Post on 15-Nov-2014
description
Role of individual in saving natural
resources
P.YESWANTH ECE-A
Natural resources
The resources that are derived from the environment are called as natural resources.
Some of them are most essential for our living while most of them are used for satisfying our needs.
They are used to promote the man kind.Every man made item consists of natural
resources.Sun is the major natural resource which
never ends.
Types of Natural Resources
They are mainly classified into 6 types:1.Forest Resources2.Water Resources3.Mineral Resources4.Food Resources5.Land Resources6.Energy Resources
Forest Resources
Forest : land occupied with wide range of flora and fauna which supports ecosystem.
Uses : 1. They give us wood for different purposes.
2. They are used in medicines . 3. They give fuels like fossil fuels ,
coal. 4. They have commercial use like
honey , gum , lac , paper. 5. they provide 30% of oxygen.
Uses
Threats
Mainly two types of threats are present.1.Natural disasters2.Man induced threatsForest fires
* International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (The Economist, Sept 6, 1997)
High wind: 21%
Earthquake: 8%
Flood: 19%
Other naturaldisasters: 21%
Volcanoes: 1%
Drought & Famine: 6%Landslides: 3%
Man-madedisasters: 34%
Disasters*by type: 1971-96
Total: 8,219,000
Reasons for depletion of Forest resourcesOver-consumption/excessive or unnecessary use of resourcesNon-equitable distribution of resourcesOverpopulation.Slash and burn agricultural practices, currently occurring in
many developing countries.Technological and industrial development.ErosionHabitat degradation leads to the loss of Biodiversity.IrrigationMining for oil and minerals.Aquifer depletion.Forestry Forest Reserves within a particular country.Pollution or contamination of resources.
Control MeasuresControlling deforestation : Efforts to control deforestation must be taken
on a global scale. In addition to making sure that emissions
from deforestation are kept to a minimum, an effort to educate people .
Reforestation is also being encouraged in many countries in an attempt to repair the damage that deforestation has done.
Participate in your community's recycling programs. Implement a recycling program at your office too.
Buy products manufactured with recycled paper. Many companies use their reputation as recyclers to attract business from eco-conscious customers.
Reuse junk mail and scraps of paper whenever possible. Instead of pitching old envelopes, use them to keep notes or make grocery lists.
Oceans (71%)
Land(29%)
Most of theEarthiscoveredby water
“...water, water, every wherenor any drop to drink!”
Water Pollution Water pollution: 1.The main problems of pollution that need to be
addressed in the country are the following: Pollution from domestic sewage The high rates of drinking water and drainage The general lack of sewage treatment plants. The discharge of large quantities of untreated
sewage at specific points of the water resource systems or along the coastline constitute the main water pollution source in our country
Remedies for depletion of Water resources
Improvement of efficiency in water use. Identification of water resources. Technical training and education about
water . Information about water resources and flood
mitigation. Several programs are implemented such as 1.Integrated development and use of water resources .2.Drinking water supply and sanitation
Mineral ResourcesMinerals : which have definite chemical
properties and indefinite chemical properties .
There are 2 types of minerals namely 1.Metallic2.Non-metallicExamples for metallic minerals are
Iron , gold , Alluminium , Silver etc.,Examples for some non metallic minerals
are Gypsum , Lime stone , Coal etc.,
Threats to Mineral Resources1.Mining2.Disturbences to mantle layer which leads to
Earth quakes , drowning of land.3.Deforestration –leads to loss of Bio diversity.4.The acid mine drain-by usage of acids to
extraction process which leads to mix of acids in soil and Aquifer.
5.Loss of marine life due to oil spils while extracting oil.
Remedies for depletion of Mineral resourcesWe must go for bio mining where we use
microbial organisms for mining purpose.Mining waste treatment technology.EOR: This process must be implemented to
extract oil by using bacteria.
Food ResourcesFood is any substance consumed to provide
nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plants or animal origin, and contains
essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals.
It is also said as source of energy for human activities.
Based on production rate agriculture is divided into 2 types as
1.Subsistence2.IntensiveThese are traditional practices
Green revolution shifted traditional practices to modern practices.
It was first given by Norman Borlang .There were many draw backs such as salinity
, soil erosion , water logging , death of non micro organisms.
For these problems Albert Howard introduced some practices known as organic farming.
Remedies for depletion of Food ResourcesOrganic farming must be followed which is a
combination of traditional farming and modern farming.
Crop rotation method must be followed .Contour farming or terrace farming method
must be followed to overcome irrigation problems.
We have to enrich the soil fertility by using natural ways not by using pesticides.
Land ResourcesLand is an area which constitutes of biotic
and a biotic compounds.Due to soil erosion and land degradation soil
is being eroded by agents like wind , water and human activities .
Improper agricultural practices like Monoculture and also introduction of alien species through hybrid varieties also leads for the erosion of soil.
Control MeasuresTwo control measures like1.Biological control2.Mechanical control are practices .• In biological control measures 1.Mulching2.Polyculture3.Crop rotation must be followed .In mechanical control process1.counter farming2.terrace farming3.Step farming must be practiced .
Energy resourcesThe capacity to do work is known as energy.It is divided as 2 types:1.Renwable 2.Non renewable resourcesThere are many disadvantages by using these
resources1.They leads to global warming .2.They pollute air.3.Release of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases.Renewable resources are costly and space occupyingSun cannot be used in cooler areas.
Remedies to control depletion of Energy ResourcesUse diesel car to reduce your dependence on
fossil fuels.Go solar to reduce the use of non renewable
resources.Telecommute.Turn your lawn into an organic garden.Heat with wood to reduce your dependence
on non renewable resources and fossil fuels.
References Class notesWikipedia