1. Natural Resource Science and Management

2. What Are Natural Resources
Resources found naturally in nature are called natural resources.
Natural resources cannot be made by man, but they can be protected and conserved by man.
Natural resources are essential for life and to improve the quality of life.

3. Natural Resources Fossil Fuels Minerals Soil Sunlight Water Atmosphere
Wildlife

4. Fossil Fuels Fossil Fuels took millions of years to accumulate.
Remains of decomposing plants and animals.
They contain a large amount of energy, but produce pollution as a byproduct of burning.
Three types:
Petroleum – liquid form used for gasoline and oil.
Natural gas – gas used for heating, cooking, and transportation.
Coal – solid form used for heating, electricity, and other industrial uses.

5. Minerals Minerals are inorganic substance found in nature.
Minerals are most often mined from the earth.
Uses:
Building materials (concrete, drywall, etc.)
Jewelry
Coins
Tools and equipment
Many others uses

6. Soil Top layer of the earth’s crust Used for plant growth
Cycles decomposing nutrients
Poor soil conservation can lead to erosion.

7. Sunlight Provides all energy to the planet.
Plants use sunlight energy to produce food.
Humans use sunlight energy for heat and for solar energy.

8. Water Required by all living organisms
Three states: solid, liquid, gas
Water cycle:
Precipitation – rain, snow
Ground water – aquifers and underground streams
Surface water
Evaporation

9. Water Cycle

10. Wildlife Wildlife are plants and animals found in the wild.
Wildlife is used for food, recreation, and ecological resources.
Wildlife can also be domesticated.
Domesticated – controlling plants and animals for human use.

11. Atmosphere The atmosphere is the area above the earth’s surface
The air is a mixture of gases, vapor, and particulates.
Wind and air currents are the movement of air.
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere.
Humidity
Temperature
Movement of air
Pressure

12. Renewable Resources
Renewable resources can be replaced after they are used.
They can be renewed and used again, but this can take many years.
Examples of renewable resources:
Water
Lumber
soil

13. Non-renewable Resources
Non-renewable resources can not be replaced or they take to long to regenerate.
Examples:
Fossil Fuels
Minerals

14. Inexhaustible Resources
Resources that continually renew.
These resources do not run out.
Example:
Sunlight
Wind
Water
Geothermal

15. Exhaustible Resources
These resources are available in limit quantities.
These can be completely used up.
Some are replaceable such as lumber
Some can not be replaced such as fossil fuels

16. Interdependence of Natural Resources
Natural resources depend on each other and this is known as interdependence.
All living things depend on each other.
For example humans and animals depend on plants to complete the carbon cycle. We consume food and oxygen from plants and then release CO2 and water that the plants use for photosynthesis.

17. Natural Resource Management
There are two types of management strategies: Preservation and Conservation
Preservation requires the manager to keep the habitat in its current state and it is off limits for any outside interventions.

18. Natural Resource Management
Conservation is a management strategy which maintains the habitat for as many uses as possible.
Most agencies and companies use this management strategy to maintain natural resource habitats.
This strategy is also known as multiple use.

19. Natural Resource Agencies
There are both federal and state level agencies that manage our natural resources.
US environmental Protection Agency
Executive Office of the President
Federal Agencies
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
US agency for international Development
National Science Foundation
US army Corps of Engineers
State Agency
US department of Agriculture (Largest)
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
US department of Commerce
Federal agency class activity
US department of Defense
US department of Energy
US Department of the Interior

20. Natural Resource Companies
There are a number of different private companies involved with natural resources.
Law Firms- Environmental Law
Conservation Agencies – World Wildlife Fund
Rancher Organizations – United States Cattlemen's Association
Hunting Organizations – National Shooting Sport Foundation
Recreation Retailers – Bass Pro shop

21. Humans and Natural Resources
Humans use natural resources to meet their three basic needs.
Humans need food, clothing, and shelter.
There are two ways humans use natural resources to meet these needs:
Consumptive uses – The supply is reduced every time it is used. Such as logging. When a tree is cut down it reduces the total available.
Non-consumptive – Is the use of the natural resource with out reducing the supply. For example bird watching or using trails for running are forms of non-consumable natural resources.

22. Multiple Uses of Natural Resources
Multiple uses is were management maximizes the resources on public lands for all possible users.
For example this allows for both the rancher and hunter to use the same land for their needs. The rancher can use the available forage and the hunter can hunt the wildlife found on the same land. This same area can be used for wildlife watching and recreation.

23. Ranchers

24. Wildlife Viewing

25. Hunters

26. Hikers

27. Society and Natural Resources
Natural resources are directly impacted by human populations.
Population is the number of people in a set area.
Demography is the study of human populations.
Demographics is data collected from the study of populations and can be used to help manage natural resources in a given area.

28. Society and Natural Resources
Humans can not avoid having an impact on natural resources.
Society generally live in one of two types of settings:
Urban – dense population center and housing close together – Large City
Rural – low population density, housing far apart – Agricultural Land
Land use planning is were government land managers determine the best use of the land for residential, commercial, agriculture, and wildlife.

29. Natural Resource Areas of Study
Levels of education
Less than high school – did not complete high school. Can still be successful, but opportunities may be limited.
High School – These individuals have completed high school, most jobs are lower level.
Post-secondary – These individuals have completed some type of training after high school. Often these are 2 year degrees or certifications. These individuals can find jobs ranging from entry level positions too high paying technical positions.
Baccalaureate – These degrees require four years of education on average and are earned by studying at a college or university. These degrees prepare students for jobs in technical fields and management.
Graduate – These degrees require education beyond a baccalaureate degree. These individuals are trained for highly technical and specialized careers.

30. Natural Resource Areas of Study
Many natural resource positions require either years of experience or advanced degrees.
Most require at least a high school diploma.
Your choice is to either start at a low level position and use experience for promotions or to earn a degree to start at a higher level.
For examples see government GS Scale.

31. Natural Resource Careers
Most careers are federal and state jobs.
Most private jobs are with mines and law firms.
Natural resource career activity.