Natural Resources and Their Use

Margin Questions

Q1. How do we categorise natural resources?

Answer:

Natural resources can be categorised in different ways. One way is based on their use:

• Resources essential for life: Air, water, soil, and food that are necessary for survival.
• Resources for materials: Resources like wood, marble, gold, and coal that are used to create objects for utility or beauty.
• Resources for energy: Resources like coal, water, petroleum, sunlight, and wind that provide energy for electricity, transportation, and production.

Another way is based on whether they are renewable or non-renewable.

Q2. What is the connection between the distribution of natural resources and different aspects of life?

Answer:

The distribution of natural resources is uneven across the planet and within countries. This uneven distribution shapes various aspects of life:

• Settlements and employment: Industries located near natural resources create jobs and lead to the growth of townships, improving access to modern facilities.
• Trade and economy: The geographical location of resources influences national and international trade, which can fuel economic development.
• Conflicts and cooperation: Unequal access to resources, especially shared resources like river water, can lead to tensions or conflicts within and between countries.

Q3. What are the implications of unsustainable use / over exploitation of natural resources?

Answer:

Unsustainable use and over-exploitation of natural resources have severe implications:

• Depletion of resources: Renewable resources like forests and groundwater can be exhausted if used faster than they can regenerate.
• Environmental damage: Pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change are accelerated by irresponsible treatment of resources.
• Health hazards: Contamination of air, water, and soil from industrial and agricultural activities causes health problems.
• Long-term consequences: While short-term gains like food security may be achieved, long-term sustainability is compromised, as seen in the case of groundwater depletion in Punjab.

Think About It

Q1. What might be the different criteria we can use to categorise natural resources?

Answer:

Natural resources can be categorised using various criteria:

• Based on use: Resources essential for life (air, water, food), resources for materials (wood, metals), and resources for energy (coal, solar, wind).
• Based on renewability: Renewable resources (solar energy, wind, timber) and non-renewable resources (coal, petroleum, minerals).
• Based on origin: Biotic resources (obtained from living things, like forests) and abiotic resources (obtained from non-living things, like minerals).
• Based on distribution: Ubiquitous resources (found everywhere, like air) and localised resources (found in specific places, like minerals).

Don't Miss Out

Q1. Do you know of practices that reflect this?

Answer:

Yes, many indigenous traditions in India and around the world reflect the belief that Nature is sacred and a nurturer. Some examples include:

• Worshipping trees: Many communities worship trees like the Peepal and Banyan as sacred.
• Sacred groves: Some forests are considered sacred and no resources are extracted from them.
• Festivals: Festivals like Chhath Puja and Tulsi Vivah involve worshipping the Sun, rivers, and plants, showing respect for nature.

Q2. Do you know of other traditional practices that help the ecosystem to stay in balance?

Answer:

Yes, there are many traditional practices that help maintain ecological balance. Some examples are:

• Ban on fishing during spawning season: This practice helps maintain fish populations.
• Water harvesting: Traditional systems like 'kunds' and 'baolis' were used to collect and store rainwater.
• Mixed cropping and crop rotation: Traditional farming practices helped maintain soil health.
• Use of natural fertilisers and pest repellents: Substances like cow dung, neem, and garlic were used instead of chemicals.

Q3. Ecosystem functions and ecosystem services: Nature has some inherent ways of working. For example, trees naturally produce oxygen. When these natural processes benefit humans, we call them 'ecosystem services'. We can think of it like this: a forest naturally filters water, prevents soil erosion, and provides habitat for animals - these are ecosystem functions. When we benefit from clean water, protected farmland, and pollinated crops because of that forest, we are receiving ecosystem services from Nature. A mature tree produces about 275 litres of oxygen per day (this varies a little depending on the type of tree). A human being needs about 350 litres of oxygen every day (this can change based on the type of activity that an individual engages in, their height and weight, and so on).

Answer:

This information explains the important concept of ecosystem services. To put it in perspective:

• One mature tree produces 275 litres of oxygen per day.
• A human being needs approximately 350 litres of oxygen per day.
• This means that, on average, a person would need about 1.27 trees to meet their daily oxygen requirement.

This highlights the critical role forests play in sustaining life and why we must protect them.

Let's Explore

Q1. Identify human actions in your surroundings that result in Nature losing her ability to restore and regenerate. What types of interventions can be undertaken to restore Nature's cycle?

Answer:

Human actions that disrupt nature's ability to restore and regenerate:

• Deforestation for construction and agriculture.
• Over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation.
• Discharge of industrial and household waste into rivers.
• Excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
• Burning of fossil fuels, leading to pollution and climate change.

Interventions to restore nature's cycle:

• Afforestation: Planting trees to replace those cut down.
• Water conservation: Rainwater harvesting, rejuvenating ponds, and reducing water wastage.
• Waste management: Treating waste before disposal and promoting recycling.
• Sustainable farming: Using organic methods, crop rotation, and natural pest control.
• Promoting renewable energy: Shifting from fossil fuels to solar, wind, and hydropower.

Q2. Take up a small research study to assess the types of renewable resources in your region; you may discuss with your teacher the geographical area of your study and sources to access information that you may need. What has been the change in their status over time? Make a small report that identifies the reasons for the change and what may be done.

Answer:

This is a project-based activity. You should:

• Identify the geographical area for your study with the help of your teacher.
• List the renewable resources in that area (e.g., solar energy, wind, water, forests, etc.).
• Research their availability/status over the past few decades.
• Identify reasons for any changes (e.g., climate change, human activity).
• Suggest measures to improve the situation or ensure sustainability.

Q3. What are the non-renewable resources that you use daily, directly or indirectly? What are the possible renewable substitutes? What are some of the steps we can take to transition to renewables?

Answer:

Non-renewable resources used daily:

• Petroleum: Used for transportation (petrol/diesel in cars, buses).
• Coal and natural gas: Used for electricity generation.
• Metals and minerals: Used in electronics, buildings, and utensils.

Possible renewable substitutes:

• Solar energy: For electricity and heating.
• Wind energy: For generating electricity.
• Hydropower: From flowing water.
• Biofuels: From organic matter as a substitute for petrol/diesel.

Steps to transition to renewables:

• Promoting the installation of solar panels on rooftops.
• Investing in wind and solar farms.
• Using electric vehicles instead of petrol/diesel vehicles.
• Improving energy efficiency in homes and industries.
• Government subsidies and policies supporting renewable energy.

Q4. Observe the map in Fig.1.11. Notice the uneven distribution of important minerals. What types of resources are available in your region? How are they distributed?

Answer:

This is an activity-based question. You should:

• Observe the map provided in your textbook.
• Identify and list the natural resources found in your region (e.g., minerals, forests, water, etc.).
• Describe how these resources are distributed (e.g., concentrated in certain areas, spread out).
• Note the economic activities linked to these resources.

Q5. Select any two natural resources. Gather information about their availability across different parts of India. Mark them on a map. What do you observe about their distribution? What are the types of economic activities connected with them? - Discuss the implications of extracting the natural resources in those parts for current and future generations. Suggest ways in which we can use Nature's gifts in responsible ways.

Answer:

This is a project-based activity. Here is an example based on two resources:

Example: Coal and Forests

Q6. Find out about such a conflict in the international context. Discuss your findings in the class.

Answer:

This is a research-based activity. You can find examples of international water conflicts such as:

• Indus River water dispute (India-Pakistan): One of the oldest disputes over water sharing of the Indus river system, mediated by the World Bank through the Indus Waters Treaty.
• Nile River water conflict (Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan): Disputes over the sharing of the Nile's waters, especially regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
• Mekong River dispute (China and Southeast Asian nations): Concerns over upstream dams affecting downstream countries.

Q7. What do you think are the different inputs required to enable the use of the natural resources available in different geographical areas?

Answer:

To use natural resources available in different areas, several inputs are required:

• Technology: To access, extract, and process resources (e.g., drilling equipment, refining technologies).
• Capital and investment: To finance the development of infrastructure and operations.
• Skilled human resources: Engineers, scientists, and other workers to manage and operate processes.
• Infrastructure: Transportation (roads, ports) to move resources and products.
• Legal and regulatory framework: Policies and laws governing extraction and use.
• Market access: Demand for the resource or the finished product.

Before we move on ...

Q1. What can make what is today a renewable resource nonrenewable tomorrow? Describe some actions that can prevent this from happening.

Answer:

A renewable resource can become non-renewable if it is used at a rate faster than it can be replenished or restored. This happens when:

• Harvesting or extraction exceeds the natural regeneration rate (e.g., over-fishing, deforestation).
• Natural cycles of renewal are disrupted (e.g., pollution affecting soil fertility, climate change affecting glacier-fed water systems).

Actions to prevent this:

• Using resources within their regeneration capacity.
• Protecting and restoring ecosystems that facilitate renewal.
• Adopting sustainable agricultural and forestry practices.
• Reducing pollution and preventing contamination of natural resources.

Questions and activities

Q1. What can make what is today a renewable resource nonrenewable tomorrow? Describe some actions that can prevent this from happening.

Answer:

A renewable resource can become non-renewable if it is used at a rate faster than it can be replenished or restored. This happens when:

• Harvesting or extraction exceeds the natural regeneration rate (e.g., over-fishing, deforestation).
• Natural cycles of renewal are disrupted (e.g., pollution affecting soil fertility, climate change affecting glacier-fed water systems).

Actions to prevent this:

• Using resources within their regeneration capacity.
• Protecting and restoring ecosystems that facilitate renewal.
• Adopting sustainable agricultural and forestry practices.
• Reducing pollution and preventing contamination of natural resources.

Q2. Name five ecosystem functions that serve humans.

Answer:

Ecosystem functions that serve humans (ecosystem services) include:

1. Oxygen production: Trees and plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis.
2. Water purification: Forests and wetlands naturally filter water.
3. Soil formation and preservation: Natural processes maintain soil fertility and prevent erosion.
4. Pollination: Insects and birds pollinate crops and plants, ensuring food production.
5. Climate regulation: Ecosystems like forests and oceans regulate the global climate and weather patterns.

Q3. What are renewable resources? How are they different from non-renewable ones? What can people do to ensure that renewable resources continue to be available for our use and that of future generations? Give two examples.

Answer:

Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished over time through natural cycles and processes. Examples include solar energy, wind, water, and timber from forests.

Difference between renewable and non-renewable resources:

Actions to ensure their availability:

• Using them within the rate of their regeneration (sustainable harvesting).
• Protecting and restoring ecosystems to maintain their natural renewal cycles.

Examples:

• Forests: We can ensure they remain renewable by planting more trees than we cut down (afforestation). We should also protect wildlife and biodiversity in these forests.
• Water: We can ensure its availability by not over-extracting groundwater and by using traditional rainwater harvesting methods to recharge underground aquifers.

Q4. Identify cultural practices in your home and neighbourhood that point to mindfulness in the use of natural resources.

Answer:

Several cultural practices in India demonstrate mindfulness in using natural resources. Here are some examples you might find in your home or neighbourhood:

• Worshipping and conserving trees and plants: Many communities worship the Peepal, Banyan, and Tulsi, which are rarely cut down. Worshipping rivers and mountains is also a form of respect and conservation.
• Traditional water harvesting: Many regions have old structures like 'stepwells', 'kunds' or 'tanks' to collect and store rainwater.
• Use of natural fertilisers: Traditionally, cow dung and other organic matter are used as manure instead of chemicals.
• Avoiding waste and recycling: There is a longstanding tradition in India of reusing and recycling materials.
• Seasonal eating and farming: Traditional diets were based on seasonal produce, which supports sustainable local agriculture.

Q5. What are some considerations to keep in mind in the production of goods for our current use?

Answer:

Some considerations to keep in mind during the production of goods are:

• Environmental impact: Use processes that are less polluting, such as using clean energy and reducing emissions.
• Resource consumption: Use materials efficiently and aim for a circular economy where waste is minimized and resources are reused.
• Sustainability: Use renewable resources and avoid non-renewable ones where possible.
• Social impact: Ensure fair wages and good working conditions for workers. Avoid displacement of local communities.
• Health and safety: Ensure that production processes are safe for workers and do not harm the health of surrounding communities.