Unit – III

Natural Resources
 Resources
Any thing which is useful for man or can be transformed
into a useful product or can be used to produce a useful
thing.

Natural Resources
Its defined as anything that we get from the environment
to fullfill our requirments and used without any
modification.
Ex: air ,water, land ,forest, minerals.

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Classification of natural environment
1. On the basis renewability

Renewable /Flow Non –Renewable Cyclic

Resources. /stock resources . Ex: Water can be
Ex: solar energy Ex: Minerals, coal, regenerated by
of the sun, oil, natural gases. water cycle
oxygen in
air ,soil in
forest .

Classification on the basis of renewability

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 2. On the basis of utility

Energy Raw Material Ex.

Ex . Solar Iron, Sillca
Energy Fossil ,Diamond ,Vegetabl
Fuels e.
Fig .5: On the basis of utility

3. On the basis of origin

Biotic Abiotic
Ex. Green plants , Ex .Land , Water ,
Animals, Fungi etc. Air.

Fig.6: On the basis of origin

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• What are Resources?
• Resources refer to all the materials present
in our environment which are used by living
beings.
• Resources are considered to be very useful
raw materials found in the environment.
• These are known as materials that are
found in nature.
• They are beneficial to every individual in a
variety of ways.
• Define Natural Resources
• Humans require many useful things
available in nature to live on this planet.
• These are referred to as natural resources.
Air, water, woods, animals, and minerals
are some examples.
• When humans use natural things to make a
new thing that increases its value, it is
known as a man-made resource.
• Types of Natural Resources
• Natural resources are important for living beings.
• There are many ways of classifying natural
resources.
• The most general category is the amount of
resources available for human consumption.
• There are two types of energy resources:
renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
• What is a Renewable Resource ?
• Renewable resources are those that cannot be depleted.
• They are always available and thus could be reused.
• The various types of Renewable resources are given
below:
Examples
• Sun - The energy obtained from sunlight is solar energy.
• The sun is the ultimate natural resource for all living
beings on the earth.
• Plants utilize solar energy and make their own food
through photosynthesis.
• Wind - It is an important renewable resource required
for the survival of living organisms.
• Air is important to carry out photosynthesis (the
process by which green plants turn carbon dioxide and
water into food using energy from sunlight) and
respiration (the inhaling of oxygen and the exhaling of
carbon dioxide) in plants and animals, respectively.
• The energy that is obtained from wind is termed as
wind energy.
• Water - Water is required for survival. Humans
use water for a variety of reasons, including
drinking, washing, cooking, and cultivating
crops.
• Hydro energy is generated by water flowing
into a river or water held in a dam.
• Hydro energy is power that is generated from
moving water such as rivers.
• Soil- Soil is a valuable resource as
it is the layer in which plants
grow. Living beings require food
to live.
• Plants produce most of the food
that is required by living
organisms.
• Biogas- Biogas is a form of fuel that is a mixture of gases
such as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and other
gases produced by the breakdown of animal and plant
wastes such as animal dung in the presence of water
with the help of microorganisms.
• It is commonly used as a fuel for gas stoves, particularly
in rural regions.
• What is a Non-renewable Resource ?
• Natural resources that are limited in quantity are
referred to as non-renewable resources.
• These resources cannot be supplied or
regenerated in a short duration of time. These
resources cannot be reused.
• The various types of non renewable resources
are as follows.
Non-renewable Resources : Examples
Fossil Fuels- Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy
sources.
•This means that they will ultimately be finished, which
is why energy prices are rising.
•Fossil fuels consist of coal, natural gas and petroleum.
Coal- Coal is used as a fuel, to generate electricity, and
in factories and steam engines.
Natural gas- Natural gas, often known as
compressed natural gas, is an excellent
alternative to petrol and diesel.
•It burns quickly and generates a large amount
of heat. It's an excellent source of hydrogen.
Petroleum- Mineral oil or crude oil are other
names for petroleum.
•Petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and kerosene are
all made from this liquid mineral. It can be
found deep within the earth.
• Nuclear energy- This energy source involves use of
radioactive material that is found in nature.
• Uranium is primarily used to make nuclear reactor
fuel rods.
• Heat is generated when neutrons(neutral particles
present in the atom) hit with the fuel rods.
• This converts water to steam, which is used to
move turbines. As a result, it generates electricity.
Difference Between Renewable
and Non-renewable Resources
• Biotic Resources: These are obtained
from biosphere and have life such as
human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries,
livestock, etc.
• Abiotic Resources: All those things which
are composed of non-living things are
called abiotic resources. For example,
sunlight, temperature, minerals, etc.
• Biotic and abiotic factors are what make up ecosystems.
• Biotic factors are living things within an ecosystem; such as plants, animals,
and bacteria, while abiotic are non-living components; such as water, soil
and atmosphere.
• The way these components interact is critical in an ecosystem.
• A biotic factor is a living thing that has an impact on another population of
living things or on the environment.
• Abiotic factors do the same thing, but they are non-living.
• Together, biotic and abiotic factors make up an ecosystem.
• To survive, biotic factors need abiotic factors.
• In turn, biotic factors can limit the kinds and amounts of biotic factors in an
ecosystem.
Natural Resources and Associated Problem

The Natural Resources are as

follows :

1.Forest Resources.

2.Water Resources.

3.Mineral Resources.

4.Energy Resources .

5.Land /Soil Resources.

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Forest Resources
 Problems
Soil erosion ,loss of biodiversity , global warming ,
Floods, Drought.
 Causes
Deforestation and exessive use of forests , increased
population.
 Solution
Reserve forests by saving trees ,more plantation, cantrol
birth rates to control over population.
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 Functions of forests
1. Protective function : protect against soil erosion,
floods, drought, noise, radiation.
2. Productive function: provide gum resins, medicine,
kattha , honey, pulp, bamboo, timber and fruits.
3. Regulative function : regulate level of
oxygen ,carbon dioxide, temperature, and water cycle.
4. Accessory function: regulate aesthetics , habitat for
wildlife and place for recreartion .

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Water Resources
 Water resources are sources of water that are useful

or potentially useful to humans.

 Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household,
recreational and environmental activities.
 Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water.

 Water forms 60% of our body weight.

 Water is a renewable and limiting resource.

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 About three – fourth of earth’s surface is occupied by
oceans.
 About 97% of the earth’s water is strong saline and The rest
3% is freshwater.
 Pure, usable water on land is only 0.3%.

WATER DEPLETION
It is caused by over exploitation, excessive use and unequal
access to water among different social groups. 26
Increasing population, intensive industrialization,
deforestation and
mismanagement of water resources have caused a crisis.

Conservation of Water
It is essential for the survival of mankind, plants and
animals.
This can be achieved by adopting the following
methods:
Constructing dams and reservoirs to regulate supply
of water to the fields, as well as to enable generating
hydroelectricity.
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Sewage should be treated and only the clear water should
be released into the rivers.
Industrial wastes (effluents) should be treated to prevent
chemical and thermal pollution of fresh water.
Judicious use of water in our day-to-day life.
Rainwater harvesting should be done by storing rainwater
and recharging groundwater.

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MINERALS RESOURCES
Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline
solids having a definite crystalline solids having a definite
chemical composition and characteristic .
physical properties.
Minerals are exhaustible and nonrenewable.
Minerals are relatively plentiful.
Minerals are over used by industries.
Disposal of minerals have negative effects
on environment.
Metallic minerals – e.g., iron, copper, silver, gold.
Non-metallic minerals – e.g., sand, stone salt, phosphates.

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Use of Minerals
• The main uses of minerals are as follows:
• Development of industrial plants and
machinery.
• Generation of energy e.g. coal, lignite, uranium.
• Construction, housing, settlements.
• Defence equipment weapons, armaments.
• Transportation means.
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 ENERGY RESOURCES
Energy resources can be classified as
•Conventional Sources: It includes firewood, cattle
dung cake, coal, petroleum, natural gas and
electricity.
•Non-Conventional Sources: It includes solar, wind,
tidal, geothermal, biogas and atomic energy
Conventional Sources of Energy
Coal:
•It is the most abundantly available fossil fuel.
•It is used for power generation, to supply energy
to the industry as well as for domestic needs.
•Lignite is a low grade brown coal, which is soft
with high moisture content.
•Coal that has been buried deep and subjected to
increased temperatures is bituminous coal.
•Anthracite is the highest quality of hard coal.
•Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro are important
coalfields
Petroleum
•It provides fuel for heat and lighting,
lubricants for machinery and raw materials for
a number of manufacturing industries.
•Petroleum refineries act as a “nodal industry”
for synthetic textile, fertiliser and numerous
chemical industries.
•Mumbai High, Gujarat and Assam are major
petroleum production areas in India.
Natural Gas
•Natural gas is an important clean energy
resource. It is considered an environment-
friendly fuel.
•The power and fertilizer industries are the
key users of natural gas.
•Compressed Natural Gas (CNG ) is used in
vehicles to replace liquid fuels.
Electricity
•Electricity is generated mainly in 2 ways:
•By running water which drives hydro turbines to
generate Hydro Electricity.
•It is a renewable resource of energy.
•India has a number of multi-purpose projects like the
Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley Corporation, the Kopili
Hydel Project.
•By burning other fuels such as coal, petroleum and
natural gas to drive turbines to produce Thermal Power.
• It uses non-renewable fossil fuels for generating
electricity.
Non-Conventional Sources of
Energy
• The renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind, tide,
biomass and energy from waste material are called Non-
Conventional Energy Sources.
Nuclear or Atomic Energy
• Nuclear Energy is obtained by altering the structure of atoms.
• Uranium and Thorium are used for generating atomic or
nuclear power.
Solar Energy
• Solar energy is produced by the Sun’s light.
• Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into
electricity.
Wind Power
•Wind Energy or Power is the use of wind to generate
electricity. Wind turbines are used for this purpose.
•The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu
from Nagarcoil to Madurai.
Biogas
•Biogas is a type of biofuel that is naturally produced
from the decomposition of organic waste.
•Biogas is the most efficient use of cattle dung. It
improves the quality of manure.
Tidal Energy
•Tidal energy is the form of hydropower that
converts the energy obtained from tides into
useful forms of power, mainly electricity.
•In India, the Gulf of Khambhat, the Gulf of
Kachchh in Gujarat on the western coast and
Gangetic delta in Sunderban regions of West
Bengal provide ideal conditions for utilising
tidal energy.
Geo-Thermal Energy
•When heat and electricity are produced by using the
heat from the interior of the earth, it is known as
Geo-Thermal Energy.
•In India, geothermal energy is harnessed from
Parvati valley near Manikarn in Himachal Pradesh
and from Puga Valley, Ladakh.
Conservation of Energy Resources
• Every sector of the national economy – agriculture, industry,
transport, commercial and domestic – needs inputs of
energy.
• There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path for
energy development.
• Here are some ways that each one of us can contribute to
save energy resources:
 Using public transport systems instead of individual
vehicles
 Switching off electricity when not in use
 Using power-saving devices.
 Using non-conventional sources of energy
 Soil Resources
Arable land (from Latin arabilis, "able to be plowed”)is
land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.
Land is among the most important natural resources.
It covers up only 29% of the earth’s surface and all parts
of the land are not habitable.
The uneven distribution of population indifferent parts of
the world is mainly due to varied characteristics of land
and climate.

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 LAND
DEGRADATION
 INTRUDUCTION
• Land degradation is a process in which the value of
the biophysical environment is affected by a
combination of human-induced processes acting
upon the land.
• It is viewed as any change or disturbance to the
land perceived to be deleterious or undesirable.
• Land degradation is the most important
environmental problem currently challenging
sustainable development in many parts of the
world.
• The problem is most acute where the
environment is intrinsically vulnerable and
where the population is losing control of its
own resources.

• Natural hazards are excluded as a cause;

however human activities can indirectly affect
phenomena such as floods and bush fires.
 CAUSES OF LAND DEGRADATION

1. Land clearance, such as clear cutting and deforestation.

2. Agricultural depletion of soil nutrients
through poor farming practices.
3. Livestock including overgrazing and over drafting.
4. Inappropriate irrigation and over drafting.
5. Urban sprawl and commercial development.
6. Vehicle off-roading.
7. Quarrying of stone, sand, ore and minerals.
8. Increase in field size due to economies of scale, reducing
shelter for wildlife, as hedgerows and copses disappear.
9. Exposure of naked soil after harvesting by heavy
equipment.
10. Monoculture, destabilizing the local ecosystem.
11. Dumping of non-biodegradable trash, such as
plastics
12. Soil degradation, e.g
I. Soil contamination
II. Soil erosion
III. Soil acidification
IV. Loss of soil carbon
Soil erosion by wind or
water
• WATERLOGGING AND SALINIZATION OF IRRIGATED
LAND.
• OVER EXTRACTION OF WELLS, RIVERS AND DAMS .
EXCESSIVE AND CONTINUOUS
USE OF FERTILISER, HERBICIDE
AND PESTICIDE .
Control Measures

1. Strip farming:
It is a practice in which
cultivated crops are sown in
alternative strips to prevent
water movement.
 2. Crop Rotation:

It is one of the agricultural

practice in which different crops
are grown in same area
following a rotation system
which helps in replenishment of
the soil.
 3. Ridge and Furrow Formation:

Soil erosion is one of the factors responsible

for land degradation.
It can be prevented by formation of ridge
and furrow during irrigation which lessens
run off.
 4. Construction of bunds:
This usually checks or reduces the velocity
of run off so that soil support
vegetation.

5. Contour
This type ofFarming:
farming is usually practiced across
the hill side and is useful in collecting and
diverting the run off to avoid erosion.
 Desertification
Desertification is the degradation process
by which a fertile land changes itself into a
desert by losing its flora and fauna, this can
be caused by drought, deforestation, climate
change, human activities or improper
agriculture.
Desertification Causes
1.Overgrazing
2.Deforestation
3.Farming Practices
4.Urbanization and other types of land
development
5.Climate Change
6.Stripping the land of resources
7.Natural Disasters
Desertification Impacts

1.Farming becomes difficult or even

impossible in the area
2.Flooding chances are more
3.Hunger – because of no farming
4.Poor quality of water
5.Overpopulation
6.Poverty as a result of the above
Steps To Reduce Desertification
Given below are the steps which may help in reducing Desertification:
•Focus on Water management. Rainwater harvest must be done, water
that can be reused must not be left out as waste
•Reforestation and tree regeneration
•Buttressing the soil through the use of sand fences, shelter belts,
woodlots and windbreaks
•Better and hyper-fertilization of soil through planting
•The residue from pruned trees can be used to provide mulching for
fields thus increasing soil water retention and reducing evaporation
 Soil Erosion

In this process, the soil particles are loosened

or washed away in the valleys, oceans, rivers,
streams or far away lands. This has been
worsening due to human activities such as
agriculture and deforestation.
Soil erosion is a continuous process that
occurs either slowly or at an alarming rate. It
results in a continuous loss of topsoil,
ecological degradation, soil collapse, etc.
Cause of Soil Erosion
Following are the important causes of soil erosion:
Rainfall and Flooding
Higher intensity of rainstorms is the main cause of soil erosion.
Four types of soil erosion are caused by rainfall:
 Rill erosion
 Gully erosion
 Sheet erosion
 Splash erosion
•The raindrops disperse the soil, which is then washed away into
the nearby streams and rivers.
•Regions with very heavy and frequent rainfall face a large
amount of soil loss.
•The flowing water during floods also erodes a lot of soil by
creating potholes, rock-cut basins, etc.
Agriculture
•The farming practices are the major cause of soil
erosion.
•The agricultural activities disturb the ground.
•The trees are cleared and the land is ploughed to
sow new seeds.
•Since most of the crops are grown during the
spring season, the land lies fallow during winters.
• Most of the soil is eroded during winters.
•Also, the tires of tractors make grooves on the
land, making a natural pathway for water.
• Fine soil particles are eroded by wind.
Grazing
•The grazing animals feed on the grasses and remove the
vegetation from the land.
•Their hooves churn up the soil. They also pull out plants by
their roots.
•This loosens the soil and makes it more prone to erosion.
Logging and Mining
•A large number of trees are cut down to carry out the logging
process.
•Trees hold the soil firmly. The canopy of the trees protects the
soil from heavy rainfall.
•The leaf litter that protects the soil from erosion, is also lost
during logging.
•Mining activities also disturb the land and leave the soil more
prone to erosion.
Construction
•The construction of roads and buildings exposes the
soil to erosion.
•The forests and grasslands are cleared for construction
purposes, which exposes the soil making it vulnerable
to erosion.
Rivers and Streams
•The flowing rivers and streams carry away the soil
particles leading to a V-shaped erosion activity.
Heavy Winds
•During dry weather or in the semi-arid regions, the
minute soil particles are carried away by the wind to
faraway lands.
•This degrades the soil and results in desertification.
Effects of Soil Erosion
The major effects of soil erosion include:
Loss of Arable Land
•Soil erosion removes the top fertile layer
of the soil.
•This layer is rich in the essential nutrients
required by the plants and the soil.
•The degraded soil does not support crop
production and leads to low crop
productivity.
Air Pollution
•The dust particles merge in the air, resulting in air
pollution.
•Some of the toxic substances such as pesticides and
petroleum can be extremely hazardous when inhaled.
•The dust plumes from the arid and semi-arid regions
cause widespread pollution when the winds move.
Desertification
•Soil erosion is a major factor for desertification.
•It transforms the habitable regions into deserts.
Deforestation and destructive use of land worsens the
situation.
•This also leads to loss of biodiversity, degradation of
the soil, and alteration in the ecosystem.
Soil Erosion Prevention
Soil erosion is a serious environmental issue. Steps should be
taken to curb this problem. Following are some of the
methods of soil erosion prevention:
1.Plant trees on barren lands to limit erosion of soil.
2.Add mulch and rocks to prevent the plants and grass
underneath to prevent soil erosion.
3.Mulch matting can be used to reduce erosion on slopes.
4.Put a series of fibre logs to prevent any water or soil
from washing away.
5.A wall at the base of the slope can help in preventing the
soil from eroding.
6.Every household should have a proper drainage system
so that water flows down into proper water collecting
systems.