Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form.

Natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems.

Natural resources are derived from environment .

What is a natural resource?What is a natural resource?Any form of energy which can be used by humans. Those things that people come in contact with that may be used to perform any useful function.

Objects, materials, creatures, or energy found in nature that can be put to use by humans.

Types of natural Types of natural resourcesresources

On the basis of origin ,resources may be divided into

-Biotic

-Abiotic

With respect to renewability, natural resources can be categorised as follows:

-Renewable resources

-Non-renewable resources

On the basis of distribution, natural resources can be classified as follows:

-Ubiquitous resources

-Localised resources

On the Basis of On the Basis of Origin/Renewability/DistributioOrigin/Renewability/Distributio

nn-Biotic : Resources which are living in nature. Example:

Forests ,Animals etc.

-Abiotic : Resources which are non-living in nature. Example: Air ,Water etc.

-Renewable : Resources which can be replenished easily. Example: Sunlight

-Non-renewable : Resources that are limited and can be affected by human activities. Example: Fossil-Fuel.

-Ubiquitous : Resources that are found everywhere. Example: Air ,water etc.

-Localised : Resources that are found in certain places . Example: Copper ,Iron etc.

Uses of Natural ResourcesUses of Natural ResourcesNatural ResourcesNatural Resources UsesUses

Air (Wind)Air (Wind) Required for all living things for Required for all living things for breathing, Use to produce wind breathing, Use to produce wind energy.energy.

Animals / PlantsAnimals / Plants Provide Provide food,cloth,shelter,medicine.Used food,cloth,shelter,medicine.Used as mode of transport.Animal as mode of transport.Animal dung can be used as dung can be used as fuel/fertilizer.fuel/fertilizer.

Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels Used in producing Used in producing energy.Majority of vehicles energy.Majority of vehicles require Fossil fuel to operate.require Fossil fuel to operate.

SoilSoil Used as the primary nutrient Used as the primary nutrient source for plants.It is the habitat source for plants.It is the habitat of many organisms.of many organisms.

WoodWood Used as construction Used as construction material.Used to make material.Used to make utensils,furniture and sporting utensils,furniture and sporting equipments.equipments.

MetalsMetals Used to create things ranging from Used to create things ranging from heavy machineries to a small heavy machineries to a small nail.Used as jewellery.Used to nail.Used as jewellery.Used to reinforce building materials.reinforce building materials.

WaterWater Used in household,agricultutr Used in household,agricultutr and transportation.and transportation.

A forest is any area with a lot of A forest is any area with a lot of trees. There are forests all over the trees. There are forests all over the world. The type of forest varies world. The type of forest varies depending on the location of the depending on the location of the forest: for example, there are forest: for example, there are tropical rain forests, coniferous tropical rain forests, coniferous forests, and deciduous forests.forests, and deciduous forests.

ForestsForests

ForestsForests

Forests occur naturally, but they can be affected positively Forests occur naturally, but they can be affected positively and negatively by human behavior. If a forest is carefully and negatively by human behavior. If a forest is carefully replanted and allowed to grow, it can exist in balance. If replanted and allowed to grow, it can exist in balance. If the forest is cut down faster than it can grow back, then it the forest is cut down faster than it can grow back, then it will be used up quickly.will be used up quickly.

Forests serve as home to many of the organisms Forests serve as home to many of the organisms that live on the land. Forests are also very that live on the land. Forests are also very important because they are major contributors to important because they are major contributors to recycling and cleaning the world supply of oxygen. recycling and cleaning the world supply of oxygen. they also supply wood, fruits etc.they also supply wood, fruits etc.

Fossil FuelsFossil FuelsFossil fuels take millions of Fossil fuels take millions of years to form. They are the years to form. They are the product of the fossilized product of the fossilized remains of dead plants and remains of dead plants and animals that have been animals that have been exposed to the heat and exposed to the heat and pressure deep within the pressure deep within the earth’s crust. There are many earth’s crust. There are many types of fossil fuels, such as types of fossil fuels, such as petroleum (gasoline), natural petroleum (gasoline), natural gas, and coal.gas, and coal.

Fossil FuelsFossil FuelsFossil fuels are arguably Fossil fuels are arguably one of the most valuable one of the most valuable natural resources in natural resources in modern times. It is modern times. It is estimated that 86 percent of estimated that 86 percent of the world’s energy comes the world’s energy comes directly from burning fossil directly from burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are the fuels. Fossil fuels are the source of energy for almost source of energy for almost every machine, including every machine, including the generators that produce the generators that produce electric energy.electric energy.

Fossil FuelsFossil FuelsBecause fossil fuels take so Because fossil fuels take so long to form, they are being long to form, they are being consumed faster than they consumed faster than they can be produced. Fossil can be produced. Fossil fuels are a major contributor fuels are a major contributor to air pollution because to air pollution because when they are burned they when they are burned they release many dangerous release many dangerous gases such as nitrogen gases such as nitrogen dioxide, methane, and dioxide, methane, and carbon dioxide.carbon dioxide.

Solar Solar EnergyEnergy

The sun is the closest star The sun is the closest star to Earth. It brings heat to Earth. It brings heat and light to the world. and light to the world.

The sun shines naturally The sun shines naturally but it is not affected by but it is not affected by human activity. It cannot human activity. It cannot be used up. However, its be used up. However, its intensity varies with the intensity varies with the seasons, and it is not seasons, and it is not available at night.available at night.

Solar Solar EnergyEnergy

We can use solar We can use solar power in simple power in simple (facing the sun to get (facing the sun to get warm, using warm, using greenhouses to grow greenhouses to grow food, etc.) and more food, etc.) and more complex (solar panels complex (solar panels for heating) ways.for heating) ways.

Solar Solar EnergyEnergy

The sun’s rays are used The sun’s rays are used for energy by organisms for energy by organisms that undergo that undergo photosynthesis. Nearly photosynthesis. Nearly every organism on the every organism on the planet gets energy planet gets energy through photosynthesis, through photosynthesis, directly or indirectly. directly or indirectly. There are also ways that There are also ways that people can utilize the people can utilize the energy that the sun energy that the sun provides. provides.

Wind is caused by Wind is caused by the uneven heating the uneven heating of the atmosphere. of the atmosphere. Some areas of the Some areas of the world, such as costal world, such as costal regions, have more regions, have more wind than others wind than others because the terrain because the terrain of the area is of the area is relatively flat and relatively flat and has few obstacles to has few obstacles to block the wind from block the wind from blowing.blowing.

WindWind

WindWindThe wind blows naturally – it is not The wind blows naturally – it is not caused by human activity, and it caused by human activity, and it cannot be used up.cannot be used up.

The power of the wind drives The power of the wind drives sailboats. It has been used to sailboats. It has been used to power windmills that grind grain. power windmills that grind grain. Windmills can also use the circular Windmills can also use the circular movement of the blades to turn a movement of the blades to turn a turbine. This is increasingly used turbine. This is increasingly used as a means of generating as a means of generating electricity.electricity.

WindWindWind power does not make Wind power does not make greenhouse gas emissions. greenhouse gas emissions. It does not directly cause It does not directly cause pollution. However, critics pollution. However, critics of wind power say a large of wind power say a large number of windmills could number of windmills could cause problems for cause problems for animals, especially animals, especially migratory birds. Some migratory birds. Some people think the windmills people think the windmills are unattractive.are unattractive.

Soil ResourcesSoil Resources

Soil in the whole world is very important resource as it is to grow plants, fruits etc. If we the humans overuse or misuse the soil will slowly deplete from earth and the

countries like India won’t be famous for crop production. The ecosystem can also be disturbed.

Soil is also used extensively in human production.  It contains natural fibers, and produces lumber and crops that people consume.

Crops are usually grown on mollisols, grassland soils.  Soils found in other places, such as tropical rain forests, usually lack the nutrients necessary to support the

growing of crops

Soil is composed of both inorganic materials and living organisms.  It provides the basis for life, giving nutrients to plants, which allow animal life to exist.

Water ResourcesWater ResourcesWater resources are sources of water

 that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational

 and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water.

97% of the water on the Earth is salt water, and only 3% is fresh water of which slightly

over two thirds is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.[1] The

remaining unfrozen freshwater is mainly found as groundwater, with only a small

fraction present above ground or in the air.

Fresh water is a renewable resource, yet the world's supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing. Water demand

already exceeds supply in many parts of the world and as the world population continues to rise, so too does the water demand.

How to Conserve natural How to Conserve natural resourcesresources

•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

••Exercise restraint when watering your lawn. A lawn sprinkler system can spray thousands of gallons of water into your yard in the average month. Instead of planting a garden that requires constant maintenance, consider using plants that are native to your natural environment.

•Wash your car with a bucket of soapy water instead of a garden hose. A hose can waste as much as 150 gallons each time it's used to wash a car. That can add up quickly when you consider the number of vehicles owned by the average American family.

•Conserve one of our most precious natural resources by installing energy-efficient showerheads and faucets. These spouts help to restrict the flow of water and can greatly reduce the amount used in a month. To conserve even more water, consider taking showers instead of baths.•Plant trees: We all know that the roots of trees firmly hold on to the soil. As trees grow tall, they also keep rooting deeper into the soil. As the roots of the trees spread deep into the layers of soil which will prevent soil to be loose and erode.

As we have seen the use of natural resources and we need to save them from getting

depleted or it will affect dangerously on our ecosystem.