Introduction to Natural Resources

The environment consists of artificial and natural components. The natural components of the environment like air, water, land, soil, plants and animals are called natural resources. These resources are taken as gift of nature to human beings. Mankind used these natural resources for their prosperity and survival. Some resources like air, water, land, plants and animals can be regenerated by natural process but mineral resources cannot be regenerated, it has its own importance. A continuous and dynamic cyclic of natural resources is found in nature.

Classification of natural resources

People get different things from the natural environment. Some natural resources available in natural environment can easily and directly used. For example solar energy, water, fruits from plants can be directly used without any processing but some of the natural resources cannot be used, they need to be processed and refined, e.g. solar energy, water tides, winds, flowing water. We obtain heat and light energy from the sun as a principal source of energy in the earth. We use flowing water to rotate dynamo and generate electricity. All these resources do not exhaust due to their use. So, they are called perpetual resources.

Renewable resources

The natural resources that can be replenished through natural formation even after their utilization are called renewable natural resources. E.g. grass, food, plants, raw materials, etc. They die and get replaced by new vegetation. Soil formation is continuous and slow and other soil gets replaced by new soil. Water, wildlife, animals, plants, etc. are said to be renewable resources and but over exploitation of resources gets plants and animals lead to extinction.

Non renewable resources

The resources that are in fixed quantity in the nature and cannot be obtained by any natural means are non - renewable natural resources. e.g. oil, coal, diesel, petroleum, etc are in fixed amount in the earth. They cannot be regenerated once they are finished. Such natural resources should be used properly and wisely and should preserve for future.

Importance of natural resources

Natural resources are the bases of our life. We take on differences development activities by using them. Importance of natural resources is given below:

1. Sources of fresh air and water : Without air and water we cannot imagine the life. Natural environment is the sources of fresh air, water, which are necessary for all the living beings and non living beings in the earth. If these important resources are polluted, all living beings will be affected badly. Nature always seems to apply its natural process to refine and purify them.
2. Habitat: Soil, forests, are the habitat of different animals. Human beings use soil, water, minerals, and forest resources for building houses, bridges, roads. Soil is the habitat of micro â€" organisms, insects, worms, and plants. Water is habitat for aquatic animals like fish, sea horse, crabs, mollusk, etc. Forest is the living place of wild animals, birds, deer, elephant, etc.
3. Sources of food: The land and forest are the important natural resources which is the source of food to man, animals, birds. Man gets meat, flesh, fur, bone and skin from the some wild animals. Human beings cultivate land to get food, grains, oil, cash, crops, clothes, etc. They get different types of products such as timber, firewood, and raw materials, to make color, herbs, etc.
4. Natural beauty: Snowy mountains, green hills, plains, lakes, river, ponds, waterfalls, animals and forest resources provide natural beauty in nation and are never failed to theft the heart of people. It helps for the development of tourism industry by attracting tourists. It leads to the economic growth of a country.
5. Economic development: Economic development of a nation depends on the availability and utility of its natural resources. Proper use of natural resources helps in the economic development. Agriculture and industrial development depends on the availability of these resources. Natural resources help for the tourism development. Our country has such diversity and beauty in nature, e.g. mountains, hills, lakes, river, etc. which attracts the tourists. We can establish different adventure places like bungi jump, boating, rafting, rock climbing, ballooning, etc. Thus, it helps to promote tourism industry and increase revenue.
6. Area of study and research: Nature is a vast and complex phenomenon. It is so wide that even a tiny part of it is enough for conductivity study and research programs. Many people have conducted study and research in the various part of nature. Many researchers have started about species, their nature, food and habitat and so on which has widened our scope of study.

Difference between renewable and non- renewable natural resources