BBA-Semester III

Course Name-Environment Management

Topic-Natural Resources
Reference Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f14oBaPNhdc
The materials we use from nature such as wind energy, water, plants, animals, and fossil
fuels to make the things we need are called natural resources. They are the basis of life
on Earth.

1. In terms of the source of origin

o Biotic Resources
o These are obtained from the biosphere, such as forests and their products,
animals, birds and their products, from fish and marine organisms.
o Abiotic Resources
o Abiotic resources include non-living things like Examples of abiotic
resources are water, land, ores and air.
2. based on their renewability

o Renewable Resources:

o Renewable resources are ones that can be replenished or reproduced easily.

Some of them, like sunlight, air, wind, etc., are continuously available and their
quantity is not affected by human consumption.
o Solar Energy: Since earth formed, the sun has produced energy in the
form of heat and light. It is considered unlimited (the sun isn’t going
anywhere!)
o Wind Power: Wind is moving air created as the sun heats the earth’s
surface. As long as the sun is shining, the wind remains an infinite,
renewable resource.
o Hydroelectric power :Flowing water creates energy that can be captured
and turned into electricity which is called Hydroelectric power. Water is
constantly renewed by the water cycle which makes this a renewable
resource.
 o Biomass :Biomass is any material made by plants and animals that we
can convert into energy. It is considered renewable because we can
always grow more plants and trees.
o Non-renewable resources
o Non-renewable resources are formed over very long geological periods. Minerals
and fossil fuels are included in this category. Since their rate of formation is
extremely slow, they cannot be replenished once they get depleted.
o Fossil fuels release heat energy when they are burned and they are used
to create energy and electricity. They were formed from the remains of
living organisms millions of years ago.
 Coal is a black or brownish rock. We burn coal to create energy.
 Oil is a liquid fossil fuel. Most of the world’s oil is still deep under
the ground.
 Natural Gas We rely on natural gas to give power to lights, TVs, air
conditioners, and kitchen appliances.

3. Based on Exhausting capability

o Inexhaustible Natural Resources: Those resources which are present in

unlimited quantity in nature and are not likely to be exhausted easily by human
activity are inexhaustible natural resources. e.g. – sunlight, air etc.
o Exhaustible Natural Resources:
The amount of these resources is limited. They can be exhausted by human
activity in the long run. E.g. coal, petroleum, natural gas etc..
The modern life-style and the advance in technology have had a very bad impact
on the natural resources. Natural resources like coal and petroleum are depleting
at a very fast rate, and once they are depleted, we will have to depend on other
sources of energy.  Therefore it is very necessary for us humans to act in a way
which ensures the conservation of natural resources. There are thousands of
ways of conserving natural resources. The main idea of conservation is to use the
natural resources with optimization, and do not waste any natural resources. 
Methods of Conservation of Natural Resources

1. Use of alternative sources of power such as solar and wind energy. These
alternative sources of energy are bio friendly particular because they do not
produce harmful gases that damage the ozone layer.
2. Plant trees to prevent soil erosion. This entails planting trees and vegetation to
control soil erosion caused by wind and water.
3. Practicing of judicious ways to conserve water in our homes. This entails simple
practices like ensuring that taps are closed when they are not in use. Taking less
time in the shower aids to conserve gallons of water per month. Reusing some of
the water for watering the kitchen gardens in our homes is also an important
practice.
4. Treatment of industrial wastes and sewages before they are released in the
water bodies. Rapid industrialization has resulted to wastes that are harmful to
the ecosystem. The release of these effluents directly into the water bodies has
led to massive water pollution to some areas in the world especially in
developing countries. Therefore, industrial and human waste should be treated
to prevent thermal and chemical pollution of water.
5. This is an important practice of ensuring water conservation. It is done by
harvesting of rainwater during the wetter seasons of the year and using it during
the dry seasons.
6. Such practices include switching off the lights when not in use, unplugging
electrical appliances when not in use. Plugged-in appliances continue to use
electricity even when not in use. Other practices include spending less time when
taking hot showers.
7. Ensure the recycling of wastes. These wastes include plastics, paper bags that
have resulted to tones of garbage. Recycling entails re-manufacturing of already
used materials. This reduces the amount of waste available reducing soil and
water pollution.