Natural Resources Done By: Sun Yudong (1O2 27) Teo Jun Wei (1O2 30) 自然资源

What are Natural Resources?  They occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form.  Often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems.  They are derived from the environment.  Many of them are essential for our survival while others are used for satisfying our wants.  May be further classified in different ways.

 Classification of natural resources  Biotic  Biotic resources are obtained from the biosphere,  such as forests and their products, animals, birds and their products, fish and other marine organisms.  Mineral fuels such as coal and petroleum are also included in this category because  they are formed from decayed organic matter.

 Classification of natural resources  Abiotic  Abiotic resources include non-living things.  Examples include land, water, air and minerals including ores such as  Gold  Iron  Copper  Silver etc.

 Classification of natural resources  Natural resources are formed into two groups considering their state of development. These two are:  Potential Resources  Actual Resources

 Potential Resources  Are those that exist in a region and may be used in the future.  For example, petroleum may exist in many parts of India, having sedimentary rocks but until the time it is actually drilled out and put into use, it remains a potential resource.  Meaning resources that still have not been tapped yet

 Actual Resources  Are those that have been surveyed, their quantity and quality determined and are being used in present times.  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.

 Classification of natural resources  Natural resources can also be classified through renewability:  Renewable resources are ones that can be replenished or reproduced easily.  Non-renewable resources are formed over very long geological periods.

 Renewable Resources  They are ones that can be replenished or reproduced easily.  Some of them, like sunlight, air, wind, etc., are continuously available  and their quantity is not affected by human consumption.

 Renewable Resources  However, many can be depleted by human use  However, they may also be replenished, thus maintaining a flow  Some of these, like agricultural crops, take a short time for renewal  others, like water, take a comparatively longer time  while still others, like forests, take even longer

 Non-renewable Resources  are formed over very long geological periods.  Including minerals and fossil fuels  rate of formation is extremely slow  Thus, they cannot be replenished fast enough once they get depleted.  Of these, the metallic minerals can be re-used by recycling them.  But coal and petroleum cannot be recycled.

 Classification of Natural resources  Natural resources can also be classified based on their availability  Inexhaustible natural resources  Exhaustible natural resources

 Inexhaustible natural resources  Those resources which are present in unlimited quantity in nature  They are not likely to be exhausted easily by human activity  inexhaustible natural resources include:  Sunlight  Air  etc.

 Exhaustible natural resources  The amount of these resources are limited.  They can be exhausted by human activity in the long run  Thus, not really sustainable.  Exhaustible Natural resources include:  Coal  Petroleum  natural gas  etc.

Example of natural resources Air, wind and atmosphere Animals Coal, fossil fuels, rock and mineral resources Forestry Range and pasture Soils Water, oceans, lakes, groundwater and rivers Solar

Why are natural resources important to us?  These provide us with the basic needs of life.  For example, the indigenous tribes of rainforests live off these natural resources for survival.  Without these, they would not survive.  Many things in our life involve the usage of natural resources.  We take and take from mother Earth to make our lives easier, more comfortable.  These resources, however, are essential to our survival.

Why are natural resources important to us?  We know that, many know that, but they are ignorant, and continue to take these exhaustible and really precious resources from mother nature.  These has taken a toll and fossil fuels are running out, these fuels are definitely vital to the survival of mankind.  It is a indispensable source of energy. however, these fossil fuels take millions of years to form.  More importantly, these resources not only provide mankind with energy, it also provides the whole population of earthlings.  Natural resources made for the life we have now, without it, no life can survive.

Why are natural resources important to us? Ignorance of people Fossil fuels are running out Which are indispensable People’s life would never be the same Soon, the natural resources would be depleted

 Depletion of natural resources  The depletion of natural resources and attempts to move to sustainable development has been a major focus of development agencies due to these natural resources depleting very quickly  Is a particular concern in rainforest regions, which hold most of the Earth's natural biodiversity and are irreplaceable

 Why are natural resources depleting so quickly?  The high demand for wood, petroleum, etc  Removal for agriculture (pasture and crops)  Urban development

 What would happen to us if all the natural resources were used up?  The life most human beings are leading is very energy consuming.  With these natural resources fast depleting, our survival is at stake.  Imagine our world without anything.  We would live in a world of darkness as there is no electricity and the people would have to live in the darkness.  Without natural resources, we would definitely not survive and that may lead to the extinction of mankind.

 What would happen to us if all the natural resources were used up?  The life most human beings are leading is very energy consuming.  With these natural resources fast depleting, our survival is at stake.  Imagine our world without anything.  We would live in a world of darkness as there is no electricity and the people would have to live in the darkness.  Without natural resources, we would definitely not survive and that may lead to the extinction of mankind.

 Depletion of natural resources Below is an example of the depletion of natural resources( Oil ):

 Videos Here are two of the videos at the next two slides about natural resources for you to watch. Please enjoy!!!!!

Video: Natural Resources Restoration Act of Press Announcement

 This act is something mankind did to protect earth  To help conserve the remaining natural resources  So that the earth’s natural resources would not deplete too fast  By trying to restore the natural resources, the natural resources would not deplete as fast.

Video: The Possibility of Wars Over Natural Resources