RESOURCES

What resources are essential for

people in any community?
 What is a resource?
 Means available; stock or supply that can
be drawn on; asset - Pocket Oxford
Dictionary
 Anything obtained from the living and non
living environment to meet human needs
and wants. It can also be applied to other
species - Miller, G. T. Living in the
Environment
 Classifying Resources
Renewable Natural
Non- Renewable Human

Sustainable Finite
Non Sustainable Infinite

Recyclable
 Classifying Resources- Activity
 To help students think through the main
resource classification.
 Renewable Resources
 Materials which can be used and then
replenished either natural or with human
assistance within a relatively short space of
time, for example; food crops, water,
forests, animals and fish
 Non Renewable Resources

 These exist in finite amounts and cannot be

replaced by natural processes or are
replaced at a rate slower than the rate of
use, for example; coal, gas, oil and
diamonds.
 Natural Resources
 These occur as a natural part of the
environment, and include; air, water,
plants, soil, fish, birds and unique
landforms
 Human Resources
 Goods and services provided as a result of
human activities. These include
manufactured goods, money, education,
buildings and information
 Recyclable Resources
 Once a resource has been used, it may be
able to be used in a different format.
Examples of recycled resources include:
paper, aluminium, steel and some plastics
 Sustainable Resources
 The rate of use of a resource is such that he
amounts taken will not effect the resource’s
ability to renew itself, and the same rate of
productivity can be maintained into the
future. For example, quota’s of fish or trees
harvested in a season
 Finite Resources
 Once the resources has been used , it
cannot be replaced. In other words only a
fixed amount of the resource is available.
Oil and coal are examples of fine resources.
 Infinite Resources
 A resource that is unlimited as it is capable
of being replenished. Solar energy, wind
energy and human interventions are
examples of infinite resources
 …..Please note that many other students find this one
difficult to understand as on one of the previous
examinations, when classifying the internet, as the size of
the resource can become infinite, but the resource itself is
not infinite
 Most important resource
 WATER
 Various Water Uses
Domestic Environmental Strategic
e.g. cooking, Health of eco- Nations security-
showering systems access to clean
water
Recreational Aesthetic Spiritual
Boats, water In gardens, Religious
skiing fountains ceremonies
Economic Political Other?
Crops, animals, Keeping powers
production, in control and
transport, power influence
 Classification of Water as a
resource
Renewable Recyclable Finite

Passing Once used, it There is a

through may be able to limited
different be used again amount in the
stages of the in a different hydrosphere,
water cycle format e.g. atmosphere,
gray water lithosphere
and biosphere