Introduction to Natural Resources

What is a natural resource?

Definition:

A natural resource is a material found within the natural environment that can be put to use by humans.

Renewable or Non-Renewable?

Renewable:•A resource that can be replenished/replaced naturally only if it can be replaced faster than it is consumed (can be mismanaged by humans)

Non-Renewable:•form slowly or do not naturally re-form in the environment. Once used, these cannot be replaced

Canadian Natural Resources

Minerals

Forestry

Fish

Value $ millions

Gold $5,560Iron Ore $5,318.9Copper $4,478.2Nickel $3,418.0Uranium $1,040Zinc $1,181Potash $6,981.4Diamonds $2,005.2Cement $1,702.5Coal $6,389.0

Canada’s Leading Minerals 2012

Gold

Uses• Jewellery • Conducts electricity (cables and computer

components)• Store of wealth

How many gold mines are there in Canada?

• Ontario and Quebec account for 82% of Canada’s gold production

Gold is a NON-RENEWABLE resource

• Why?

33

Potash• Canada is world’s largest potash exporter (43% of world trade) • 95% of the world’s potash consumption is for fertilizers

World Potash Production

Potash is produced in only 12 countries because high-quality, economically mineable deposits are geographically concentrated.

35 % of global capacity of potash is found in Saskatchewan

Rick Mercer videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA64vYy9ZK0

Potash is a NON-RENEWABLE resource

Coal

• Coal is used to produce energy in Canada and around the world

• The majority of Canada’s coal mines are in British Columbia and Alberta

Westar Open Pit Coal Mine. Sparwood, British Columbia, Canada, 1985Edward Burtiynsky

Mountains of coal in China – Edward Burtynsky

Forestry

Forestry

• Canada has the second largest continuous forested area on earth, after Russia.

• Forests covers 50% the nation's land mass and constituting 10% of the globe's forest cover.

• World's largest exporter of wood pulp, paper, sawn wood and wood-based panels.

Forests in North America

Forest ResourcesHardwood/Softwood Wood used for construction

Wood pulp for paper

Most forestry in Ontario and British Columbia

Forest resources are RENEWABLE

Clear-CuttingAn entire stand of trees is harvested from an area at one time. Method used the mostCan be implemented in blocks or patches

PROS• Fastest• Cheapest • Efficient future loggingCONS• Unattractive• Loss habitat• Exposed soil• Not good for tree species that require shade

Shelterwood Logging

• Used when the species to be regenerated require some protection from direct sunlight to become established

• Less direct visual impact until the final harvest

Single Tree Selection

Used to maintain uneven-aged stands (where the trees are all different ages) and where shade is needed.

• Forest regenerates naturally• Less footprint – minimize roads• Costly due to extra time

FishingUses:80% of catch is sold to other

countries

Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and British Columbia have the largest fishing industries

Renewable, BUT: Overfishing in Newfoundland

shut down the Cod industry

48 lbs. Ling Cod Winter Harbour. B.C.

Trawling

• One of the most common methods of fishing in the world.

• It involves towing one or more trawl nets behind a boat or in between two boats.

• Nets differ by their mesh size.

Dredging

• Towed dredges are used to collect shellfish such as scallops from the sea floor.

• The dredge is towed along the bottom until it is full, then lifted onto the boat and the contents tipped out.

Discussion Questions

• Canada makes a lot of money extracting and selling non-renewable resources (like coal, potash and gold).– Should Canada continue to mine and sell these

resources even though they will eventually run out?