per cent of the country's landmass.
5. Western Ghats
Constitutes 4.0 per cent of the total geographical area. It is one of the major tropical
evergreen forest regions in India and represents one of the major tropical evergreen
forest regions India and represents one of the two biodiversity 'hotspots'.
6. Deccan Plateau
The largest of the zones, covering much of the southern and south-central plateau with
predominantly deciduous vegetation. 4.3 per cent of the country's landmass.
7. Gangetic Plain
Defined by the Ganga river system, these plains are relatively homogenous. 11 percent
of the country's landmass.
8. North East Region
The plains and non-Himalayan hill ranges of north eastern India, with a wide variation of
vegetation. 5.2 per cent of the country's landmass.
9. Coastal Region
A large coastline distributed both to the west and east, with distinct differences between
the two; Lakshadweep Islands are included in this with the percent area being negligible.
10. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, with a highly diverse set of
biomes. 0.03 per cent of the country's landmass.

Biodiversity Patterns and Biodiversity Hotspot

1. India is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity.
2. This natural variation in life is also reflected in the demography of the land.
3. Although the causes behind biodiversity and demographic diversity are different, the
human population of the land has depended on the biodiversity in many ways for a long
time.
4. At the same time, today, the excessive human population of India is leading to a survival
pressure on biodiversity.
5. Thus, it is important to know and appreciate the diversity in both - human population and
flora and fauna.

Global Patterns of Biodiversity

1. The global patterns of biodiversity and the main factors determining species richness
has also increased with the need to understand how biodiversity might change under
different scenarios of global climate change, as well as to inform conservation and
sustainable resource use efforts.
2. Collectively, these areas held about 44% of the world's plants and 35% of terrestrial
vertebrates in an area that formerly covered only 11.8% of the planet's land surface.
 3. The habitat extent of this land area had been reduced by 87.8% of its original extent,
such that this wealth of biodiversity was restricted to only 1.4% of Earth's land surface.
4. In 2005 CI published an update titled "Hotspots Revisited: Earth's Biologically Richest
and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions".
5. The Global Convention on Biological Diversity, signed in 1992 at the Earth Summit,
describes biodiversity as the "variability among all living organisms from all sources,
including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes of
which they are part, this includes diversity within species, between species and of
ecosystems."

Biodiversity Hotspots in India

1. Himalaya: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region (and that falling in Pakistan, Tibet,
Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar)
2. Indo-Burma: Includes entire North-eastern India, except Assam and Andaman group of
Islands (and Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and southern China)
3. Sundalands: Includes Nicobar group of Islands (and Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore,
Brunei,Philippines)
4. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: Includes entire Western Ghats (and Sri Lanka)

India as a Mega-Biodiversity Nation

1. India, a mega-diversity country with only 2.4% of the land are accounts for 7-50% of the
recorded spenes of the world spread over 45.500 species of plants and $1.000 species
of animals that have been documented so far India's 10 bin-geographic anes possess an
exemplary diversity of ecological Habits like alpine forests, grasslands, westlands orestal
and marine ecosystems, and deter ensystems.
2. At the global level, 2, 78,900 species of microorganisms have been described so far out
of the estimated 3.75 million extant species. In India 651 micropal species have been
described
3. India's biodiversity includes wild relatives of agricultural crops & domesticated animals.
The large mosaic of distinct agro-ecosystems has contributed to timerse cropping
patients and systems across the country.
4. India has 16 major types and 251 subtypes of fres
5. In addition nearly 140 breeds of comes.cated animals (such as caule, sheep, goat,
camel horse and poultry) are also found here About 5 150 plan species and 1,837
animal species are endemic to India

Endangered and endemic species of India

1. A plant, animal or microorganism that is in immediate risk of biological extinction is called
endangered species or threatened species. In India, 450 plant species have been
identified as endangered species. 100 mammals and 150 birds are estimated to be
endangered.
2. Species that are found only in a particular region are known as endemic species. Almost
60% the endemic species in India are found in Himalayas and the Western Ghats
3. Extinct species is no longer found in the world
 4. Vulnerable species is one whose population is facing continuous decline due to habitat
destruction or over exploitation. However, it is still abundant
5. Rare species are localized within a restricted area or are scattered over an extensive
area. Sudb species are not endangered or vulnerable.

Factors affecting endangered species

1. Human beings dispose of waste indiscriminately in nature thereby polluting the air, land
and water.
2. Over-exploitation of natural resources and poaching of wild animals also leads to their
extinction.
3. Climate change brought about by accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Some of the rarest animals found in India are:

1. Asiatic cheetah
2. Asiatic Wild Ass
3. Gaur
4. Indian Rhinoceros
5. Asiatic Lion
6. Bengal Fox
7. Indian Elephant
8. Marbled Cat
9. Markhor

Endemic species of India:

Species that are found only in a particular region are known as endemic species. Almost 60% of
the endemic species in India are found in the Himalayas and the Western Ghats.

Endemic species are mainly concentrated in:

1. North-East India
2. North-West Himalayas
3. Western Ghats and
4. Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Examples of endemic Flora species are

1. Sapria Himalayana
2. Ovaria Lurida
3. Nepenthis khasiana etc

Endemic fauna of significance in the Western Ghats are:

1. Lion tailed macaque
2. Nilgiri langur
3. Brown palm civet and
4. Nilgiri tahr
Threats to Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss:
Conversion of habitats by humans into other land uses can fragment and separate
mammal populations and increase the likelihood of local population extinctions and
eventual species extinction.
2. Poaching of wildlife :
Poaching is illegal hunting, killing or capturing of wild animals also referred to as the
illegal harvesting of wild plant species. It's an environmental crime against the natural
resources, illegal hunting of wildlife for animal products such as ivory, horn, teeth, skin
and bone.
● Indian Pangolin is the most Poached Species of 2015 in India
● Black magic behind illegal Barn Owl trade in India
● Monitor Lizards are new target of Poachers in North East
● Poaching Of Migratory Birds In Chilika Lake
● Poachers Kill Ganga River Dolphin in Bihar
3. Climate change :
Changes in climate throughout our planet's history have, of course, altered life on Earth.
In the long run ecosystems have come and gone and species routinely go extinct.
4. Biological invasions :
A species is considered as introduced or not native when it spreads directly or indirectly
outside its natural range for any human activity, whereas a species is considered
invasive when it is dispersed widely, colonizing and invading the natural ecosystem,
becoming very abundant and causing harm to the ecosystem.
5. Man wildlife conflicts :
Conflict between people and animals is one of the main threats to the continued survival
of many species in different parts of the world, and is also a significant threat to the local
human population. If solutions to conflicts are not adequate, local support for
conservation also declines.

Impact of loss of Biodiversity

1. Increased vulnerability of species extinction
2. Ecological imbalance
3. Reduced sources of food, structural materials, medicinal and genetic resources
4. Cost increase to the society

Conservation of Biodiversity
1. Western Ghats
2. Eastern Himalayas including Sikkim, North West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh
3. Indo-Burma including Manipur, Nagaland etc.
4. Gulf of Mannar adjoining Sri Lanka
5. India also includes part of Northern Indian Ocean coral reef hotspot (Reef Guardian)
Objectives as well as advantages of conservation of biodiversity
1. Conservation of biological diversity leads to conservation of essential ecological diversity
to preserve the continuity of food chains
2. The genetic diversity of plants and animals is preserved.
3. It ensures the sustainable utilisation of life support systems on earth.
4. It provides a vast knowledge of potential use to the scientific community
5. A reservoir of wild animals and plants is preserved, thus enabling them to be introduced,
it need be, in the surrounding areas.
6. Biological diversity provides immediate benefits to society such as recreation and
tourism.

Conservation of biodiversity:
Types
1. Ex situ conservation
Conserving biodiversity outside the areas where they naturally occur is known as ex situ
conservation. Here, animals and plants are reared or cultivated in areas like zoological
or botanical parks.
2. In situ conservation
Conserving the animals and plants in their natural habitats is known as in situ
conservation. This includes the establishment of
● National parks and sanctuaries
● Biosphere reserves
● Nature reserves
● Reserved and protected forests
● Preservation plots
● Reserved forests

3. Agro biodiversity conservation

After the introduction of cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, sunflower, soybean and so on,
farmers became victims of monocultures in their greed for money. Therefore many of the
indigenous varieties of crops were lost.

Convention of Biodiversity (CBD)

1. Develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological
resources
2. Establish protected areas, restore degraded ecosystems, control alien species, and
establish ex-situ conservation facilities.
3. Establish training and research programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity and support such programmes in developing countries;
4. Promote public education and awareness of the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity.
5. Recognize the right of governments to regulate access to their own genetic resources,
and wherever possible, grant other Parties access to genetic resources for
environmentally sound
Uses of Convention of Biodiversity (CBD)
1. Encourage technology and biotechnology transfer particularly to developing countries.
2. Establish an information exchange between the parties on all subjects relevant to
biodiversity.
3. Promote technical and scientific cooperation between parties (particularly to developing
countries) to enable them to implement the convention.
4. Ensure that countries that provide genetic resources have access to the benefits arising
from them.
5. Provide financial resources to developing countries/parties to enable them to carry out
the requirements of the convention.

Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services are processes provided by nature that support human life. These services
include the decomposition of waste, pollination, water purification, moderation of floods, and
renewal of soil fertility.
For example, insect pollinators help produce many commercially important fruits such as
almonds, melons, blueberries, and apples.

Social and Spiritual Benefits

1. Throughout most of human history, conservation has involved protecting nature for the
spiritual gifts it provides, and protecting sacred places in the local landscape.
2. Stories of indigenous people incorporate detailed knowledge of the animals and plants
that make up their world.
3. The heterogeneity of the world's mythology, folk art, and folk dances show the effects of
biodiversity on cultural development, and contribute to the richness of global arts and
literature
4. Different cultures developed in different landscapes that influenced activities,
occupations, diet, language, and architecture.
5. Countries and states have flagship animals and plants that are a source of pride and
highlight the uniqueness of each habitat.

Biological Resources
1. Biological resources are those products that we harvest from nature.
2. These resources fall into several categories: food, medicine, fibers, wood products, and
more. For example, over 7,000 species of plants are used for food, although we rely
heavily on only 12 major food crops.
3. Most of the human population depends on plants for medicines.
4. In the developed world, many of our medicines are chemicals produced by
pharmaceutical companies, but the original formulas were often derived from plants.
5. For example, opiate pain relievers are derived from poppies, aspirin is derived from
willows, quinine for treating malaria comes from the Cinchona tree.