Natural resource:

Renewable and Non renewable resources Natural resources and associated

problems
Introduction to Natural Resources

Natural resources are naturally occurring substances or systems within the

environment that are utilized by humans for economic, ecological, cultural, or
subsistence purposes. These include abiotic elements like minerals and fossil fuels, as
well as biotic entities such as forests and wildlife. The strategic management of these
resources is a critical component of sustainable development and environmental
governance.
Classification of Natural Resources
Renewable Resources
Non-Renewable Resources
Renewable Resources
Definition
Renewable resources are those that are replenished naturally at a rate comparable to their
consumption, making them potentially sustainable over the long term-provided anthropogenic
interference does not exceed regenerative thresholds.
Examples:
•Solar Radiation – Harnessed via photovoltaic and thermal technologies.
•Wind Energy – Converted into electrical energy using turbines.
•Hydrological Resources-Including surface and groundwater systems, significant for hydropower
and agriculture.
•Biomass and Forests-Providing food, fuel, and ecosystem services.
•Biodiversity – Integral for ecological balance, genetic resources, and resilience.
Challenges and associated problems:
•Resource Overexploitation: Unsustainable harvesting (e.g., overfishing,
deforestation) undermines renewability.
•Climate Variability: Alters natural cycles, reducing reliability of water and wind
systems.
•Land Use Conflicts: Expansion of renewable energy infrastructures (e.g., wind farms,
dams) may lead to ecological fragmentation and displacement of communities.
•Technological Limitations: Intermittency and storage issues with solar and wind
energy affects large-scale deployment.

Non-Renewable Resources
Definition:
Non-renewable resources are finite in availability and formed over geological
timescales. Once depleted, their regeneration is not feasible within a human
timescale.
Examples:
•Fossil Fuels: Coal, petroleum, and natural gas, representing
the backbone of modern industrial economies.
•Minerals and Metals: Iron, copper, bauxite, and rare earth
elements essential for technology and infrastructure.
•Nuclear Fuels: Uranium and thorium, used in fission-based
power generation.
Challenges and associated problems:
•Resource Exhaustion: Peak resource theory (e.g., Peak Oil) anticipates declines in
availability, leading to economic and geopolitical instability.
•Environmental Degradation: Mining and fossil fuel extraction lead to soil erosion,
water contamination, and habitat loss.
•Climate Change: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels are primary contributors to global
warming, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events.
•Toxicity and Waste: Radioactive waste management from nuclear energy remains a
long-term hazard.
•Socio-political Conflicts: Control over strategic resources has historically led to
geopolitical tensions, conflict, and colonial exploitation.
Forest resources: Uses of Forest Resources:
Use and over exploitation, Deforestation, case studies, Timber extraction,
mining, dams and their effects on forests and tribal people.

Forest Resources
Definition:
Forests are large areas covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth. They
are vital natural resources that provide ecological, economic, and social
benefits.

a. Ecological Functions: b. Economic Value: c. Social & Cultural

i. Oxygen production and i. Timber, fuel wood, bamboo Importance:
carbon dioxide absorption ii. Medicinal plants i. Livelihood for tribal and
ii. Climate regulation iii. Non-Timber Forest forest-dwelling communities
iii. Soil conservation and Products (NTFPs): honey, ii. Cultural and religious
water retention gum, resins, etc. significance
iv. Biodiversity support
Overexploitation of Forest Resources
What is Overexploitation?
Overexploitation means using forest resources faster than they can naturally regenerate, leading
to depletion and degradation of forests.
Causes of Overexploitation:
1.Commercial Logging: Excessive cutting of trees for timber and paper industries.
2.Fuel wood Collection: Rural communities depend heavily on forests for firewood.
3.Agricultural Expansion: Forests cleared for farming and shifting cultivation.
4.Urbanization & Infrastructure: Forest land used for roads, housing, and industries.
5.Mining Activities: Forests destroyed for extracting minerals like coal, bauxite, etc.
Grazing Pressure: Overgrazing by cattle leads to vegetation loss.

Consequences of Overexploitation:

Deforestation: Permanent loss of forest cover.

Loss of Biodiversity: Many plant and animal species become endangered or extinct.
Soil Erosion: Without tree cover, soil is easily washed away by rain and wind.
1.Climate Change: Reduced carbon absorption increases global
warming.
2.Water Cycle Disruption: Less rainfall and disturbed local
climate.
3.Displacement of Indigenous People: Tribal communities lose
their homes and livelihood.
 Solutions:

i. Afforestation & Reforestation i. Sustainable Forest Management

i. Ban on Illegal Logging i. Alternative Energy Sources

i. Community Participation (Joint Forest i. Strict Environmental Laws

Management)
Deforestation
Definition:

Deforestation refers to the large-scale removal or degradation of forest cover primarily

for anthropogenic purposes such as agriculture, infrastructure development, urban
expansion, and industrialization. It involves both complete clearing of forests and
fragmentation or degradation of forest ecosystems.
Causes:
•Expansion of agricultural frontiers (subsistence farming, commercial plantations)
•Logging for timber, pulp, and fuelwood
•Infrastructure projects (roads, railways, urbanization)
•Mining and industrial activities
•Hydroelectric projects and dam construction
Ecological Impacts:
•Loss of biodiversity and disruption of ecological networks
•Alteration of carbon and hydrological cycles, contributing to climate
change
•Soil erosion, desertification, and reduced land productivity
•Increased human-wildlife conflict due to habitat encroachment
Case Studies
a) Silent Valley, Kerala (India):
•A biodiversity-rich tropical rainforest targeted for a hydroelectric project
in the 1970s.Strong protests by ecologists and civil society highlighted
threats to endemic species and ecosystem services

. Project cancelled in 1983; Silent Valley declared a National Park.

Significance: Early example of environmental activism influencing policy
in India.
b.) Narmada Valley Project:
Involves multiple dams (notably the Sardar Sarovar Dam) on the Narmada
River.
Led to submergence of thousands of hectares of forest land and
displacement of over 200,000 tribal and rural inhabitants.
Sparked the Narmada Bachao Andolan, a socio-environmental
movement advocating for sustainable development and just
rehabilitation.
Timber Extraction

Definition and Purpose:

Timber extraction involves the removal of trees for commercial use in construction, paper production, and
furniture making. While a legitimate economic activity, it often lacks sustainable practices in many developing
regions.

Ecological Impacts:

Canopy loss alters microclimates, affecting flora and fauna

Logging roads fragment habitats and facilitate invasive species
Unsustainable extraction leads to secondary forest degradation
Increased sedimentation in rivers due to soil destabilization

Socio-Cultural Impacts:

Disrupts the traditional livelihood of forest-dependent tribal communities

Leads to cultural erosion and displacement without compensation
Generates conflict between commercial interests and indigenous rights
Mining and Forests
🔹 Overview:
Open-pit and underground mining require extensive land clearance, often in biodiverse forest
regions rich in mineral deposits.
🔹 Environmental Effects:
•Complete destruction of vegetation, topsoil, and landscape
•Acid mine drainage leading to water and soil contamination
•Loss of ecosystem services such as water purification and carbon storage
🔹 Impact on Tribal People:

Involuntary displacement and loss of ancestral lands

Health issues from pollution and altered landscapes
Social marginalization and erosion of traditional governance systems
Inadequate or exploitative rehabilitation programs
Dams: Benefits and Problems
🔹 Benefits:
•Water storage for irrigation and drinking
•Generation of hydroelectric power
•Flood control and navigation enhancement
🔹 Environmental and Social Costs:
•Submergence of forests, agricultural land, and biodiversity hotspots
•Altered riverine ecosystems and disrupted fish migration
•Evaporation and salinization of stored water bodies
🔹 Impacts on Tribal Communities:
Large dams (e.g., Tehri, Sardar Sarovar) have displaced millions, often without proper
rehabilitation

Loss of access to traditional resources (fodder, food, fuelwood)

Cultural disintegration and economic destitution
Emergence of environmental justice movements demanding rights and recognition (e.g., NBA, Save Tehri
Movement)
Water resources:
Use and over utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dam’s benefits
and problems

Water Resources: Use and Over-utilization

Introduction
Water is one of the most essential and dynamic natural resources that sustains life, ecosystems, and
economies. It exists in various forms—surface water, groundwater, glaciers, and atmospheric moisture—but
only about 2.5% of Earth’s water is fresh-water, and an even smaller fraction is readily accessible. With rising
population, industrial growth, and climate change, the use and misuse of water resources have become critical
environmental concerns.
Uses of Water Resources
Agricultural Use
Agriculture accounts for nearly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, especially for irrigation in arid and semi-
arid regions. Intensive farming, monoculture cropping, and inefficient irrigation practices (like flood irrigation)
contribute to significant water wastage.
Industrial Use
Water is indispensable in manufacturing, cooling, chemical processing, and energy production. Thermal power
plants and heavy industries are particularly water-intensive and can cause thermal and chemical pollution.
Domestic and Municipal Use
Urban centers consume vast amounts of water for drinking, cooking, sanitation, and recreation. Rising
urbanization increases stress on both surface and groundwater sources.
Ecological and Recreational Use
Water bodies support aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, and wetland functions. They also serve recreational
purposes such as boating, fishing, and ecotourism.
Over-Utilization of Water Resources
Over-utilization of water resources refers to the unsustainable extraction and use of freshwater—
both surface and groundwater—at rates that exceed natural recharge and renewal capacities. This
leads to long-term environmental, social, and economic impacts.
1. Rising Demand
2. Global freshwater demand has been growing by nearly 1% annually since the 1980s.
Driven by population growth, industrialization, urbanization, and increasing food production
needs.
3. Sectoral Usage
Agriculture: ~70% of global freshwater withdrawals (up to 90% in low-income countries).
Industry: ~20% (especially for cooling in thermal plants and manufacturing).
Domestic: ~10%, but rising rapidly with urban population growth.
4. Groundwater Depletion
India alone accounts for 26% of the world’s groundwater extraction.
Major aquifers in India, China, the U.S., and the Middle East are severely stressed.
Over 1.7 billion people live in areas where groundwater is being withdrawn faster than it can be
replenished.
5. Urban Stress
Urban areas face acute water stress, especially megacities like Cape Town, Mexico City, Delhi,
and Beijing, where water demand is outpacing supply.
Consequences of Over-Utilization

1. Depletion of Water Tables

•Groundwater levels are declining at alarming rates in many parts of the world.
•Leads to drying wells, increased pumping costs, and land subsidence.
2. Water Quality Degradation
•Excessive extraction concentrates contaminants.
•Increased presence of arsenic, fluoride, and nitrate in groundwater.
3. Ecosystem Disruption
•Overdrawing rivers and lakes causes loss of wetlands, reduced biodiversity, and disruption of
aquatic life cycles.
4. Water Conflicts
•Intensifying disputes over water at local, regional, and international levels (e.g., Nile Basin,
Cauvery River).
•Rising geopolitical tensions over transboundary water sharing.
5. Agricultural and Food Insecurity
Over-reliance on irrigation from stressed sources can cause crop failures.
Long-term overuse leads to soil salinization and declining agricultural productivity.
Emerging Challenges
Climate Change
•Changes in precipitation patterns, increased evapotranspiration, and frequent droughts
exacerbate water stress.
🤖 Technological Demands
•AI and data centers consume massive water volumes for cooling.
 Training GPT-3 used an estimated 700,000 liters of water.
🚰 Virtual Water Trade
•Countries "import" and "export" water through food and industrial goods, complicating
national water footprints.
Solutions & Sustainable Practices
1.Efficient Irrigation: Drip and sprinkler systems.
2.Crop Diversification: Shifting from water-intensive crops (e.g., paddy, sugarcane) to
less demanding ones.
3.Rainwater Harvesting: Especially critical in urban and semi-arid regions.
4.Aquifer Recharge Projects: Use of check dams, percolation tanks.
5.Wastewater Recycling: Treated greywater for irrigation and industrial use.
6.Smart Water Governance: Policies promoting conservation pricing, community-led
water management, and stricter regulation of extraction.
Mineral resources:
Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources, case studies.
Introduction

Mineral resources are naturally occurring inorganic substances found in

the Earth's crust, essential for industrial development, infrastructure,
energy production, and technological advancement.
They include metallic minerals (e.g., iron, copper, bauxite), non-metallic
minerals (e.g., limestone, gypsum), and energy minerals (e.g., coal,
uranium).
Methods of Exploitation
Surface Mining – e.g., open-pit mining, strip mining
Underground Mining – e.g., shaft mining, drift mining
Placer Mining – extracting minerals from river sediments
Exploitation of Mineral Resources
Uses of Mineral Resources
•Infrastructure Development: Iron, limestone, and aluminum
are used in buildings, roads, and bridges.
•Energy Production: Coal, uranium, and oil shale power
thermal and nuclear plants.
•Manufacturing and Technology: Rare earth elements,
copper, and zinc are essential for electronics, batteries, and
industrial machinery.
•Agriculture: Phosphate and potash are key for fertilizer
production.
Exploitation of Mineral Resources

Exploitation involves exploration, extraction (mining), processing, and

transport. Driven by industrialization and consumerism, mineral
extraction has increased dramatically.
Exploitation of mineral resources involves the exploration, extraction, and
processing of minerals found in the Earth’s crust.
Types of Mineral Resources
•Metallic Minerals – e.g., iron ore, bauxite, copper, gold
•Non-metallic Minerals – e.g., limestone, gypsum, mica
•Energy Minerals – e.g., coal, petroleum, natural gas
Methods of Exploitation
•Surface Mining – e.g., open-pit mining, strip mining
•Underground Mining – e.g., shaft mining, drift mining
•Placer Mining – extracting minerals from river sediments