Natural Resources

Introduction
• Natural refers to Mother Nature
&
Resources stand for a source of supply/ support

• Natural resources are materials and substances found

in the environment that are utilized by humans for
various purposes.
E.g. Water, Soil, Air, Minerals, forests, coal, wildlife
etc.

• These resources can be classified into two(Renewable

and non-renewable) categories based on their ability
to be replenished over time.
 The Earth
The Lithosphere – the solid crust of the earth.
The Hydrosphere – the water bodies on the
earth.
The Atmosphere – the envelope of air around
the earth.
The Biosphere – the living world.

The biosphere refers to the part of the Earth

where life exists, encompassing all living
organisms and their interactions with each other
and their environment.
Unequal consumption of natural
Developed
resources:
• A major part of natural resources today are consumed in the technologically Natural
advanced or ‘developed’ world, usually termed ‘the North’. “North” typically Resources
refers to developed or industrialized nations, not really geographic location.
Underdeveloped
Developing

• The ‘developing nations’ or ‘the South’, including India and China, are also
using many resources excessively because of their greater human
population. “South" typically refers to developing or less industrialized nations ,
not really a geographic location.

• However, the consumption of resources per capita (per individual) of the

developed countries is up to 50 times greater than in most developing
countries. Advanced countries produce over 75% of global industrial waste
and greenhouse gases.
• Energy from fossil fuels is also consumed in relatively higher
quantities in developed countries. Their per capita food
consumption is notably greater, accompanied by a substantial
generation of waste, which includes the disposal of packaging
materials extensively used in the food industry.

• The USA, for example, with just 4% of the world’s population,

consumes about 25% of the world’s resources .

• India has a lower per-capita consumption of natural resources than

most countries, but consumption overshoots due to its high
population and limited resources. India has about 18 per cent of the
world’s population, while its land, forest and clean water make up a
meagre 2.4, 2 and 4 per cent of the world’s respective totals.

• Understanding and preserving the health of the biosphere is critical

for the well-being of all living organisms, including humans.
Sustainable practices, resource management, and conservation
efforts are essential for maintaining the balance of this intricate
and interconnected system.
Biotic Resources
Kinds of Natural Resources
Examples of Biotic Resources
• Forest /Flora

• Animals/Fauna

• Microorganism

• Others
 Forest Resource
A forest is a natural ecosystem having
multiple species.
Forest covers about one third of earth’s land
surface.
• Total geographical area of India is
3,287,240 square kilometer.
• Total Forest cover in India- 7,12,249
square Kilometers. 21.67% of total
geographical area.
• Forest cover in India: Madhya Pradesh
has highest forest cover, Arunachal
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala etc.
• A forest is a natural, self-sustaining, community
characterized by vertical structure created by
presence of trees.
• Trees are large, generally single-stemmed, woody
plants.

• Forest can exist in many different regions under a

wide range of conditions, but all true forest share
these physical characteristics.

• Because a forest is a natural community, no forest

is static in time. That is, because forest
communities respond to outside influences, most
forests are in a state of constant flux.

• Depending upon the systems within which forest

communities exist, such factors might include
rainfall, fire, wind, glaciation, seismic activity,
flooding, animal activity and so on.
Watershed protection
• Reduce the rate of surface run-off of water.
• Prevent flash floods and soil erosion.
• Produces prolonged gradual run-off and thus prevent effects of
drought
Atmospheric regulation
• Absorption of solar heat during evapo-transpiration.
• Maintaining carbon dioxide levels for plant growth.
• Maintaining the local climatic conditions.

Soil Erosion control

• Holding soil (by preventing rain from directly washing soil away).

Forest Product
• Food - gathering plants, fishing, hunting from the forest
• Fodder - for cattle.
• Fuel wood and charcoal for cooking, heating
• Fiber - weaving of baskets, ropes, nets, string, etc.
Functions of forest
Protective Function: The forest cover protects against soil erosion, droughts, floods,
intense radiation.
Productive function: Forests are the source of wood and many other products like gums,
resins, fibers, medicines, Katha, honey, pulp for paper etc.
Accessory Functions: These includes the role of forest in recreation, aesthetics and
habitat for diverge wildlife.
Functions/Roles/Importance of the Forest
Productive Protective Regulative

Fruits, Flowers, Protect wildlife Climate

seeds
Leaf/Wood-fuel Maintain Soil Underground water
moisture
Wood-Timber Control Floods Humidity
Oxygens Control Air Pollution Regulate water Cycle
Nuts, Resins Protect Soil from
erosion
Significance of the forest
Ecological Significance of the forests:
✓ Forests helps in balancing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in atmosphere.
✓ Forests regulate earth’s temperature and hydrologic cycle.
✓ Forests increases water holding capacity of the soil and increase local precipitation of the area thus
preventing drought situation
✓ Forest cover protects surface runoff checks soil erosion and land slides
✓ The litter derived from fallen leaves maintains soil fertility of soil by returning the nutrients
✓ Forest protects wildlife by providing shelter and food for them.
Economical significance
✓ The chief product of the forest is wood which is used for n
number of reasons in domestic and industrial sectors.
✓ wood can be used as timber; wood is used as fuel.
✓ Forest provides pulp require for paper making.
✓ Forest produce has high economic value Gum, resins,
bamboo, other fibers, Katha, lack etc. are also obtained from
forest.
✓ Sericulture, Apiculture , Jute industry are based on forest
resource.
Deforestation / Overexploitation of forest
The action of clearing of a wide area of trees is called as deforestation.
It is the permanent and intentional clearing of forested land by man.

Causes of deforestation:
➢ Shifting cultivation/ Agricultural practices
➢ Mining
➢ Forest fires
➢ Fuel requirement
➢ Raw material for industries
➢ Timber extraction

Effects of deforestation
✓ Loss of natural habitat
✓ Soil erosion and flooding
✓ An Increase in Green house gases.
✓ Less rainfall
✓ Loss of biodiversity
✓ Climate change
Thanks !