Presented By: Namrata
Vadera
--Natural Resources are Living and Non Living Component of Nature which are used by
humans to Meet their requirements.
--Earth Resource
• Any thing, which is useful man, or can be transformed into a
useful product or can be used to produce a useful thing, can
be referred as ‘resources’.
• Natural resources includes air, water, forests, animals,
fishes, marine life, biomass, fossile fuels, like coal, petroleum
and natural gases, wild life, renewable energy sources like
solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, geothermal
energy etc.
• Prosperity of a nation is dependent on the natural resources
available in the nation.
• Resources can be defined as any stuff found in naturewhich
has got some utility for mankind & is being used by him for
his betterment .
• “A resource is not just a thing or substance but the function
that the thing or substance performs in order to satisfy
human needs & wants”.
Inexhaustible Resources
• Inexhaustible resources are those resources which are present in
unlimited quantity and cannot be completely used up by human
activities are called Inexhaustible resources.
• Example: Water, Air
Exhaustible Resources
• Exhaustible resources are those resources which are present in
limited quantity and can be completely used up by human activities
are called exhaustible resources.
• Example :Coal, Petrol
Renewable Resource
• Renewable energy is energy which is generated from
natural sources i.e. sun, wind, rain, tides and can be
generated again and again as and when required.
• They are available in plenty and by far most the
cleanest sources of energy available on this planet.
• Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Geothermal Energy,
Biomass Energy From Plants, Tidal Energy are the
examples of Renewable resources.
CONT..
• Renewable resources can be further classified into:
1)Biotic
2)Abiotic
• Biotic : Resources which are living in nature.
• Example: Forests ,Animals etc.
• A Biotic : Resources which are non-living in nature.
• Example: Air ,Water etc.
Non Renewable Resource
• A non renewable resource is a natural resource that
cannot be re-made or re- grown at a scale comparable to its
consumption.
• Non-renewable sources are not environmental friendly
and can have serious effect on our health.
• They are called non-renewable because they cannot be
re-generated within a short span of time.
• Non-renewable sources exist in the form of fossil fuels,
natural gas, oil and coal.
IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
Natural Resources are important for Development of the country.
For generating electricity Fossil fuels are required.
For Industrial Development mineral resources are required.
All living organism require Food, Land, Air.
Humans use natural resources Eg: Fuel
Natural Resources Uses
Air (Wind) Required for all living things for breathing,
Use to produce wind energy.
Animals / Plants Provide food, cloth, shelter, medicine. Used
as mode of transport. Animal dung can be
used as fuel/fertilizer
Soil Used as the primary nutrient source for
plants. It is the habitat of many
organisms.
Solar Light Provide light, energy and help to plants
for making their foods
Wood / Tree. Used as construction material. Used to
make utensils, furniture and sporting
equipments
Water Used in household, agriculture and
transportation.
• Forest Resources
Forest resources
• The term “forest ”is derived from the latin word “foris”
meaning outside. Originally ,it is uncultivated and
uninhabited village boundary consisting of natural plants,
i.e., trees and grasses
• It means an association of plants , natural or cultivated,
predominantly trees.
• In the words of Allen and Shorpe, “Forest is a community of
trees and associated organism covering a considerable area,
utilizing air, water and minerals to attain maturity and to
reproduce and capable of furnishing mankind with
indispensable products and services”
• Forest are one of the most important natural resources of the
earth.
• Approximately 1/3rd of the earth’s total area is covered by
forests
Uses of Forest Resources
They stop the rain-bearing winds and cause the rainfall.
They increase the moisture content in the atmosphere and
thereby provide additional precipitation(i.e., rainfall) in the
locality
They minimize the extreme variation in climatic condition
and make the climate more equable.
They control floods during heavy rain by absorbing excess
rain water.
They prevent soil erosion by checking the force of flowing of
water.
The thick roots of the trees absorb large quantity of water
thus, forest help in the flow of rivers and streams.
They offer hunting grounds.
Cont..
They provide shelter to wild animals and birds
They improve the sanitary condition of a place
They are a source of revenue to the government
They facilitate human existence by providing O2
to human beings and absorbing CO2 by human
beings
They provide employment large number of
people in different capacities as wood cutters,
carriers etc.
They also provide us herbal medicines.
Reasons for the large scale
depletion of forest
Expansion of agriculture, more forest have
been cleared for agriculture.
Large area of forest lands have been
cleared for urbanization and human
settlement.
Commercial exploitation of forest .
Forest fires.
Mining activities in forest areas.
Forest diseases are also partly responsible
for depletion forest.
Adverse effect of depletion of
trees
It has contributed to rise in temperature.
It has contributed to lesser precipitation.
It is responsible for increased rate of soil erosion.
It is responsible for increase in the frequency and volume of
floods.
It has lead to loss of soil productivity.
It is responsible for loss of biodiversity.
It has lead to extinction of several species of plants and
animals.
It has caused imbalance in ecosystem.
Conservation of Forest
Regulated and planned cutting of trees.
Control over forest fires.
Reforestation.
Afforestation
Check on forest clearance for agriculture and human
habitation and settlement.
Development green belt around cities.
Check on mining activities in forest areas.
Protection of existing forest.
Conservation of threatened species of trees.
Agro-forestry.
Development of national parks and sanctuaries.
Development of botanical gardens.
Development of seed banks.
Forest management.
Proper role of government in forest conservation
SOIL
Soil is the mixture of minerals, organic matter,
gases, liquids, and the myriad of organisms that
together support plant life.
It is a natural body that exists as part of the
pedosphere and which performs four important
functions:
It is a medium for plant growth;
It is a means of water storage, supply and
purification;
It is a modifier of the atmosphere;
It is a habitat for organisms that take part in
decomposition of organic matter and the
creation of a habitat for new organisms.
SOIL CONSERVATION
Soil conservation is a set of management strategies for
prevention of soil being eroded from the Earth’s surface or
becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification,
Stalinization, soil erosion or other chemical soil
contamination to retain the fertility of soil.
Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top
most layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of
reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification,
salinization or other chemical soil contamination.
Soil conservation is a "combination" of practices
used to protect the soil from degradation.
Cont…
First and foremost, soil conservation involves treating the
soil as a living ecosystem, and recognizing that all the
organisms that make the soil their home, play important
roles in producing a fertile healthy environment.
They are responsible for breaking down organic matter,
releasing nutrients, and opening up spaces for the
circulation of air and water.
Because most organisms in the soil depend on dead
plant and animal matter for their food and energy, soil
conservation requires that organic matter be returned to
the soil on a continual basis
. Organic matter is what provides good soil structure and
water holding capacity, promotes water infiltration, and
protects the soil from erosion and compaction.
REASONS TO PRACTICE SOIL
CONSERVATION
To maintain an adequate amount of organic matter and
biological life in the soil. These two components account for 90 to
95 percent of the total soil productivity.
To ensure a secure food supply at reasonable prices. Soil
conservation is proven to increase the quality and quantity of crop
yields over the long term because it keeps topsoil in its place and
preserves the long term productivity of the soil.
To grow enough food not only for ourselves; but also for people in
third would countries where there are food shortages.
To save farmers money. Erosion is currently costing farmers over
$90 million year in lost income due to lower crop yields, and the loss of
nutrients from the soil.
To save citizens money. Soil erosion costs us an addition $9.1 million
each year, and probably much more according to recent research.
To improve wildlife habitat. Soil conservation practices
such as providing buffer strips and windbreaks, or replacing
soil organic matter, greatly enhance the quality of the
environment for wildlife of all kinds.
For aesthetic reasons. To provide more attractive and
picturesque scenery.
To improve water quality. All forms of life need clean water
to survive. Agricultural and urban soil erosion are major
sources of sedimentation and contamination of water
supplies.
To help create an environment free of pollution where
we can live safely.
For the future of our children, so that they may have
enough soil to support life. It has been said that the land
has not so much been given to us by our forefathers, but has
been borrowed from our children.
Plant trees: We all know that the roots of trees firmly hold
on to the soil. As trees grow tall, they also keep rooting
deeper into the soil. As the roots of the trees spread deep
into the layers of soil, they contribute to the prevention of
soil erosion. Soil that is under a vegetative cover has
hardly any chance of getting eroded as the vegetative
cover acts as a wind barrier as well.
Terraces: Terracing is one of the very good methods of soil
conservation. A terrace is a leveled section of a hilly
cultivated area. Owing to its unique structure, it prevents
the rapid surface runoff of water. Terracing gives the
landmass a stepped appearance thus slowing the easy
washing down of the soil. Dry stonewalling is a method
used to create terraces in which stone structures are
created without using mortar for binding.
No-till farming: When soil is prepared for farming by
ploughing it, the process is known as tiling. No-till farming
is a way of growing crops without disturbing it through
tillage. The process of tilling is beneficial in mixing
fertilizers in the soil, shaping it into rows and preparing a
surface for sowing.But the tilling activity can lead to
compaction of soil, loss of organic matter in soil and the
death of the organisms in soil. No-till farming is a way to
prevent the soil from being affected by these adversities.
Contour ploughing: This practice of farming across the
slopes takes into account the slope gradient and the
elevation of soil across the slope. It is the method of
ploughing across the contour lines of a slope. This method
helps in slowing the water runoff and prevents the soil
from being washed away along the slope. Contour
ploughing also helps in the percolation of water into the
soil.
Crop rotation: Some pathogens tend to build up in soil if
the same crops are cultivated consecutively. Continuous
cultivation of the same crop also leads to an imbalance in
the fertility demands of the soil. To prevent these adverse
effects from taking place, crop rotation is practiced. It is a
method of growing a series of dissimilar crops in an area
sequentially. Crop rotation also helps in the improvement
of soil structure and fertility.
Soil pH: The contamination of soil by addition of acidic or
basic pollutants and acid rains has an adverse effect on
the pH of soil. Soil pH is one of the determinants of the
availability of nutrients in soil. The uptake of nutrients in
plants is also governed to a certain extent, by the soilpH.
The maintenance of the most suitable value of pH, is thus,
essential for the conservation of soil.
Water the soil: We water plants, we water the crops, but
do we water the soil? If the answer is negative, it is high
time we adopt the method of watering soil as a measure
of conserving soil. Watering the soil along with the plants
is a way to prevent soil erosion caused by wind.
Salinity management: The salinity of soil that is caused
by the excessive accumulation of salts, has a negative
effect on the metabolism of the crops in soil. Salinity of
soil is detrimental to the vegetative life in the soil. The
death of vegetation is bound to cause soil erosion. Hence,
salinity management is one of the indirect ways to
conserve soil.
Soil organisms: Organisms like earthworms and
others benefiting the soil should be promoted.
Earthworms, through aeration of soil, enhance
the availability of macronutrients in soil. They
also enhance the porosity of soil. The helpful
organisms of soil promote its fertility and form
an element in the conservation of soil.
Indigenous Crops: Planting of native crops is
known to be beneficial for soil conservation. If
non-native plants are grown, the fields should be
bordered by indigenous crops to prevent soil
erosion and achieve soil conservation.
