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Lesson 3: Natural Resources: Types, Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
Environmental Studies Notes for BA, B.Com, and BSC CBCS Pattern
Importance of natural resources
Any material that can be transformed to become more valuable and useful can be referred to as a resource. In other words, valuable items can be obtained from any source. Similarly, nature gives us a large number of things and services from which we obtain valuable items. Such things and services provided by nature are known as natural resources. Water, air, soil, minerals, coal, forests, crops, and wildlife are examples of natural resources. Natural resources can generally be divided into two categories:
a) Renewable resources
Renewable resources are resources that are inexhaustible and can be regenerated within a given period, eg crops, solar energy, forests, wildlife, etc. These resources are constantly consumed by living beings but are renewed by nature.
Examples of renewable resources:
– Crops
- Solar energy
– Forest
- Wild animals
- Wind energy
– Groundwater
– Lake products such as freshwater, fish, perch, and catfish.
– Ocean products such as marine fish, marine mammals
- Human Resources
– Soil
b) Non-renewable resources
Non-renewable resources are resources that nature cannot renew after consumption. Such resources are available only in finite quantities eg fossil fuels like coal, oil, minerals like iron, copper, etc.
Examples of non-renewable resources:
– Fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil, etc.
– Minerals like copper, iron, zinc, etc.
- nuclear energy, etc.
Types of natural resources
Natural resources are further divided into the following types:
a) Land resources.
b) Forest resources.
c) Water resources.
d) Mineral raw materials.
e) Food sources.
f) Energy sources.
a) Land resources
Soil is the most important natural resource that is essential for the survival of life on Earth. We depend on land for our basic needs of life like food, fiber, fuel, home, etc. The land is a limited and most valuable resource compared to other natural resources. The top layer of the earth is called soil. Soil can be classified as a renewable resource because it is constantly and slowly regenerated by a natural process. But when the soil erosion network is faster than the normal rate of soil renewal, the soil becomes a non-renewable resource.
Types of soil resources in India
The total geographical area of India is about 329 million hectares, but statistical information regarding land classification is available only for about 305 million hectares. The different types of soil in India are listed below:
a) Barren land: 13% of the total declared area of our country consists of mountains, deserts, ravines, and hills that cannot be used for cultivation. Barren land also includes land that is left uncultivated for at least 5 years.
b) Area of forest land: 22% of the total reported area of our country is covered by forests. Areas under forests include all land classified as forest by law or managed as forest, whether state-owned or privately owned, and whether afforested or maintained as potential forest land.
c) Pasture and Pasture: 4% of the total area of our country is classified as permanent pasture. Such lands are used for cattle grazing.
d) Cultivable Wasteland: Cultivable wasteland includes land that is available for cultivation, either farmed or not used for harvesting once, but has not been harvested for more than five consecutive years, including the current year. In India, the percentage of cultivable wasteland is 4.41%.
e) Land lying fallow: This is arable and cultivated land, which, however, remains uncultivated or lies fallow during the given year. Fallow land means land that is not cultivated and cultivated during the growing season and has a vegetative cover of less than 25 percent. Fallow lands are divided into current fallows and other fallow lands. Current fallows represent cultivated areas that are left fallow during the current year, for example, seeds may not be sown in the same year. Other fallow lands are temporarily out of cultivation for at least one year and no more than 5 years.
f) Agricultural land: Of the total area of 329 million hectares, only 199 million, i.e. 60% percent of hectares are currently used for agricultural activities.
Soil erosion – meaning, types, causes, and protection
Importance of soil erosion
Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all forms of the landscape. It is about removing the top fertile layer of the soil. In other words, it is the displacement of the upper layer of the soil due to the influence of water and wind. Water and wind soil erosion is the most common and extensive form of soil erosion. Loss of agricultural land can be reflected in reduced crop production, lower surface water quality, and damaged drainage networks. The most significant factors responsible for soil erosion are intensive agriculture, deforestation, and climate change. As a result of soil erosion, one-third of the world's total agricultural land is eroded.
Types of soil erosion
1. Normal Erosion: It is caused by the gradual removal of topsoil by natural processes that bring balance between physical, biological, and hydrological activities and maintain a natural balance between erosion and renewal.
2. Accelerated Erosion: This is mainly caused by man's crazy activities like overgrazing, deforestation, mining, etc.
Causes of soil erosion
1. Loss of topsoil: Loss of topsoil due to wind and water.
2. Deforestation: Deforestation for agriculture is a major cause of soil erosion. Due to the high population in our country, deforestation is going at a high rate.
3. Water trapping: Accumulation of excess water underground.
4. Salinity: It is the accumulation of soluble salts of sodium, magnesium, and calcium in the soil to such an extent that the fertility of the soil is seriously affected.
5. Overgrazing: Overgrazing by cattle can cause soil erosion.
Control/protection of soil resources
Soil resources can be conserved by taking the following steps:
1. Soil erosion can be minimized by afforestation on hilly slopes.
2. The use of pesticides and fertilizers should be banned and organic fertilizers should be encouraged.
3. Proper disposal of industrial waste is a must.
4. Cultivation of traditional crop varieties in the region should be encouraged.
5. Alley planting helps in reducing soil erosion. In such cultivation, crops are planted between rows of trees or bushes.
6. Planting trees in long rows along the border of cultivated land so that strong winds can be blocked.
Desertification – meaning, causes, and consequences
Meaning of desertification
Desertification is a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry area of land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its water bodies as well as vegetation and wildlife. It is caused by climate change and soil erosion. When deserts appear automatically during the natural course of the earth's life cycle, it can be called a natural phenomenon. Desertification is a major global environmental and ecological problem. The United Nations Conference on Desertification defined it as "the destruction of the biological potential of the land and may eventually lead to desert-like
conditions."
Causes of desertification
a) Bad management in forests
b) Excessive grazing by cattle
c) Mining and quarrying.
d) Deforestation.
e) Climate change
f) Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides.
g) Depriving the country of resources.
Effects of desertification
a) Agriculture is almost impossible in such countries.
b) Decrease in crop yields which can lead to high inflation and hunger problems.
c) If the area becomes a desert, the water quality will deteriorate.
d) Crop reduction and poor water quality lead to a poverty-like situation.
e) Migration of people from these areas for a better life leads to overpopulation and unemployment in other areas.
Land degradation – meaning, causes, and consequences
Importance of land degradation
Land degradation occurs when land use exceeds the carrying capacity of the system. It is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting on the soil.
Houghton and Chairman define land degradation as "Includes the degradation of land and the deterioration of natural landscapes and vegetation".
Human-caused degradation includes the adverse effects of overgrazing, erosion, urbanization, industrial waste disposal, road construction, loss of plant communities, and air pollution through its effects on soil.
Over the past few decades, there has been tremendous pressure on land in India due to population growth. As urban centers grow and industrial expansion occurs, farmland and forests shrink.
Causes of soil degradation
a) Soil erosion: Loss of topsoil due to water and wind.
b) Water capture: Accumulation of excess water underground.
c) Salinization: It is the accumulation of soluble salts of sodium, magnesium, and calcium in the soil to the extent that the fertility of the soil is seriously affected.
d) Soil contamination by industrial waste such as heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
e) Overgrazing: Increase in livestock population leads to overgrazing of pastures.
f) Desertification: Desertification is a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry area of land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its water bodies as well as vegetation and wildlife.
Effects of soil degradation
a) Deterioration of soil texture.
b) Loss of soil fertility.
c) Accelerated soil erosion by wind and water.
d) Increased vulnerability of the environment or people to destruction or crisis.
e) Increase in problems with water extraction, salinity, and acidity.
f) It affects the social, economic level, and level of biological diversity.
Forest resources - meaning and use
Importance of forest resources
Forest is an important renewable resource. Forests vary in composition and diversity and can contribute substantially to the economic development of any country if the areas under them are properly utilized. Plants along with trees cover large areas, produce various products and provide food for living organisms and are also important for environmental protection.
It is estimated that about 31% of the world's land area is covered by forests, while 20% to 40% is grassland. Of all the continents, Africa has the largest forest area (33%), followed by Latin America (25%), while North America has only 11% forest cover. Asia and the former USSR have 14% of the area under forests. European countries have only 3% of their area under forest. India's forest cover accounts for 24.6% of the country's total geographical area as of 2021.
Use of forest resources
A forest can provide prosperity to people and nations. Important uses of the forest are as follows:
a) Forests play an important role in tribal life. It provides them with food, shelter, and other necessities.
b) Forest land can be used for agriculture and mining.
c) Forests help reduce global warming.
d) Forests reduce pollution by absorbing toxic gases.
e) The forest provides food, fruits, raw materials for edible oils, and medicinal raw materials.
f) The forest is an important source of development of dams, recreation, and mining.
g) Green forests produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which is very important for life on Earth.
h) Forests provide shelter to millions of life forms ranging from insects to huge wild animals.
i) Slows soil erosion.
j) Regulates local climatic conditions and the hydrological cycle.
Deforestation and reforestation
Importance of deforestation
Deforestation refers to the destruction or over-exploitation of forests in various ways such as the construction of roads, building and damnation, etc., expansion of agricultural land, expansion of urbanization, collection of firewood, and collection of wood for various commercial and domestic purposes, exploration of mines, etc.
Deforestation is therefore the main cause of environmental damage. It causes a lack of oxygen and increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As a result, the atmosphere becomes warmer and inadequate for the easy life of all living beings. In addition, deforestation causes topsoil to loosen and become so fragile that it is washed away by rainwater, which in turn causes floods by increasing water content and depositing soil in riverbeds. On the one hand, in the rainy season, deforestation is the main cause of floods, and on the other hand, in the winter, it is the main cause of sandstorms.
The importance of afforestation
Afforestation is the act or process of establishing a forest, especially on land that was not previously forested or abandoned. Afforestation is the exact opposite of deforestation. It is the primary solution to environmental damage. It slows down all the negative effects of deforestation. With afforestation, there is a chance to turn the desert into a green field. Afforestation should be the driving force of both government and individuals, so we can say that if deforestation is a path to early death, afforestation is an opportunity to come back from it and live a long and healthy life.
Causes of deforestation
a) Conversion of forest to agricultural land to meet growing food needs.
b) Development of infrastructure like roads, bridges, industry, etc.
c) Interference by illegal immigrants.
d) Illegal extraction of forest products such as timber.
e) Increased population has led to increasing demand for fuelwood, which also acts as an important factor in deforestation, especially in dry forests.
f) Forest is a raw material for industry and exerts enormous pressure on forests.
g) Urbanization of forests for the settlement of an increased number of inhabitants.
h) Forest fire due to an unavoidable and unavoidable reason.
i) Jhum cultivation which is considered as shifting cultivation.
i) Mining
Effects of deforestation
Deforestation can hurt the environment. The most dramatic impact is the loss of habitat for millions of species. Eighty percent of land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. Deforestation also drives climate change. Deforestation adversely and directly affects and damages the environment and living beings. The main causes of deforestation are:
a) Soil erosion and loss of soil fertility
b) Reduction of precipitation due to the hydrological cycle.
c) Expansion of deserts.
d) Climate change and water level depletion
e) Loss of biodiversity, flora, and fauna.
f) Environmental changes and disturbances in forest ecosystems.
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