Page 132 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

6.1 Concept of Natural Resources

Introduction
Nature is the integration of all the living and non- living things that are seen and found in
our surrounding. All these living things and non- living things found in the nature are the
natural resources. Soil, water, air, forests, minerals, plants, animals, birds, insects, etc. are
the natural resources found in nature. Soil, water, air, minerals, hills, mountains, stones
rocks, etc. are non- living things and animals, plants, birds, insects, etc. are living things.
Nature comprises from micro-organisms and substances which we cannot see through
our naked eyes to very big organisms and objects such as mountains, hills, rocks, rivers,
oceans, seas and so on. They all are very useful to humankind as they provide various
materials needed for fulfilling the human needs. Natural resources are self- created in
nature and there is no human hand and contribution in the creation of them. In other
words, they are the gifts of nature which the mankind can utilize for various benefits. In
short, natural resources are all the resources that are self- created and supplied from the
physical environment of the earth without any human action. Nature consists of both the
things and the natural phenomena going on in nature. The things or objects that subsist
upon nature and are visible or can be touched or experienced such as plants, animals,
soil, water, air, etc. are tangible aspects of nature and the various natural phenomena
like water cycle, season change and other gradual changes taking place in nature are
intangible aspects of nature.

Activity: 1

Make a list of various natural things or objects that are created without human action.

Classification of natural resources

Nature is a complex structure. It is composed of various resources which are important
and useful in different ways in our day to day life. The resources found in nature are
classified mainly into three types: Perpetual resources, renewable resources and non-
renewable resources.

Natural resources

Perpetual Renewable Non- renewable
Solar radiation Fresh air, pure water, fertile Fossil fuel, metal minerals
soil and non- metal minerals
Water, tides, biomass, wind Plants and animals Nuclear energy

Perpetual resources
Those natural resources which persist in nature and are never used up even after their
continuous utilization are known as perpetual resources. Such resources are also called
non- exhaustible natural resources. Solar energy, tidal energy, wind energy and the energy
obtained from the flowing water are the best examples of perpetual resources.
132 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9