Renewable, flow, and non- renewable Resources Renewable, flow, and non- renewable

Natural resources Natural resources are things found in nature that people find useful or valuable Our natural resource use changes over time because: we have greater access to food, building supplies, and fuel Countries have expanded the idea of what “need” is Technology has allowed us to improve the way we extract resources Three approaches to addressing natural resource use: Conservation Preservation Frontier

Habitats Many species become extinct because we are destroying habitats in order to extract resources We have focused more on economic benefit (making money$$$) than on environmental impact

Renewable resources A renewable resource is a resource that can regrow or reproduce as long as it is not overused We use renewable resources to meet our wants and needs for food, medicine, shelter, and material things such as clothes and furniture.

soil Soil is an extremely important renewable resource. Without soil, we would not be able to farm, have livestock, or grow trees. All life on this earth would be affected. Soil degradation is loss of soil quality or ability to grow plants. It happens because farmers overuse it and do not give it time to restore nutrients between planting and harvesting seasons.

fish Fish populations reproduce themselves and are considered a renewable resource. Fish are a valuable source of food for more than 1 billion people Fish are also used as a source of food for pets and livestock The demand for fish is increasing around the world as people in many developed countries have begun to replace red meats with fish in their diets. Fish Stock: a group of fish of the same species that live in the same area MSC: Marine Stewardship Council

forests Forests are considered a renewable resource because they can regrow a fully grown tree can be chopped down, used for firewood, processed for lumber, or manufactured into material goods. Forests are important to local ecosystems Trees store water that can be released into the atmosphere, keeping moisture in the air, which is an important part of the water cycle. The roots of trees hold the soil together, stopping erosion, so more trees and other plant life can grow. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas Trees provide oxygen, which all life needs to breathe

Soil health Soil health is affected by deforestation because the roots of trees can protect soil from wind and water erosion

Types of flow resources: Flow resource a resource that must be used up when and where it is found or it is lost Types of flow resources: Water Sunlight Air Flow resources also supply us with energy when they are “on the move.” For example, we use the energy created by water when it flows as rivers, ocean currents, and tides.

A basic need for all living things water A basic need for all living things The term water footprint describes the amount of fresh water used by individuals, communities, or businesses. It is useful to compare the water footprints of different countries.

air Air is a basic need. Every living thing needs it to survive. Air pollution is dangerous because all living things breathe it. “Animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide (CO2). Plants use nitrogen and CO2 to produce their own food. Even microscopic bacteria use gases found in the atmosphere to survive”

the atmosphere The gases in the atmosphere help to protect Earth. Without the atmosphere, it would get so cold at night that we would freeze. The heat and light from the Sun would be so intense it would burn us. Also, ultraviolet rays from the Sun can harm trees, plants, and animals. Troposphere: the layer of the atmosphere closest to the earth Weather takes place in this layer and so does most life on earth Stratosphere: the second layer of the atmosphere which has a layer of ozone gas Ozone layer: a region of ozone gases high in the atmosphere that protects us from ultraviolet light

sun We need the sun. The Sun provides us with heat and energy. Without the Sun, nothing could live on Earth. It supplies light and heat, both of which can be transformed into energy. Plants use the Sun’s energy to make their food Plants also produce oxygen Most animals need oxygen, so they depend on plants Solar power has little impact on the environment but needs lots of sunlight and space so it is not always a feasible (realistic/doable) option

Non Renewable Non-renewable resources are natural resources that take millions of years to form. Non Renewable resources cannot be replaced once they are used up and the world’s growing population is heavily dependent on them Two Types:: Fossil fuels Fossil fuels were formed from ancient plant and animal life. Oil, natural gas, and coal are fossil fuels. Extracting these resources can be difficult Minerals Minerals are natural solid substances not formed from plant or animal life. They are found in the rocks that make up Earth.

Fossil fuels Fossil fuels are used to produce most of the world’s energy. Oil and natural gas are refined into other substances. These substances are used to manufacture products, such as plastics, paints, rubber, and cosmetics. Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in the world

minerals Two types: Metallic Non-metallic Where is it found? usually found in rocks that were molten (made liquid by intense natural heat, such as in volcanoes) and have cooled Examples: aluminum, copper, gold, iron, nickel, zinc Non-metallic usually found in sedimentary rocks (rocks formed from sediment, which is matter carried by water or wind and deposited on the surface of the land Examples: asbestos, gravel, potash, salt

Protecting the environment There is no way to completely avoid environmental damage when extracting fossil fuels or minerals Greener technologies can reduce impact by: reducing energy consumption reducing harmful chemicals used in processing reducing water pollution by reusing water reducing air pollution

Terms to know FSC- what does it stand for and what is it’s purpose? Sustainability: Ecotourism HDI Hydroelectric dam Closed loop system (page 244) Mineral value management (244)