Role of individual in

saving natural
resources

Natural resources
The resources that are derived from the environment are

called as natural resources.

Some of them are most essential for our living while most
of them are used for satisfying our needs.
They are used to promote the man kind.
Every man made item consists of natural resources.
Sun is the major natural resource which never ends.

Types of Natural Resources

They are mainly classified into 6 types:

1.Forest Resources
2.Water Resources
3.Mineral Resources
4.Food Resources
5.Land Resources
6.Energy Resources

Forest Resources
Forest :

land occupied with wide range of flora and fauna which

supports ecosystem.
Uses :
1. They give us wood for different purposes.
2. They are used in medicines .
3. They give fuels like fossil fuels , coal.
4. They have commercial use like honey , gum , lac , paper.
5. they provide 30% of oxygen.

Uses

Threats
Mainly two types of threats are present.

1.Natural disasters
2.Man induced threats

Disasters* by type: 1971-96

High wind: 21%

Man-made
disasters: 34%

Total: 8,219,000
Flood: 19%

Other natural
disasters: 21%
Volcanoes: 1%

Earthquake: 8%

Landslides: 3%

Drought & Famine: 6%

* International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (The Economist, Sept 6, 1

Reasons for depletion of Forest resources

Over-consumption/excessive or unnecessary use of resources

Non-equitable distribution of resources

Overpopulation.

Slash and burn agricultural practices, currently occurring in many developing

countries.

Technological and industrial development.

Erosion

Habitat degradation leads to the loss of Biodiversity.

Irrigation

Mining for oil and minerals.

Aquifer depletion.

Forestry Forest Reserves within a particular country.

Pollution or contamination of resources.

Control Measures
Controlling deforestation :
Efforts to control deforestation must be taken on a

global scale.
In addition to making sure that emissions from
deforestation are kept to a minimum, an effort to
educate people .
Reforestation is also being encouraged in many
countries in an attempt to repair the damage that
deforestation has done.

Contd
Participate in your community's recycling programs.

Implement a recycling program at your office too.

Buy products manufactured with recycled paper. Many
companies use their reputation as recyclers to attract
business from eco-conscious customers.
Reuse junk mail and scraps of paper whenever possible.
Instead of pitching old envelopes, use them to keep notes
or make grocery lists.

Most
of the
Earth
is
covered
by water

Land
(29%)
Oceans
(71%)

...water, water, every where

nor any drop to drink!

Water Pollution
Pollution from domestic sewage
The high rates of used domestic water to drainage
The general lack of sewage treatment plants.
The discharge of large quantities of untreated

sewage at specific points of the water resource

systems or along the coastline constitute the main
water pollution source in our country

Remedies for depletion of Water resources

Improvement of efficiency in water use.

Identification of water resources.

Technical training and education about water .
Information about water resources and flood

mitigation.
Several programs are implemented such as
1.Integrated development and use of water resources
2.Drinking water supply and sanitation

Integrated development and use of water resources

Drinking water supply and sanitation

Mineral Resources
Minerals : which have definite chemical properties and

indefinite chemical properties .

There are 2 types of minerals namely
1.Metallic
2.Non-metallic
Examples for metallic minerals are Iron , gold , Alluminium ,
Silver etc.,
Examples for some non metallic minerals are Gypsum , Lime
stone , Coal etc.,

Threats
1.Mining
2.Disturbences to mantle layer which leads to Earth
quakes , drowning of land.
3.Deforestration leads to loss of Bio diversity.
4.The acid mine drain-by usage of acids to extraction
process which leads to mix of acids in soil and
Aquifer.
5.Loss of marine life due to oil spils while extracting
oil.

Remedies for depletion of Mineral resources

We must go for bio mining where we use

microbial organisms for mining purpose.

Mining waste treatment technology.
EOR: This process must be implemented to
extract oil by using bacteria.

Food Resources
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional

support for the body.

It is usually of plants or animal origin, and contains
essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins,
vitamins, or minerals.
It is also said as source of energy for human activities.
Based on production rate agriculture is divided into 2
types as
1.Subsistence
2.Intensive

Contd
Green revolution shifted traditional practices to

modern practices.
It was first given by Norman Borlang .
There were many draw backs such as salinity ,
soil erosion , water logging , death of non micro
organisms.
For these problems Albert Howard introduced
some practices known as organic farming.

Remedies for depletion of Food Resources

Organic farming must be followed which is a

combination of traditional farming and modern

farming.
Crop rotation method must be followed .
Contour farming or terrace farming method must
be followed to overcome irrigation problems.
We have to enrich the soil fertility by using
natural ways not by using pesticides.

Land Resources
Land is an area which constitutes of biotic and a

biotic compounds.
Due to soil erosion and land degradation soil is
being eroded by agents like wind , water and
human activities .
Improper agricultural practices like Monoculture
and also introduction of alien species through
hybrid varieties also leads for the erosion of soil.

Control Measures
1.Biological
control
Mulching
Poly-culture
Crop rotation

Contd
2.Mechanical
control
Contour farming
Terrace farming
Step farming

Energy resources
The capacity to do work is known as energy.
It is divided as 2 types:

1.Renwable and Non renewable resources

disadvantages by using these resources
1.They leads to global warming .
2.They pollute air.
3.Release of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases.
4.Renewable resources are costly and space occupying
5.Sun cannot be used in less radiant areas.

Remedies to control depletion of Energy

Resources
Use diesel car to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels.
Go solar to reduce the use of non renewable resources.
Telecommute.
Turn your lawn into an organic garden.
Heat with wood to reduce your dependence on non renewable resources

and fossil fuels.