Natural resources are resources that exist without human acts. It includes all essential characteristics such as magnetic, gravitational, electrical and force properties, etc. People can use everything that is a natural resource. The natural resource is those that come from the natural environment. Natural resources, for example, include air, water, wood, oil, wind energy, natural gas, iron, and coal. These are the best gifts of nature and offer sustainable growth and development. Humans must save lives and natural resources.
The goal of conserving these natural resources include protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem, and protecting biological diversity. A range of values underlying conservation can be guided by biocentrism, anthropocentrism, egocentrism, and sentimentalism.
There are several ways specific natural resources can be categorized. They can be biotic or abiotic (which are derived from organic or inorganic material). Another way to identify wealth is by how much content is available for human use.
Table of Contents
Renewable Resources:
The resources which are unlimited in amount and can be used again and again are known as Renewable Resources.
Example: wind, water, forest, etc.
Non-Renewable:
The resources which, due to their non-renewable nature, are restricted to use in limited amount and whose supply can also run out in the future are called non-renewable resources.
Example: fossil fuels, minerals, etc.
Why is natural-resource conservation important?
When the world population rises at an unprecedented pace, the consumption of natural resources also increases. Such resources should also be conserved to preserve ecological equilibrium and to save it for future generations. Conservation is the careful management of a resource to avoid its degradation or misuse.
Nature gives us all the essential to our everyday needs. We started to over-exploit our resources owing to overpopulation and human negligence. If that continues, there will be no resources left for our generation to come. Therefore, we should try our best to conserve them. The scarcity of these resources can result in the following
- Water is a naturally sustainable resource. We use it for drinking, for electricity production, for irrigation, in various industries and for a variety of activities. The scarcity will cause vegetation loss, adverse effects on fauna and flora, erosion.
- Plants and animals provide a vast array of industrial and biological products. It also assists in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical items and for many other uses.
- It takes millions of years for natural resource creation.
- Coal, oil, and natural gas, all fossil fuels produce a great deal of energy.
- Forest is an essential natural resource that assists in economic growth. Forest supplies paper, furniture, wood, medicine, tobacco, and more. It keeps an ecosystem balance, too. It also prevents soil erosion, and it preserves wildlife.
- Land services help natural plants, biodiversity, transportation. The land also provides us food, clothes, shelter, and other necessities.
Ways to protect natural resources
Land:
Land is one of the best and most important natural resources. It gives groundwater and various vegetables as food.
Reforestation:
Planting trees leads to reducing soil erosion.
Terracing:
Terrace farming helps to regulate the swift flow of water that, with its current, takes away soil. The people living in hilly areas use this method.
Soil fertility:
Soil fertility maintenance is achieved by adding manure or fertilizers or even by rotating crops.
Water:
Water is life, and we cannot live without eater. But there is very little drinking water, and scarcity of drinking water is a significant issue that is being faced by humans. Therefore we should save water and stop wasting it.
Rainwater Harvesting:
Storing rainwater is an operation.
Industrial Waste Treatment:
The chemical wastes should not be released directly into the water. It should be processed first.
Dams and Reservoirs:
Dams help to store and supply water when needed. Sometimes, they help to generate electricity.
Rising flora:
It helps prevent water from flowing and allows it to sink into the soil growing groundwater levels.
Energy sources:
It includes coal, natural gas, biomass, etc. These are exploited in one form or another each day. Natural gas is widely used for heating, and fuel is the primary energy source. They use petroleum products to power cars. They are consumed at a massive pace each day. Therefore there is an immediate need to conserve energy resources because they are non-renewable.
The following measures will aid in its conservation of biomass. They are promoting green technologies such as solar panels and other clean energy sources.
Biodiversity
In-situ:
In-situ protection is the term used to preserve plants and animals within their natural environments. For example- National Parks, Sanctuaries of Wildlife, etc.
Ex-situ:
Ex-situ protection is the term used to protect plants and animals outside their natural environment. They are Seed Balinks, Pollen Banks, Botanical Gardens, Zoo, Gene Banks, and so on.
These are some of the steps that we should take for natural resource management. We, as human beings, have a moral obligation towards nature to fulfill. Thus, we will follow the principle of sustainable development while using resources.
Conclusion
Natural resources are the backbone of life on earth. It is hard to imagine life without them. But they are getting polluted and depleted by time. So it’s our prime duty to save them and save lives.
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