Unit 2 natural resources lecture 1

| Jul 2012| © 2012 UPES

Natural Resources AndIts Conservation

Arti JainAssistant ProfessorHSFE

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CONTENTS

Introduction and Definition

Classification

Reasons for depletion of natural resources

Natural resources and its conservation

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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.

RESOURCES

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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

RESOURCES - Examples

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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.

NATURAL RESOURCES

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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.

NATURAL RESOURCES cont…

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Forest resources

Water resources

Mineral resources

Food resources

Energy resources

Land resources

NATURAL RESOURCES cont…

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CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

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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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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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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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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Classification 4

Classification of resources based on quality, mutability and reusability.

Refer black board/notes

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REASONS FOR DEPLETION OF NATURAL

RESOURCES

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REASONS FOR DEPLETION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

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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1. Rapid population increase

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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1. Rapid population increase cont…

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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1. Rapid population increase cont…

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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2. Pollution

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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2. Pollution cont…

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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3. Consumption of Materials

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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4. Deterioration of Land

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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NATURAL RESOURCES

and

THEIR CONSERVATION

It is clear if the man wants to continue to survive on this planet , he must

conserve the natural resources rather than exploit them. We should use the

resources wisely and judiciously without wasting them

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CONSERVATION

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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MINERAL RESOURCES

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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MINERAL RESOURCES cont…

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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FOREST RESOURCES

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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FOREST RESOURCES cont…

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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WILDLIFE RESOURCES

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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WILDLIFE RESOURCES cont…

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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WILDLIFE RESOURCES cont…

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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WATER RESOURCES

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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WATER RESOURCES cont…

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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WATER RESOURCES cont…

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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SOIL RESOURCES

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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SOIL RESOURCES cont…

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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SOIL RESOURCES cont…

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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MARINE RESOURCES 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.

Unit 2 natural resources lecture 1

Technology

Transcript of Unit 2 natural resources lecture 1