ROLE OF INDIVIDUAL IN PRESERVING NATURAL

RESOURCES

NATURAL RESOURCE:Natural resources are materials and components (something that can be used) that can be found within the environment. Every man-made product is composed of natural resources (at its fundamental level). A natural resource may exist as a separate entity such as fresh water, and air, as well as a living organism such as a fish, or it may exist in an alternate form which must be processed to obtain the resource such as metal ores, oil, and most forms of energy.

TYPES OF CLASSIFICATION: Natural Resources are classified into different types

based on their origin and availability Based on their origin natural resources are of 2 types

they are: Biotic – Biotic resources are obtained from

the biosphere (living and organic material), such as forests, animals, birds, and fish and the materials that can be obtained from them. Fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum are also included in this category because they are formed from decayed organic matter.

Abiotic – Abiotic resources are those that come from non-living, non-organic material. Examples of abiotic resources include land, fresh water, air and heavy metals including ores such as gold, iron, copper, silver, etc.

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON AVAILABILITY:

Based on availability natural resources are classified into two types: Renewable resources: are ones that can be replenished naturally. Some of

these resources, like sunlight, air, wind, etc., are continuously available and their quantity is not noticeably affected by human consumption. Though many renewable resources do not have such a rapid recovery rate, these resources are susceptible to depletion by over-use. Resources from a human use perspective are classified as renewable only so long as the rate of replenishment/recovery exceeds that of the rate of consumption.

Non-renewable resources: are resources that form extremely slowly and those that do not naturally form in the environment. Minerals are the most common resource included in this category. By the human perspective, resources are non-renewable when their rate of consumption exceeds the rate of replenishment/recovery; a good example of this are fossil fuels, which are in this category because their rate of formation is extremely slow (potentially millions of years), meaning they are considered non-renewable. Some resources actually naturally deplete in amount without human interference, the most notable of these being radio-active elements such as uranium, which naturally decay into heavy metals. Of these, the metallic minerals can be re-used by recycling them, but coal and petroleum cannot be recycled.

BASIC NATURAL RESOURCES:•Forest resource: *forest is a land with wide range of

plants/tress and supports the ecosystem. *from forests man has productive

and protective use. *Threats to forest resources: .Deforestation .Desertification .Decrease in rainfall

Water resource: * Water is a liquid which is used for drinking ,

stabilization of temperature and for domestic purposes. *water is called as a universal solvent. *Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface and is

vital for all known forms of life. On Earth, 96.5% of the planet's water is found in oceans, 1.7% in groundwater, 1.7% in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, a small fraction in other large water bodies, and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation. Only 2.5% of the Earth's water is freshwater, and 98.8% of that water is in ice and groundwater. Less than 0.3% of all freshwater is in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere, and an even smaller amount of the Earth's freshwater (0.003%) is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products.

MINERAL RESOURCES

Minerals are commercially valuable non renewable resources.

A metal having definite chemical properties and indefinite physical properties is technically called mineral

Food Resource:Materials which provides energy and

maintains metabolism in body in called FoodPlants are primary producers of food

LAND RESOURCESLand Resource:Land is a area which constitutes biotic and

abiotic components .It is technically called as biosphere

Soil is an organic mixture of all minerals which are deposited as sediments.

Energy resources Energy Resource: Materials which provides energy are called

energy resources. Based on availability they are classified into

two types: Renewable energy resources Non renewable energy resources

MEASURES TO PRESERVE NATURAL RESOURCES:

MEASURES TO CONSERVE FOREST RESOURCES:

Main threat to forest resource is Deforestation.

Deforestation:Deforestation, clearance or clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use.

Measures to control Deforestation:   Reducing emissions from

deforestation and forest management.

Farming.We should not cut trees rapidly.Reduce mining activity.Afforestation.Prevent construction of dams.

Implementing Efficient Watering Methods in agriculture.

Sewage Treatment. Effluent Treatment. Preventing over exploitation of water. Prevent dumping of e wastes.

Measures to conserve water resources:

Measures to control mining:

•Use of improved technologies to allow use of low grade minerals at low cost.

•Bio-mining or bioleaching.•Reducing the consumption of minerals.

Measures to prevent soil erosion:

Planting wind breaks can be effective. A wind break is a line of plants that are planted to stop or slow the wind. A thick row of bushes planted next to a field of plants can stop the wind from blowing the soil away. This method also helps against water erosion, as the soil gets caught up against the roots of the bushes, rather than washing away.

Terracing can also be effective. Terraces are level places that have been made by people on hill sides. People can cut level sides into the side of hills to create a place to grow crops.

If the crops are growing on a slope, then one should plant them in lines that run across, the slope, rather than up and down. So, if the slope goes downhill to the south, then the plants should be in rows that run from east to west.

To prevent decomposition the government can put up wooden planks along the beaches, or they could build sea walls against the cliffs.

Steps to achieve Organic Farming: Mulching: Process of layering dry leaves around a plant and

sprinkle water on it which improves fertility naturally is called mulching.

Composting: Conversion of complex materials into simpler

form by microorganisms is called composting. Terrace/Contour farming: Developing of small trenches near the plant so

that water stays near the plant . This method is called terrace/contour farming.

Measures to conserve energy: Have your heating system inspected

regularly - especially if it's natural gas. A $50-100 annual tune-up can help reduce your heating costs by up to five percent.

When the fireplace is not in use, make sure fireplace dampers are sealed tight, and keep the glass doors closed. If you never use your fireplace, plug the chimney with fiberglass insulation and seal the doors with silicone caulk.

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs use 75 percent less energy than typical incandescent, and they last 10 times longer.

Get rid of spare refrigerators or freezers. An extra appliance can add more than $100 to your energy bills every year

-Rohith.ch ECE-A