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NATURAL RESOURCES
Introduction
The sum of all physical, chemical, biological and social factor, which compose the
surrounding of man be referred to as environment and each element of these
surroundings constitutes a resources on which man draws in order to develop a
better life.
Thus any part of our natural environment such as land, water, air, minerals,
forest, wildlife, fish, even human population that man can utilise to promote his
welfare may be regarded as Natural Resources.
The five ecological variables i.e. energy, matter, space, time and diversity are
sometime combinely called as Natural Resource.
Classification of Natural Resources
Natural resources are classified into different groups depending upon their
Level of development
Use
Origin stock
Distribution
On the basis of their development and use, resources are classified into two
groups
i. Actual Resources
ii. Potential Resources
Actual Resources:
Actual resources are those resources whose quantity is known.
These resources are being used in present. e.g.: Coal, Petroleum, etc.



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Potential Resources:
Potential resources are those
resources whose entire quantity may
not be known and these are not
being used at present.
These resources can be used in
future.
e.g.: Uranium found in Ladakh is an
example of potential resources.
High speed winds were a potential resource two hundred years ago, today they
are an actual resource.
Types of Resources
Resources may be classified in several ways:
i. Based on continual utility or availability:
Some resources are likely to get exhausted soon, whereas others would last for a
long period.
Thus, depending upon the availability of resources, the resources maybe
classified into following 2 types:
Natural Resources
Inexhaustible Resources Exhaustible Resources
Present in nature unlimited amount,
hence not like to be exhausted due to
continuous use.
Present in limited amount like to be
exhausted due to continuous use.

e.g.: Air, Solar radiations, water





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Exhaustible Resources

Renewable Resources Non-Renewable Resources
It can generate themselves by
recycling and can be always available
for use.
e.g.: Forest, Wildlife, Crops, etc.
It cant be generate because their
formation in nature takes a very long
time and available in a less quantity.
e.g.: Coal, Mineral, fuel, etc.









Cyclic Resources
For certain resources there is no final use as
they can be use continuously.
e.g.; Water used in industry and domestic can be cleaned and used again for
similar or other purposes.
So, such resources can use again and again.

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Based on Origin:
On the basis of their origin resources may be classified into following type.
Resources
Biotic Resources Abiotic Resources

These are obtained from biosphere.
Some biotic resources are renewable
and some are non-renewable.
e.g.: Forest and Forest product crops,
birds, animals, fish and other marine
life forms.
Coal and mineral also belongs to this
category as originated from organic
matter.

These are obtained from non-living
in organic matter.
e.g.: Land, water, minerals like (iron,
cupper lead, etc.)







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Based on Utility and Distribution:
Every resources some utility.
e.g.: Some are used as food, raw materials and other sources of energy.
On the basis of their distribution
National Resources Multinational Resources International Resources
Earth, Minerals, etc. River, Migratory Birds Solar Energy
Percentage of Natural Resources
Inexhaustible Resources
Solar power contains 2 % of total energy sources.
Wind contains 13% of total energy sources.
Exhaustible Resources
Renewable Energy
Geothermal energy presents 2% of total
renewable energy.
Waste contain 5% of total renewable energy
There are about 21% of renewable energy is
Bio-fuels
Wood contain 22% of total renewable
energy
35% of total renewable energy is
surrounded by Hydroelectric Power.
Non-Renewable Energy:-
Coal contains 20% out of total energy.
Petroleum contain 36% of total energy
Natural gas contain 26% of total energy.
8% of total energy is surrounded by nuclear electric power.
Increasing Pressure on Natural Resources:-
Expanding human population resulted into expanding needs of man.
With sufficient progress and technological development man started utilizing
natural resources at a much larger scale.

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Continuous increase in population caused an increase demand for resources.
This created a situation when the non-renewal resources may come to an end
after sometime.
In order to have maximum production we have started even taking loans from
the resources meant for future. That cant be paid back. As a result we would be
using all those resources which are the property of future generation.
Effect on Economic Level
The non-availability of resources and their price rise are having an adverse effect
on the economics of countries world over.
During 1980s the world has experienced a state of imbalance between the
growth rates of population and economic development.
The prices of resources as petroleum after 1973 showed abrupt hike.
Hence the growth rates of food production and, economic development suffered
setbacks.
Year/ Period Petroleum Price /
Barrel
(US dollar)
Growth rate of
economic
production (%)
Growth rate of
food production
(%)
Total Per Cap. Total Per Cap.
1930-1973 2 5.0 3.3 3.1 1.2
1973-1979 12 3.5 1.7 1.9 0.1
1979-1984 28 2.0 0.3 2.0 0.3

There are a number of other examples of problem created by over utilization of
resources.
In some areas, there is no enough water for agriculture and industry, whereas in
other areas there are problem of water logging due to over irrigation. In some
countries much of underground water is utilised for good grain production. This
resulted in lowering of water balance.

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Conclusion
Under the auspices of the International Union of Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) & UNEP, a World
Conservation Strategy (WCS) was prepared and released for adoptions &
implementation in India on March 5, 1980. The WCS is to ensure the
management of human use of biosphere in a manner which may yield greater
benefit to present generation while maintaining its potential to meet the needs of
future generation.
Thus serious concern has already benefit in all nations of the world for a need to
conserve their own natural resources.