Chapter 16Management of Natural Resources

A resource is anything which can be used for the benefit of mankind.

Pencil, eraser, toothbrush, notebook, bus, chair, blackboard, trees, sun, computer, train, aeroplane, water,……

The list of resources goes on and on.In fact we ourselves are resources.

Nature + resources = Natural ResourcesNatural resources include total natural environment, that is the entire surface of the earth .

MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

NATURAL RESOURCES :-The Environment is everything which surrounds an organism and influences its life in many ways. It includes physical and biological components. The physical components of the environment are soil, water, air, light and temperature. These are termed as biotic components. The plants and animals are collectively referred to as biotic components. All these components of the environment work together, interact and modify the effect of one another.

The basic needs of life are fulfilled by materials present in the nature. They are air, water, soil, minerals, coal, petroleum, animals and plants. These are referred to as natural resources. Everyday, people manufacture various natural resources to satisfy their needs. Destruction of forests to cultivate agricultural crops reduced the forest area hence, upsetting the ecological balance.

Growing population, agriculture, industrialization and urbanization have put great pressure on mankind to overuse the natural resources.

Natural resources are the resources available in a nature like air, water, sunlight, soil, minerals, forests, wild

life etc.

Natural resources are of two main

types. They are renewable and non renewable

natural resources.

Renewable natural

resources :Are the resources which can be

replenished in a short period of time like air, water, sunlight,

forests etc.

Non renewable natural

resources:- Are the

resources which cannot

be replenished in a short

period of time like minerals

(coal, petroleum, natural gas, metals etc.)

because they take millions of

years to be formed.

Human activities

produce a lot of waste materials which are

thrown away into the

environment. These wastes

cause pollution of natural

resources like air, water and

soil.

I) Reduce :- means using less of natural resources and avoiding wastage of

natural resources.

ii) Recycle :- means the materials like paper,

plastic, glass, metals etc. used for making things can again be used for

making new things instead of synthesising or

extracting new paper, plastic, glass or metals.

iii) Reuse :- means using things again and again

like the plastic bottles in which we buy jams,

pickles etc can be again used for storing things in

the kitchen.

All the things we use and

consume are obtained from

natural resources. Due to increase in population,

industrialization and

urbanization the demand for natural

resources is increasing and

their availability is limited . So

there is a need for proper

management of natural

resources. The proper

management of natural resources

consists of :-

I) Judicious use of natural

resources and avoiding

wastage of natural

resources.

ii) Long term planning for the use of

natural resources so

that it last not only for the present but

also for future generations.

iii) The exploitation of

natural resources

should not be for the benefit

of a few people but should be

distributed equally for all.

iv) While extracting and using natural resources we should also plan for the

safe disposal of wastes so

that no damage is

caused to the environment.

NEED FOR MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES :-

MELTING OF POLAR ICE RISE IN SEA LEVELS

• Forests are natural habitats of plants and animals.

• Forests help to preserve biodiversity

• Forests provide wood, fuel, medicines, fodder, etc.

• Forests help to maintain the stability of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

• Forests help to prevent soil erosion and control floods.

Importance of forests

FORESTS ARE ‘BIODIVERSITY HOT SPOTS’

Nature and wild life

organizations

who want to

conserve and

preserve forests.

4

The Forest

Department of

the Governm

ent which

owns the forests

and controls

the resource

s from the

forests.

3

Industrialists who use the

raw materials

from forests

for manufact

uring certain goods.

2

People living in

or around forests

who depend

on forests

for their livelihoo

d.

1

STAKEHOLDERS

Affor

esta

tion

-

plan

ting

of

mor

e tr

ees.

Preventin

g over

grazin

g by

cattl

e.

Preventing

or reducing

deforestati

on.

Undertaking social forestry programs on a large scale.

Preventing over

grazing by

cattle.

By setting

up

wild

life

sanctuaries,

national parks,

biosp

here

reserves etc.

WILDLIFE

Wildlife helps to preserve biodiversity.

Wild life helps to maintain food chains

and food web.

We get useful products from

wild life.

We get food, bones, honey,

leather etc.

Conservation of Wildlife

Preserving the natural habitats of

animals.

Protecting endangered species

of animals.

Setting up of wildlife sanctuaries, national

parks, biosphere reserves etc.

Banning poaching of animals.

Sustainable management-Utilizing resources in such a way that resources are not fully exhausted in the present but also left outfor the future generations.

COAL AND PETROLEUMCOAL AND PETROLEUM ARE NATURAL RESOURCES.

THEY ARE ALSO CALLED FOSSIL FUELS.

THESE ARE FORMED DUE TO DEGRADATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS BUIRED UNDER THE EARTH MILLINS OF YEARS AGO.

FOSSIL FUELS

WHEN THESE FOSSIL FUELS ARE BURNT THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ARE

CO2 , H2O , SO2 , NO2 .

IF COMBUSTION TAKES PLACE IN AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF AIR THEN CARBON MONOXIDE IS PRODUCED.

THE ENVIROMENT IS BEING POLLUTED BY THE FOLLOWING-• 1. SULPHER DIOXIDES CAUSE

BRONCHITIS.• 2.NITROGEN OXIDES CAUSE ACID

RAIN. • 3.CARBON MONOXIDE CAUSES

SUFFOCATION AND IT IS A GREEN HOUSE GAS.

Coal Power Plant Operation

Coal Power

CheapCheaper per unit energy than oil or natural gasWill continue to be an important global resource

AbundanceCoal is the world’s most abundant fossil fuelSufficient reserves for the next 250 years.

Coal Power

ElectricitySupplying approximately 50% of electricity to the INDIA

EconomyCoal-mining stimulates over one million jobs .Coal contributes over $80 billion annually to the economy

Effects on the environment and Human health

SO2 o Sulfur dioxide combined with nitrogen

oxide react with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to form acidic compounds, which can mix with natural precipitation and fall to the earth as acid rain.

o Sulfur dioxide can also combine with nitrogen oxide and other particles to form particulate matter. o trigger heart attacks and strokeso lead to cardiac arrhythmia (irregular

heartbeat)o respiratory irritation, and worsen

asthma. o premature death (Both short-term

and long-term exposure)

Effects on the environment and Human health

Mercury One of the most dangerous pollutants released into the air

through the exhaust system when coal is burned.

WATER FOR ALLTHE VARIOUS SOURCES OF WATER WHICH ARE

AVAILABLE TO US ARE –RAINS ,RIVER ,LAKES ,PONDS etc.

RAIN IS VERY IMPORTANT SOURCE OF WATER. RAIN WATER IS STORED IN WATER BODIES .

RIVERS ARE IMPORTANT SOURCE OF WATER . THE MANAGEMENT OF RIVER WATER IS DONE BY

CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS

DAMS

DAMS

• THE LARGE RESERVIOR OF DAM STORES A HUGE AMOUNT OF WATER . WATER FROM DAMS ARE USED FOR IRRIGATION IN FIELDS. CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS ENSURE CONTINUES WATER SUPPLY TO TOWN AND CITIES. THE WATER SUPPLY FROM DAMS IS USED TO GENARATE ELECTRICITY.

THE PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO CONSTRUCTION OF LARGE DAM ON RIVER IS DUE TO FOLLOWING PROBLEMS

• 1. SOCIAL PROBLEMSDUE TO CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS ,A LAREGE NUMBER OF VILLAGERS

ARE SUBMERGED IN THE WATER AND MANY PEOPLE ARE RENDERED HOMELESS . THIS CREATES SOCIAL

PROBLEMS .

ENVIROMENTAL PROBLEMS

• THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS CAUSE DEFORESTRATION AND LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY.

• IT DISTURBS THE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE.

3. ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

• CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS INVOLVES THE SPENDING OF HUGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY WITH OUT GENERATIONS OF

PROPOTIONAL BENEFITS.

WATER HARVESTING

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF WATER HARVESTING IS NOT TO HOLD RAIN WATER ON THE SURFACE BUT TO MAKE RAIN WATER PERCOLATE UNDER THE GROUND SO AS TO RECHARGE GROUND WATER .

THE VARIOUS ADVANTAGE OF WATER STORED IN GROUND ARE-

1. IT DOES NOT EVAPORATE. 2. IT IS PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION.

3. IT DOES NOT PROMOTE BREEDING OF MOSQUITOES.

4. IT PROVIDE MOISTURE TO CROP FIELDS.

SOME ANCIENT WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURES

REGION STRUCTURE

1. RAJASTHAN KHADINS , NADINS 2. MAHARASHTRA TALS , BANDARAS 3. MP AND UP BUNDHINS 4. BIHAR AHARS , PYNES5. JAMMU PONDS6. TAMIL NADU ERIS7. KERALA SURANGAMS8. KARNATAKA KATTAS

THREE RS TO SAVE ENVIRONMENT• WE SHOULD USE LESS OF THE NATRUAL RESOURCE WHEN POSSIBLE.

REDUCE

• WE SHOULD COLLECT THE USED DISCHARGED PARTICLES

RECYCLE

• WE SHOULD REUSE SAME THING AGAIN .REUSE