More Related Content Similar to Unit 2 natural resources lecture 1 (20) Unit 2 natural resources lecture 12. CONTENTS
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3. A resource is anything we get from the environment to meet our
needs and desires, which has a dependability through time.
Or
Any material which is required or used to sustain life or livelihood
is termed as a resource.
Or
Resources are all those requirements of organisms, population
and communities which tend help in accumulation of energy by
increased availability.
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4. Air for breathing
Water for drinking
Land for living and growing food
Forests for timber and paper
Ores for metals
Oil, coal and natural gas for producing energy
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5. Form of energy and/or matter which is essential for the
functioning of organisms, populations and ecosystems.
(Ramade, 1984)
In the case of humans, a natural resource refers to any form of
energy or matter essential for the fulfillment of physiological,
socio-economic and cultural needs both at the individual level
and that of the community
The 5 basic ecological variables – energy, matter, space, time
and diversity are sometimes combinedly called natural
resources. These natural resources are maintaining ecological
balance among themselves.
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6. The 5 basic ecological variables – energy, matter, space, time
and diversity are sometimes combinedly called natural
resources. These natural resources are maintaining ecological
balance among themselves.
Any stock or reserves that can be drawn from nature is a
natural resources.
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7. Forest resources
Water resources
Mineral resources
Food resources
Energy resources
Land resources
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8. Classification 1
Biotic Resources
These are living resources e.g. plants, wildlife etc.
Abiotic Resources
These are non-living resources e.g. land, minerals etc.
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9. Classification 2
Inexhaustible Resources
These resources are not changed or exhausted by mans
activities and are abundantly available for ever e.g. solar
energy, wind energy, power from tides etc.
Exhaustible Resources
These resources are limited in nature and are non-maintainable
e.g. coal, petrol etc.
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10. Classification 3 : According to Odum
Renewable Resources
Those resources that can be replenished through rapid natural
cycles. Examples :1)Oxygen in air which is replenished through
photosynthesis, 2)Freshwater that is replenished through water
cycle
Non- Renewable Resources
Those resources that cannot be replenished through natural
processes. These are available in limited amounts and cannot
be increased. Examples: Fossil fuels, salts, metals etc.
continued…
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11. Classification 3 : According to Odum cont…
Non renewable resources are divided into 2 categories
Recyclable Resources
These are non renewable resources which can be collected after
they are used and can be recycled. Eg. Non energy mineral
resources which occur in earth’s crust and deposits of fertilizer
nutrients.
Non- Recyclable Resources
These are non-renewable resources which cannot be recycled in
anyway. Eg. Fossil fuels and uranium which provide 90% of our
energy requirements.
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14. There are four basic reasons of the depletion of natural
resources.
1.Rapid population increase
2.Pollution
3.High consumption of resources
4.Deterioration of land
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15. There has been a tremendous increase in India ‘s
population and it will be about 130 billion by the next
decade.
An increase in population will decrease all types of
natural resources and consequently result in
environmental pollution.
Ultimately, there will be short supply or detoriating quality
of natural resources.
This is because increase in population will increase the
demand of natural resources and environment.
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16. At present, the world population is 3600 million and is
increasing by two percent every year.
The industrialized countries have annual growth rate of 0.5
to 1%. The developing countries have annual growth rate
of 2 to 3%.
The per capita use of energy and mineral resources shows
a difference between the developed countries of the world.
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17. The developed countries consume less but their
resources are enough.
The population and per capita consumption have a
considerable impact on the environment.
The world can not meet the continuous increased demand
for natural resources.
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18. We are deteriorating our environment due to increasing
population. We are polluting lakes, streams, rivers by
sewage, industrial wastes, heat radioactive materials,
detergents, fertilizers and pesticides.
Besides these , we are releasing a number of toxic
materials into our surroundings.
The uncontrolled use of pesticides has disturbed the
entire food chains by which animals including man is
affected.
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19. Recent researches have revealed that the proportion of
pesticides in our body has deleterious effects on heart and
liver and higher concentration may cause several other
diseases including cancer.
Many gases e.g. carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and
nitrous oxide are known to cause respiratory troubles. The
unplanned and uncontrolled industrial growth may
adversely affect or destroy the health of the society.
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20. Due to tremendous increase of population, most of the
natural resources are being consumed.
The high rate of consumption has disturbed our
ecosystem. But on the other hand, many of the natural
resources are essential to man for the basic needs.
Many industries require raw materials which are essential
for the advancement of the country.
However there is no doubt that high consumption will
affect adversely the quality of our environment either by
unwise use of natural resources or by increasing pollution.
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21. Due to excessive consumption of minerals of the soil by
cropping or soil erosion or other natural events, fertility of
the soil is lost and land deteriorates gradually.
Sometimes draught also results in deterioration of land
and many nutrients of the top soil are destroyed and their
fertility is lost. As a result of cropping; mineral cycling of
soil nutrients is greatly reduced.
Erosion has also depleted soil fertility because most of the
mineral remain in the upper part of the soil and they are
easily removed by wind or washed away by water.
For the proper economic development land for cropping,
forest, recreation, urban land, transportation and wild life
are needed but they are reduced day by day.
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23. The protection of various resources from unwanted destruction is called
conservation.
Or
Conservation is an intelligent and judicious management of resources,
optimum utilization without depleting the basic stock.
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24. Now it is known that the world resources of minerals , oils and
natural gas are limited. Mineral resources are of following
types:
Metallic minerals
Under this category are mainly iron, non-ferrous metals, silver
and gold are important.
Non-metallic minerals
These are called non-metallic or industrial minerals include a
wide variety of substances which comprise the building
materials such as rock and gravels, cement and clay.
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25. There are three important conservation approaches which should
be taken in to consideration:
To reduce wastes and to minimize the demand
By changing the way of life, and
To increase and reclamation and recycling of materials.
Use of substitutes should be encouraged.
Shifting from scarce to abundant metals.
Solid wastes should be reutilized for their energy content and it is
possible to recycle the materials and the reserve is to be met
by reclamation.
Increasing the amount of reclamation, the total demand can be
met with a decrease in the consumption of new materials.
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26. Forests are important natural resources. It is most important
natural habitat for wild life.
It is also utilized by farmers for commercial and recreational
purpose
Forests plays very important role in keeping the atmospheric
balance by consuming CO2 and releasing O2; the latter is
essential for life.
So, the removal of plants and trees would disturb the composition
of natural air.
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27. If a forest is cut down, energy stored in the wood is lost and most
of the nutrients of the system are lost.
Such deforestation leaves a poor soil ,which can support
agriculture only for short time, because the harvesting of the
first few crops removes the other remaining nutrients and
renders its uses.
Deforestation causes other disastrous results also. Removal of
trees exposes the surface of the land resulting into erosion.
Soil is then washed away. Soil erosion is particularly more on hill
sides where heavy rain sweeps soil downhill to choke rivers.
Social forestry can play a very important role to check flood and
draught , which affect 34-68 million hectares of land
respectively.
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28. Wild life provides recreational and economic benefits to man.
Recreational and economic benefits are closely related to each
other. For e.g. Fishing and hunting provide entrainment and
economic benefit to man.
Wild life includes 350 species of mammals, 1200 species of birds
and more than 20,000 species of insects.
The causes of decline of wildlife in India are many, wild elephants
were captured and trained for use in war; rhinos were killed for
making shield.
Forests were cleared for the development of agriculture, industry
and other developmental projects. Wild animals were
mercilessly were killed, which resulted in decline of their
number and they are facing extinction now.
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29. Many species of wild life have become extinct or in the way of
extinction. Until now around 106 species of animals and 139
species of birds have become extinct due to the climate and
geographical changes and by the hunting of man and about
600 species of birds are going to be extinct if they are not
protected.
Well planned projects for the conservation of forests and wild life
are executed with the aid from several world organizations.
Due to the help from these organization a lot of species mainly
lion, tiger and rhino have been saved.
In 1973, a project for saving tiger was started which yielded very
satisfactory results.
Under the wildlife protection act hunting of wild animals is banned
such as elephants, lion, leopard and crocodile .
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30. Conservation of wildlife
Protection of natural habitat of wildlife
Favourable conditions for multiplication of wildlife
All threatened species should be protected eg. Tiger project
International trade in wildlife to be regulated
Ban on hunting/illegal hunting
Public interest and awareness in conservation of wildlife should
be promoted.
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31. Water is most important for the life of living organisms such as
plants, animals and man.
It is also essential for agriculture, industries drinking and many
other purposes.
It has been estimated that the annual production of water through
rain is about 370000 cubic kilometer and total water which is
used annually is about 10,000 cubic kilometer.
Still there is shortage of water and there are two man reason of
its shortage .
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32. Firstly, there is no proper utilization and distribution of water and
secondly water quality is deteriorating.
To day there is great problem about water pollution. Many of the
wastes of human society are disposed of in the river, lake and
ocean and water becomes polluted and not fit for drinking and
other purposes. Common effects on water bodies are:
• Addition of poisonous substances
• Addition of suspended particles
• Reduction of oxygen
• Heating of water
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33. Recommendations for water conservation
Cropping patterns need a major change
Balanced geographical distribution of pumps and pumping rate
should be fixed
Irrigation canals should be brick lined
Irrigation methods like sprinkling and drip irrigation can save water
Industries should be encouraged to reuse their own water after
treatment
New techniques should be evolved to reduce domestic demand
Check on over irrigation
Check on excessive use of fertilizers/pesticides so that
underground water is not polluted
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34. The top layer of the earth is called soil, which is very fertile
because it contains minerals and humus.
Soil is natural habitat for plants and animals.
It provides water and nutrients to the living organisms.
Soil is damaged through tree cutting running water and wind. It
has been estimated that from 1959 to 1969 there was a loss of
16.9 lacs of hectare of land.
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35. Trees check the force of strong winds which causes the fertile
soil to move from its original place. Thus trees act as wind
breakers.
Roots of the soil bind the soil firmly. This prevents the soil erosion
from rain and floods and fertile soil is checked from damage
Plants and animals when die are decomposed by bacteria and
fungi, which increase the fertility of soil.
Soil fertility can be restored by supplementing manures and
fertilizers
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36. Soil conservation ( used by W.J. Spilllman of USA in 1930)
Agronomic methods:
Contour farming/contour furrowing/strip cropping/mulching/crop
rotation/green manuring/cover crops.
Forestry methods:
Afforestation/pasture development/ pasture
improvement/controlled grazing/planting of shelter belts
Mechanical/engineering methods:
Contour bunding/contour terracing/diversion of channels/flood
control measures
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37. The ocean covers nearly three fourth of earth’s surface. Ocean has
sufficed many needs of man from the time immemorial.
The rapid growth of human population and the advancement of
industrialization have exerted great pressure on ocean resources and
ocean environment.
According to a study about 35 km3 of sewage and 3.5 km3 of industrial
wastes is released annually into the coastal waters of India. In
addition, the offshore oil installations have added another stress on
the ocean environment.
The task of harnessing the potential of ocean resources for the
development purposes is of great importance. We should harness
necessary resources of ocean when our land resources are in short
supply.
Much awareness needs to be generated by national and international
agencies including United nations on conservation of ocean’s wealth.
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