Short Notes On Types of Natural Resources
Short Notes On Types of Natural Resources
Short Notes On Types of Natural Resources
Resources which are not reproducible and are obtained from the finite non-living reserves are called non-
renewable resources (eg.) Coal and metals. Any material which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more
valuable and useful can be termed as a resource. Thus, only part of our natural environment, such as land, water, air,
minerals, forest, rangeland, wildlife, fish or even human population that man can utilize to promote his welfare may be
regarded as a natural resource. In the case of humans, a resource is any form of energy of matter essential for the
fulfillment of physiological, socio-economic and cultural needs, both at the individual level and that of the community.
The five basic ecological variables - energy, matter, space, time and diversity are sometimes combinedly called natural
resources.
Classification of natural resources: Based on quantity, mutability and reusability schematic representation of
classification of natural resources:
Based on Availability-
Inexhaustible Exhaustible
. Unlimited or unending Limited quantity
Both qualitative, and quantitative degradation Quality may be degraded, not
Detailed note on Natural resources: FOREST; wildlife, energy and food resources
1. Forest:
In India, forests form 23 percent of the total land area. 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. The forests area
differs state to state in India. Madhya Pradesh Stands at the top in the total forest covered area, followed by Arunachal
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Orissa. Haryana has least forest cover area.
The direct benefits from forests are:
(a) Fuel Wood: Wood is used as a source of energy for cooking purpose and for keeping warm.
(b) Timber: Wood is used for making furniture, tool-handles, railway sleepers, matches, ploughs, bridges, boats etc.
(c) Bamboos: These are used for matting, flooring, baskets, ropes, rafts, cots etc.
(d) Food: Fruits, leaves, roots and tubers of plants and meat of forest animals form the food of forest tribes.
(e) Shelter: Mosses, ferns, insects, birds, reptiles, mammals and micro-organisms are provided shelter by forests.
(f) Paper: Wood and Bamboo pulp are used for manufacturing paper (Newsprint, stationery, packing paper, sanitary
paper)
(g) Rayon: Bamboo and wood are used in the manufacture of rayon (yarns, artificial silk-fibres)
(h) Forest Products: Tannins, gums, drugs, spices, insecticides, waxes, honey, horns, musk, ivory, hides etc. are all
provided by the flora and fauna of forests.
The indirect benefits from forests are:
(a) Conservation of Soil: Forests prevent soil erosion by binding the soil with the network of roots of the different plants
and reduce the velocity of wind and rain — which are the chief agents causing erosion.
(b) Soil-improvement: The fertility of the soil increases due to the humus which is formed by the decay of forest litter.
(c) Reduction of Atmospheric Pollution: By using up carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen during the process of
photosynthesis, they act as carbon sink so forests purify the environment.
(d) Control of Climate: Transpiration of plants increases the atmospheric humidity which affects rainfall and cools the
atmosphere.
(e) Control of Water flow: In the forests, the thick layer of humus acts like a big sponge and soaks rain water preventing
run-off, thereby preventing flash-floods. Humus prevents quick evaporation of water, thereby ensuring a perennial
supply of water to streams, springs and wells.
Some Facts about Indian forest resources:
First Reserve forest of India was Satpura National Park (1955) situated in Hoshangabad district in M.P. now
after 1958 declared as Wild life Sanctuary.
M.P. has largest area of Teak forest and largest producer of Bamboo followed by Maharashtra and Arunachal
Pradesh.
Sal forests are extended from Himachal Pradesh to the Tarai area of Assam.
Shisam forests are found in Utter Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu.
Deodar Trees found in Himalayan region (used to make railway sleeper).
Mulberry forests are mostly found in Karnataka. Karnataka is largest producer of raw silk.
Deforestation:
Deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands. The term does not include the removal of
industrial forests such as plantations of gums or pines. Deforestation has resulted in the reduction of indigenous forests to
four-fifths of their pre-agricultural area. Indigenous forests now cover 21% of the earth’s land surface. The World
Resources Institute regards deforestation as one of the world’s most pressing land-use problems. The difference between
forests and woodlands is that whereas in a forest the crowns of individual trees touch to form a single canopy, in
woodland, trees STOW far apart, so that the canopy is open.
Of great concern is the rate at which deforestation is occurring. Currently, 12 million hectares of forests are cleared
annually. Almost all of this deforestation occurs in the moist forests and open woodlands of the tropics. At this rate all
moist tropical forest could be lost by the year 2050, except for isolated areas in -Amazonia, the Zaire basin, as well as a
few protected areas within reserves and parks.
The destruction of forests due to unscrupulous and indiscriminate felling of trees has lead to an overall
deterioration of our environment and is posing a serious threat to the quality of ―life in future. Forest area in world has
dwindled from 7,000 million hectares (year 1900) to 2590 million hectares (year 1975).
Causes of Deforestation:
(1) Population Explosion: Population explosion poses a grave threat to the environment. Vast areas of forest land are
cleared of trees to reclaim land for human settlements (factories, agriculture, housing, roads, railway tracks etc.) growth of
population increases the demand for forest products like timber, firewood, paper and other valuable products of industrial
importance, all necessitating felling of trees.
(2) Forest Fires: Fires in the forests may be due to natural calamities or human activities:
(a) Smoldering of the humus and organic matter forming a thick cover over the forest floor (i.e. ground fires).
(b) Dried twigs and leaves may catch fire (i.e. surface fires).
(c) In densely populated forests, tree tops may catch fire by heat produced by constant rubbing against each other (i.e.
crown fires).
(d) Human activities like clearing forest for habitation, agriculture, firewood, construction of roads, railway tracks and
carelessness (throwing burning cigarette stubbs on dried foliage). Fire destroys fully grown trees, results in killing and
scorching of the seeds, humus, ground flora and animal life.
(3) Grazing Animals: Trampling of the forest soil in the course of overgrazing by livestock has four reaching effects
such as loss of porosity of soil, soil erosion and desertification of the previously fertile forest area.
(4) Pest Attack: Forest pests like insects etc. destroy trees by eating up the leaves, boring into shoots and by spreading
diseases.
(5) Natural Forces: Floods, storms, snow, lightening etc. are the natural forces which damage forests.
Effects of Deforestation: Forests are closely related with climatic change, biological diversity, wild animals, crops,
medicinal plants etc.
Large scale deforestation has many far-reaching consequences:
(a) Habitat destruction of wild animals (tree-using animals are deprived of food and shelter.)
(b) Increased soil erosion due to reduction of vegetation cover.
(c) Reduction in the oxygen liberated by plants through photosynthesis.
(d) Increase in pollution due to burning of wood and due to reduction in Car- bon-dioxide fixation by plants.
(e) Decrease in availability of forest products.
(f) Loss of cultural diversity
(g) Loss of Biodiversity
(h) Scarcity of fuel wood and deterioration in economy and quality of life of people residing near forests.
(i) Lowering of the water table due to more run-off and thereby increased use of the underground water increases the
frequency of droughts.
(j) Rise in Carbon dioxide level has resulted in increased thermal level of earth which in turn results in melting of ice caps
and glaciers and consequent flooding of coastal areas.
Afforestation
It is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees (forestation) in an area where there was no previous tree cover. Afforestation is
highly important to maintain biodiversity and ecological balances. It is also important to prevent global warming, soil erosion and
pollution. Afforestration purifies the environment and helps in reducing the carbon dioxide level.
The basic components of India's forest conservation efforts include protecting existing forests, putting a check on the
diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes, encouraging farm forestry/private area plantations, expanding the protected area
network and controlling forest fires. Forests cover 19.4% of the country's landmass. Forests with a crown cover of more than 40% have
been increasing. The National Forestry Action Programme has been formulated for sustainable forest development and to bring one-
third of the country's geographical area under forest/ tree cover as mandated in the National Forest Policy, 1988.
A major programme of afforestation is being implemented with the people's participation under the Joint Forest Management.
The National Forest Policy envisages the participation of people in the development of degraded forests to meet their requirements of
fuel wood, fodder and timber. Twelve biosphere reserves have been set up to protect representative ecosystems. Management plans are
being implemented for 20 wetlands with coral reefs and mangroves being given a priority. The National Wasteland Development Board
is responsible for regenerating private, non-forest and degraded land. The National Afforestation and Eco Development Board are
responsible for regenerating degraded forest land, land adjoining forests and ecologically fragile areas.
Agroforestry
Agroforestry is any sustainable land-use system that maintains or increases total yields by combining food crops (annuals) with tree
crops (perennials) and/or livestock on the same unit of land, either alternately or at the same time, using management practices that suit
the social and cultural characteristics of the local people and the economic and ecological conditions of the area. It combines
1. Production of multiple outputs with protection of the resource base.
2. Places emphasis on the use of multiple indigenous trees and shrubs.
3. Particularly suitable for low-input conditions and fragile environments.
4. It involves the interplay of socio-cultural values more than in most other land-use systems, and
5. It is structurally and functionally more complex than monoculture.
Social forestry
Social forestry means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands with the purpose of helping in the
environmental, social and rural development. The term, social forestry, was first used in India in 1976 by The National Commission
on Agriculture, Government of India.
It also aims at raising plantations by the common man so as to meet the growing demand for timber, fuel wood, fodder etc.,
and thereby reducing pressure on traditional forest areas. This concept of village forests to meet the needs of rural people is not new. It
has existed through the centuries all over the country, but it is now being given a new name.
In India, it has five objectives-
1. Fuel wood supply, so as to replace cow-dung as a source of energy (conventional energy).
2. Small timber supply.
3. Protection of agricultural fields against wind and desertification.
4. Fodder supply, and
5. Recreation needs.
Intensive farming
Intensive farming is the latest technique used to yield high productivity by keeping large number of livestock indoors and using
excessive amount of chemical fertilizers on a tiny acreage. It is carried out to meet the rising demand for cheap food and prevent future
shortages. Intensive farming is an agricultural system that aims to get maximum yield from the available land. This farming technique
is also applied in supplying livestock. You could say that under this technique, food is produced in large quantities with the help of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are appropriately used to save such agricultural land from pests and crop diseases.
Products, such as eggs, meat, and other agricultural items that are easily available in many supermarkets today are produced
using modern intensive farming methods.
One of the major advantages of this farming technique is that the crop yield is high.
1. It helps the farmer to easily supervise and monitor the land and protect his livestock from being hurt or hounded
by dangerous wild animals.
2. With the introduction of intensive farming, farm produce, such as vegetables, fruits, and poultry products have
become less expensive. It also aids in solving the worldwide hunger problems to a great extent. This means that
common people can now afford a balanced and nutritious diet.
3. Many opine that organic food can be afforded only by the elite strata of the society. Apart from that, large
farming spaces are required to cultivate organic crops using natural manure. However, with the introduction of
intensive farming, the space, equipment, and other requirements for farming are less and more economical.
4. Another advantage is that large productivity of food is possible with less amount of land. This leads to
economies of scale and directly contributes towards meeting the ever-growing demand for food supplies.
Disadvantages-
1. Intensive farming involves the use of various kinds of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides. Apart
from this, it is also associated with farms that keep livestock above their holding capacity, which in turn leads to
pollution, various diseases, and infections brought about by overcrowding and poor hygiene.
2. Reports and studies reveal that intensive farming affects and alters the environment in multiple ways. Forests are
destroyed to create large open fields, and this could lead to soil erosion. It affects the natural habitat of wild
animals. Use of chemical fertilizers contaminates soil and water bodies, such as lakes and rivers.
3. Pesticides sprayed on crops not only destroy pests and contaminate the crops, but also kill beneficial insects.
Heavy use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers also affects the workers (who spray the pesticides) and the
people residing nearby. Eventually, these chemicals are passed on to human beings, who consume the
agricultural produce.
4. Fruits and vegetables purchased from farms that promote intensive farming are covered with invisible pesticides.
These cannot be washed off easily. Exceeding the use of pesticides affects the health of human beings severely,
leading to skin allergy, physical deformity, and congenital disease.
5. Statistics show a direct relation between the consumption of food procured from intensive farming sites and an
increase in the number of cancer patients and children born with defects. Researchers opine that consumption of
inorganic poisonous vegetables, fruits, poultry, and meat could probably be one of the reasons for causing such
damage in the human body.
6. There are many hybrid varieties of livestock, plants, and poultry available today. The livestock and poultry are
injected with hormones and other chemicals to increase the yield.