Environmental Science: Natural Resources

Introduction to Natural Resources

• Definition: Natural resources are essential materials, energy sources, and processes available in nature that support life on Earth.
• Examples: Air, water, soil, minerals, forests, sunlight, fossil fuels.
• Importance:
  • Vital for human survival (air for breathing, water for drinking, food).
  • Key drivers of economic development (industry, agriculture, construction, transport).
  • Sustainable management is crucial to prevent pollution, scarcity, and harm to future generations.

Forest Resources

• Functions:
  • Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Regulation: Forests produce oxygen and absorb CO2, helping fight climate change.
  • Biodiversity Hotspot: Home to numerous species, maintaining ecological balance.
  • Water Regulation: Absorb rain and slowly release it, preventing floods and droughts.
  • Soil Protection: Tree roots bind soil, preventing erosion, and enriching it with organic matter.
  • Economic Value: Source of timber, paper, fuel, medicine, and food.
• Threats:
  • Overexploitation through logging, agriculture expansion, urban development.
• Consequences of Deforestation:
  • Loss of biodiversity, disrupted water cycles, increased carbon emissions, soil degradation.

Water Resources

• Overview:
  • Cover 71% of Earth's surface.
  • Only 2.5% is freshwater; much locked in glaciers and underground.
• Overutilization:
  • Both surface and groundwater heavily used; leads to depletion and pollution.
• Floods:
  • Caused by natural events and human activities like deforestation.
  • Impacts: Infrastructure damage, loss of life, water contamination.
  • Management: Improved drainage, barriers, reforestation.
• Droughts:
  • Caused by low rainfall, worsened by global warming, deforestation.
  • Impacts: Crop failures, water scarcity, economic hardship.
  • Management: Efficient water use, drought-resistant crops, rainwater harvesting.

Mineral Resources

• Classification:
  • Metallic: Iron, copper, gold; used in construction, electronics.
  • Non-metallic: Limestone, gypsum; used in construction, agriculture.
  • Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil; energy production but pollutes environment.
• Overexploitation:
  • Leads to resource depletion, habitat destruction, pollution.
• Environmental Effects:
  • Land degradation, water and air pollution, climate change contribution.

Food Resources

• Global Challenges:
  • Population growth, climate change impact on agriculture.
  • Inequality in food distribution.
• Agriculture and Grazing:
  • Causes soil degradation, biodiversity loss, water depletion.
• Modern Agriculture Effects:
  • Chemical use degrades soil and water; monoculture reduces biodiversity.
  • Genetic modification raises health and environmental concerns.

Energy Resources

• Current Status:
  • Predominantly from fossil fuels; nonrenewable and polluting.
• Alternative Sources:
  • Solar Energy: Clean, renewable.
  • Wind Energy: No emissions, ideal for windy regions.
  • Hydro Power: Reliable but impacts aquatic ecosystems.

Land Resources

• Uses:
  • Agriculture, urbanization, conservation.
• Degradation:
  • Caused by erosion, deforestation, pollution.
  • Leads to desertification, reduced land quality.
• Mitigation:
  • Terracing, reforestation, sustainable farming practices.

Conclusion

• Importance of sustainable management of natural resources to ensure ecological health and support future generations.
• Encouragement to engage in conservation efforts.