Natural Resources WHAT Define and Classify Natural Resources Notebooks Out

Looking at it from the point of what benefits the human race, anything that can be exploited to benefit the human race can be called a "resource". So, if someone kills an animal like a goat or a bird, such as chicken for food, then its a resource for him/her.

Origin Natural resources occur "naturally". However, their origin can lead to different forms. Some of them are living while some are considered non-living. Biotic Natural Resources : All living natural resources like birds, plants, animals and some minerals which are formed by decay of living matter (like petrol and coal). Abiotic Natural Resources: All non-living resources like an ocean full of water, wind energy, sun, and metals like iron, aluminum, and gold. SUM IT UP!

Resources can be categorized as renewable or non-renewable. Renewables are those which can be replenished easily without any extra efforts. For example, sunlight is available everyday during daytime, so if you miss charging your solar lantern today, then you can easily get it tomorrow. The same goes with ocean currents, and wind energy.

Renewable resources like sunlight, air, wind, etc., are continuously available and their quantity is not affected by human consumption. Many renewable resources can be depleted by human use, but may also be replenished, thus maintaining a flow.

Flow is broken down into three areas: Short Term agricultural crops, take a short time for renewal Medium Term Water takes longer to cycle or go through a treatment facility Long Term forests, take even longer.

Renewability Renewable Natural Resources: can be replenished or reproduced in a speedy, fast and easy manner - like sunlight comes everyday. Non - Renewable Natural Resources: Resources which are not easy to refurbish and take a long of time to replenish. The examples include formation of gold, coal, petrol, etc. which take ages to be created. SUM IT UP!

A resource can be called a resource only if it is ready to use. So, you may find Bauxite ore, but unless you have the technology to extract Aluminum metal from the Bauxite ore, you can’t really use it. So it can be said that Bauxite is the "Potential" Natural Resource.

However, once we have aluminum metal extracted from bauxite ore it becomes usable. Therefore, aluminum can be called a “Developed or Actual natural resource.”

Developmental Stage Potential Natural Resources: Natural Resources which require further development like the Bauxite example cited above or extracting petrol from the crude oil Actual or Developed Natural Resources: Natural Resources which are ready to use SUM IT UP!

Economic Factors The development of an actual resource, such as wood processing, depends upon the technology available and the cost involved. That part of the actual resource that can be developed profitably with available technology is called a reserve. A nation’s natural resources often determine its wealth and status in the world economic system.

Social Factors In recent years, the depletion of natural resources and attempts to move to sustainable development have been a major focus in the conservation of the Earth’s biodiversity. Some view this depletion as a major source of social unrest and conflicts in developing nations.

Sum It Up! The 3 Lenses we will “look” through when considering natural resource and conservation issues:

WHAT Define and Classify Natural Resources SO WHAT What do you expect to gain from this natural resources course? Now What? How does it affect your thinking or where you are going? Essential Question Forms Out