1.2.1.1. Natural Resources

Resources that are drawn from Nature and used without much modification are called natural resources. The air we breathe, the water in our rivers and lakes, the soils, minerals are all natural resources. Many of these resources are free gifts of nature and can be used directly.

Natural resources are materials and components found in the environment that are used with little to no alteration. Examples include air, water, soil, and minerals. They are important because they provide us with essential needs like oxygen, drinking water, and raw materials for food and shelter. These resources are often abundant and can be taken directly from nature, which is why they are referred to as 'free gifts of nature.'

Think of natural resources like a fruit tree in your backyard. The fruits are natural resources that grow on the tree without needing any alteration. You simply pick them, and they provide you with nourishment, just like how we utilize air and water directly from nature.

In some cases tools and technology may be needed to use a natural resource in the best possible way.

While many natural resources can be used directly, sometimes we need tools or technology to help us use these resources more efficiently. For instance, we use wells and pumps to access underground water, and we use machinery to extract minerals from the earth. These technologies enhance our ability to utilize natural resources, making them more accessible and useful to us.

Consider a garden: the plants (natural resources) provide fruits and vegetables, but to maintain the garden effectively, you need tools like shovels and watering cans. These tools help you manage the resources more effectively, just as technology helps us utilize natural resources.

Natural resources can be broadly categorized into renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources are those which get renewed or replenished quickly. Some of these are unlimited and are not affected by human activities, such as solar and wind energy.

Natural resources are classified based on their availability and renewal rates. Renewable resources, such as solar energy, wind energy, and even water, can be replenished naturally over time, which means they are sustainable if used wisely. In contrast, non-renewable resources, like coal and petroleum, are finite and can take millions of years to form, meaning once they are depleted, they cannot be easily replaced.

Imagine a garden where you grow vegetables (renewable resource) versus mining for coal (non-renewable resource). In the garden, every season you can harvest vegetables if you take care of them, while once you mine coal, it’s gone forever without new deposits forming.

Some resources can become economically valuable over time. Your grandmother’s home remedies have no commercial value today. But if they are patented and sold by a medical firm tomorrow, they could become economically valuable.

The economic value of resources can change based on their demand, usability, and how they are perceived in society. What seems to have no value today, like traditional remedies, can become highly valuable if they are recognized and commercialized. This illustrates that the value of resources is determined not just by their physical presence, but also by the context in which they are utilized and perceived.

Think of an old recipe for a family dish. Initially, it's just a cherished tradition with no monetary value. However, if that recipe is discovered, refined, and marketed by a famous chef, it could become a best-selling product, demonstrating how the value of resources can evolve over time.

Yet careless use of certain renewable resources like water, soil and forest can affect their stock. Water seems to be an unlimited renewable resource. But shortage and drying up of natural water sources is a major problem in many parts of the world today.

Even though renewable resources are designed to replenish naturally, human activities such as pollution, overuse, and climate change can jeopardize their availability. For instance, excessive water usage for agriculture can lead to depleted water sources, resulting in shortages. This emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices to ensure that we do not use resources faster than they can replenish.

Just like a bank account where you can only withdraw what you deposit, freshwater sources depend on a balance between usage and renewal. If we withdraw too much water without letting it refill (like wasting water during a drought), we might find ourselves bankrupt in terms of water availability.

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