copyright @ Dr.

Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /

I Semester All UG Program
 UNIT 2
NATURAL RESOURCES
• Renewable and Non renewable Resources
• Natural resources and associated problems
• Forest resources
– Use and Overexploitation, deforestation, case studies
• Water resources
– Use and Overutilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over
water, dams – benefits and problems
• Mineral resources
– Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources,
case studies
• Food Resources
– World food problem, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of modern
agriculture, fertilizer – pesticide problem, water logging, salinity, case studies
copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Occurs
Naturally
• Created
Naturally
• Useful For
Human Need
• Value
• Types
copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Associated Problems
– Resources are finite: There is a
finite amount of potable
(freshwater) on earth one third
of our groundwater has been
extracted for human use, surface
water has been polluted such
that 1 in 8 people do not have
access to clean water.
– Earth’s Resources provides
human beings with goods:
Extraction of fossil fuels
reduces biodiversity and creates
toxic wastes; burning fossil
fuels causes global climate
change. Human extraction and
use of natural resources is
outpacing nature’s ability to
recover; resource extraction is
out of balance with the health of
copyrightour
@ Dr.planet.
Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program
NATURAL RESOURCES
• Associated Problem
– Industrial revolution altered Earth’s
environment: Harvesting and mining Earth’s
resources provides human beings with goods
necessary for life and for advancing human
civilization. As long as humans have existed,
natural resources have been extracted. However,
the ever-escalating scale of extraction since
the Industrial Revolution has altered Earth’s
environment. Not only has this vast extraction
depleted and degraded Earth’s stock of
resources, but also it has caused widespread
pollution and damage to the biogeochemical
cycles on which all life depends. Earth's
nitrogen and phosphorus cycles are greatly
disrupted by the widespread production and use
of agricultural fertilizers. Massive deforestation
disrupts the carbon cycle by removing the plants
that take CO2 (a major greenhouse gas) out of
the atmosphere
• Science alone cannot answer the question of
where the balance lies between our need to use
natural resources and our responsibility to
protect copyright
the Earth @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Mineral Resources
• India produces 100
minerals
• Important source of
earning foreign
exchange
• Organic and inorganic
minerals
copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
Per Capita Water Avaialbility
• Water Resources (m3/year)

– In India per capita 1951

1955

water availability 1991

2001

– ‘Water stressed' and 2011

2025 *
‘Water scarce' 2050 *

– In India, water Year

Per Capita Water
Availability
Population
availability (Million)
(m3/year)

• Projected per capita 1951

1955
5177
4732
361
395
surface water 1991
2001
2209
1816
846
1027
availability 2011 1545 1210
2025 * 1341 1394
2050 * 1140 1640
* Estimated
copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program Source: Census of India
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Associated Problems
– Basic Facts
– Demand

copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /

I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Challenges
– Natural
situation
(Tropical
Monsoon
climate)
– Human and
Development
al challenges
– Climate
change
impact
– Conflicts
over water
• Case Study copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Forests Resources
– Meaning
– Reserves facts
– Types
– Difference between
various reserves
• https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=g0PeubB-
6f8
• https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=dTadYbQ_
ddM

copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /

I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Associated problems
– Protection and Conservation of Sacred Groves – large number of tribal
population living in forest consider these places as abode of deity
– Conservation and Restoration of Unique Vegetation – In situ conservation of
plant species, development of gene pool, resurrection of endemic, rare and
endangered species
– Control and eradication of forest Invasive species – there are plant and tree
species which displaces local native species and spread faster into reserve
areas, preventing growth of native plants and trees
– Preparedness for meeting challenges faced by Bamboo – Gregarious
flowering leads to all particular species of Bamboo flowering simultaneously
and then dying together
– Strengthening of Infrastructure – Construction of field offices, Inspection
huts, forest roads, boundary demarcation and wired fencing for preventing
encroachment and poaching
copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Food Resources
– 150 plants and 10 birds /
animals supply 90% of
our food
– Primary Plants
– 66% of people
– World’s top two
Economies
• Green revolution – 1970

copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /

I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Protein
and
Vitamin
Rich
sources

copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /

I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Associated
Problems
– India’s
population is
growing
– Need more
than billion
tons of grain to
feed the
population

copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /

I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Associated problems
contd…
• Food wastage
• Land for cultivation is
limited
• Production efficiency
• Uncultivable land
• Crop management
copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /
I Semester All UG Program
 NATURAL RESOURCES
• Thank You

copyright @ Dr. Niranjan Mudliar / Jul - Dec 2023 /

I Semester All UG Program