Write an essay about 300 words on 'Natural Resources'.
Answers
Natural resources are materials that help humans to meet their needs. Any natural material that humans use can be called natural resources. There are different kinds of natural resources on Earth. We use them daily basis directly or indirectly.
Different Types of Natural Resources
Depending on the recovery rate, natural resources are divided into two categories.
Renewable Resources: These resources are quickly recovered, like sunlight, air, water, etc. After we use these resources, it fills up again. Therefore, we do not see a considerable change in its quantity. Though these resources can deplete too if not appropriately managed. Nowadays, there are a lot of places suffering from the scarcity of water. The government of India has taken different initiatives to make people understand the value of water. A resource is considered renewable until the time its recovery rate exceeds its consumption rate.
Non-renewable Resources: These resources take a more extended period to reform. It means their consumption rate exceeds their recovery rate. For example, oil, natural gas, petroleum, etc. can take a lot of time to recover if used excessively. So, we must consider using it carefully so that future generations can meet their need from these resources too.
Depending on the origin, resources are of two types:
Biotic Resources: These resources come from living things such as plants, animals, etc. Milk, honey, fruits, etc. are biotic resources.
Abiotic Resources: These resources come from non-living things such as air, water, soil, etc.
The Challenges of Using Natural Resources
The extraction and procession of natural resources can be challenging at different times as it may disrupt the ecosystem or disturb the biodiversity. It can also become a cause of pollution. For example, from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas, carbon dioxide is produced. Carbon dioxide is a potent greenhouse gas. The researchers believe that greenhouse gas is causing global climate change, which is a severe matter of concern worldwide.
It can cause drought, flooding, diseases, etc. over time. It can also disrupt the ecosystem. If we cut trees from a forest, many birds and wild animals lose their shelter. Even, we lose trees with pharmaceutical values. If we fill up a pond, fishes, snakes, and other animals living in the lake get affected.
Natural resources are those gift given to us by nature for the better life and survival. Some of these naturally acquired resources are abundantly available in and around our earth, but at the same time some of them are very rarely found and formed.
Some of these renewable natural resources are solar energy, water, air, soil, etc. Those resources cannot be found easily are minerals, fossil fuels, etc., that are formed inside the earth as a result of millions of years of depositions and processing.
These natural resources are being used by humans directly or indirectly for leading a smooth life. Most of the renewable resources like sunlight, air, soil, water, etc., are being directly used and many of the other natural resources are used as raw material for producing more products.
Impacts on Natural Resources:
Even though most of these natural resources are renewable and found in abundance, some of them are exploited by human activities. All those non-renewable resources take millions of years to form. Unauthorized and careless use of these natural resources will result in the shortage of such resources for future use.
Population increase can be noted as the main reason behind this threat of natural resource exploitation. Increase in population has increased the usage demand for more natural resources as well. This includes the over-consumption of lands by destroying the real natural value of them for setting up big buildings, industrialization, etc.