NATURAL RESOURCES

WHAT ARE NATURAL RESOURCES?

Natural resources are living things from the Earth that living things need.

Plants

Animals

Air

Water

Land and Soil

Minerals

Forests

Resources are Life• Air, water, soil: we must breathe, eat and have shelter

to live. • To meet our “needs” and “wants” we use resources in

many different ways. • Natural resources: material that comes from our

natural environment (raw)

Classification of resources

Classification of resources

Flow Resources

• Replaced by natural actions whether humans use them or not

e.g. fresh water flowing through streams and rivers because of precipitation; ocean currents

EXIST B/C OF NATURAL SYSTEMS AND NATURAL PROCESSES

Solar EnergyWind

Fresh water

Waves, TidesAir

ENERGY RESOURCES

Energy is the capacity to work. We use energy at various levels in different forms. Two types of energy resources i.e. renewable energy resources and non renewable energy resources.

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Renewable resources & Non-renewable resources

Natural resources can be categorized as follows:• Renewable resources are ones that can be replenished or reproduced

easily. Some of them, like sunlight, air, wind, etc., are continuously available and their quantity is not affected by human consumption. Many renewable resources can be depleted by human use, but may also be replenished, thus maintaining a flow. Some of these, like agricultural crops, take a short time for renewal; others, like water, take a comparatively longer time, while still others, like forests, take even longer.

• Non-renewable resources are formed over very long geological periods. Minerals and fossil fuels are included in this category. Since their rate of formation is extremely slow, they cannot be replenished once they get depleted. Of these, the metallic minerals can be re-used by recycling them. But coal and petroleum cannot be recycled.

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Forests : Any area with lot of trees.

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

FOREST RESOURCES• Forest, an area with a high density of trees is a very complex ecosystem on

the earth. • The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) has defined forest as a land

with tree crown cover of more than 10% and area of more than 0.5 hectares.

• The Indian Government defines forest as a land having tree crown cover value of minimum 15%, land area value of minimum 0.05 ha and tree height value of minimum 2 meters.

• Forests are a very crucial natural resource and have always been central in human life.

• Forests provide renewable raw materials and energy, maintain biological diversity, mitigate climate change, protect land and water resources, provide recreation facilities, improve air quality and help alleviate poverty.

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Forest cover in India

• India’s Forest Cover accounts for 23.84% of the total geographical area of the country and tree cover.

• Tree Cover is defined as tree patches outside recorded forest (areas exclusive of forest cover and less than the minimum mappable area of one hectare) accounts for 2.82% of India’s geographical area (State of Forest Report, 2007, Published on 2009).

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IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS• Provides clean air. • Provides clean water. • Providing homes to plants and animals• Provides shelter for tribal people. • Provides commercial products. • Regulation of climate• Reducing global warming. • Soil conservation. • Pollution moderators. • Aesthetic value

OVER EXPLOITATION OF FORESTS

• Commercial demand. • Raw materials for industrial use. • Urbanization and moderanization.• Development projects for dams, roads,

hydroelectric projects, power stations, railways

• Growing food demands. • Fuel requirements.

Deforestation

• Deforestation refers to the cutting, clearing, and removal of rainforest or related ecosystems into less bio-diverse ecosystems such as pasture, cropland, or plantations

Causes of deforestationI. Overpopulation II. LoggingIII. Mining, Oil and gas extractionIV. Cattle ranchingV. Agriculture: Cash cropsVI. Local, National, and International factors:

development, land titles, government subsidies to attract corporations into developing countries, trade agreements (NAFTA, CAFTA), civil wars, debt, lack of resources, and lack of law enforcement

Statistics on Global Rates of Rainforest Destruction

• 2.4 acres (1 hectare) per second: equivalent to two U.S. football fields• 149 acres (60 hectares) per minute• 214,000 acres (86,000 hectares) per day: an area larger than New

York City• 78 million acres (31 million hectares) per year: an area larger than

Poland• On average, 137 species become extinct everyday; or 50,000 each

year!• *If the current rate of deforestation continues, the world's rain

forests will vanish within 100 years- causing unknown effects on global climate and eliminating the majority of plant and animal species on the planet

Timber extraction

• Timber is the wood used for engineering purposes like building houses, making furniture and for packing materials.

Effects of Timber extraction• Poor logging results in a degraded forest.• Floods may be intensified by cutting of trees or upstream watersheds.• Loss of biodiversity.• Climatic changes such as lower precipitation.• New logging roads permit shifting cultivators to gain access to logged areas

and fell the remaining trees.• Forest fragmentation which promotes loss of biodiversity because some

species of plants and animals require large continuous areas of similar habitat to survive.

• Exploitation of tribal people by the contractors.• Soil erosion specially on slopes occurs extensively.• loss of non-timber products and loss of long-term forest productivity on the

site affect the subsistence economy of the forest dwellers.

Food Resources• One tenth of the current world population :

Unmanaged Natural System • 90% present world population : Managed Natural

System (Agriculture)• The term agriculture, also includes livestock

husbandry, managed fisheries(aquaculture) and forestry.

• Therefore, the bulk of global food production(cereals, oils, livestock and fish) is dependent upon a whole range of agricultural systems.

FOOD RESOURCES •Our food comes almost entirely from agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing i.e.,

•76% from crop lands, •17% from range lands i.e., meat from grazing livestock and

•7% - marine and fresh water i.e., fisheries.

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FOOD PROBLEMSWorld Wide Problems1. Natural Catastrophes : Drought, Heavy Rain And Flooding, Crop Failures.2. Environmental Degradation Soil Erosion And Inadequate Water Resources.3. Food Supply and demand Imbalances.4. Inadequate Food Reserves.5. Warfare And Civil Disturbances.6. Migration Refugees.7. Culturally based Food Prejudices.8. Declining Ecological Conditions In Agricultural Regions.Problems Of The Developing World1. Underdevelopment.2. Excessive Population Growth.3. Lack Of Economic Incentives farmers Using Inappropriate Methods And Laboring On LandThey May Lose Or Can Never Hope To Own.4. Parents Lacking Knowledge Of Basic Nutrition For Their Children.5. Insufficient Government Attention To The Rural Sector.

Food ProblemsProblems of the Industrialized World1. Excessive use of natural resources.2. Pollution.3. Inefficient, animal-protein diets.4. Inadequate research in science and technology.5. Excessive government bureaucracy.6. Loss of farmland to competing uses.Problems Linking Industrial and Developing Worlds1. Unequal access to resources.2. Inadequate transfer of research and technology.3. Lack of development planning.4. Insufficient food aid.5. Politics of food aid and nutrition education.7. Inappropriate technological research.8. Inappropriate role of multinational corporations.9. Insufficient emphasis on agricultural development for self-sufficiency.

Causes of Food Problem• Quantitative aspect of food problem

Increasing Population:Natural Disasters : Draughts and Floods

• Qualitative aspects of food problemLess production of protective food.Low capacity for the purpose of nutritious articles.Refraining from meat, fish and eggs due to religious causes.Unawareness of balanced diet.

Food security• Food security is the ability of all people at all

times to access enough food for an active and healthy life.

• Three conditions must be fulfilled to ensure food security that is availability, access, utilization.

Minerals

• Minerals are naturally occurring substances that originally came from rock, such as phosphorous, bauxite, iron, salt, gold, silver, copper, and potassium. Many minerals are essential for the healthy growth of plants and animals.

Mining

• Minerals are extensively used in domestic, agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors and form a very important part of any nations economy.

• Mineral resources refers to a wide variety of materials obtained from earth. They may be:

• Metallic minerals(bauxite)• Non-metallic minerals(graphite)• Energy generating minerals(coal)

Major uses of some mineralsMetallic minerals Major uses

Iron Heavy machinery, steel production and transportation means.Aluminum Packaging food items, transportation, utensils, electronics.Chromium In making high strength steel alloys and in textile and tanning industriesCopper Electric and electronic goods, cables and vessels.Lead Leaded gasoline, car batteries, paints, ammunition.Manganese For making high strength, heat resistant steel alloys.Platinum Use in automobiles, catalytic converters, electronics, medical uses.Gold Ornaments, medical use, electronics and in aerospace.Silver Photography, electronics and jewellery.

Nonmetallic mineralsSilicate minerals Sand and gravel for construction, bricks, paving's etc.Limestone Used for concrete, building stone, used in agriculture for neutralizing acid

soils, used in cement industry.Potash Used as fertilizers.sulfur Used in medicines, car batteries and in industry.

Mining

Impacts of Mining

• Devegetation of landscape• Subsidence of land• Ground water contamination• Surface water pollution• Air pollution• Dust and noise pollution• Occupational health hazards• Ecological damage

Indian scenario of mining impact• Jaduguda uranium mine, Jharkhand. Exposed locals to

radioactive hazards.• Jharia coal mines, Jharkhand. Underground firing leading

to land subsidence and forced displacement of people.• Sukinda chromite mines, Orissa. Seepage of Cr(VI) into

river. Toxic and carcinogenic.• Kudremukh iron ore mine, Karnataka. River pollution and

threat to biodiversity.• East coast bauxite mine, Orissa. Land encroachment and

unsettled rehabilitation.• North-eastern coal fields, Assam. High sulfur

contamination of ground water.

Conservation of mineral resources

• Economy in the use of mineral resources.• Making finished products to last longer.• Use of less precious substitutes.• Renovation, recycling and reuse of metals.• Applying effective techniques to recover

materials from minerals.• Search of new earths treasures.• Protection of existing mineral deposits.

Dams

• Temple of modern india :≈ 1850 major dams• Largest : Bhakra Dam on Satluj in Himachal

Pradesh.• Highest : Tehri Dam on Bhagirathi in

Uttarakhand.

Effects due to Dams

• Upstream problems• Displacement of peoples• Deforestation and loss of biodiversity• Siltation and sedimentation• Stagnation and water logging• Changes in fisheries, breeding of vectors and aquatic

breeds.• Earthquakes due to induced seismicity by reservoirs.

Effects due to Dams

• Downstream problems• Water logging and salinity due to over irrigation.• Reduced water flow and silt deposition. • Salt water intrusion at river mouth.• Flash floods and loss of land fertility.• Micro-climate Changes.• Outbreak of vector-borne diseases.

WATER RESOURCES• Water is the driver of life, said Leonardo da vinci.

• Rare liquid, Natural resource and precious commodity, universal solvent.• In nature, it is never totally pure. We depend on its good quality and quantity for

drinking, recreation, use in industry and growing crops.• The worlds total quantum of water is 140x1016 m3 . 90% of all water on earth is

salty. • For every 1000 gallons of water on earth only 3 gallons are drinkable. Thus the

amount of water for which all people on the earth compete is much less than 1% of the total. The global supply of water is fixed and finite.

• The water that lashes the earth today as rains is the same water that evaporated yesterday from the seas.

Water is a Natural Resource

• People use water in many ways…– People, plants, and animals need water to live. – People use water for drinking and cooking.– Water is used for having fun, to swim or cool-off.– Water is also used for bathing and cleaning things.

Our supply of water will never run out. Water covers about 70% of the Earth. Remember, water is always being recycled.

Water resources

• Sea water : 97% in Oceans, 2.3% in Polar ice caps, 0.7% as Fresh water.

• Ground water : 0.66%• Surface water : 0.03%• Rain water : Hydrological cycle balanced in

nature.Cloud

formation Rain fall

Water resources• Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful.

• Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities.

• 97% of the water on the Earth is salt water. However, only three percent is fresh water; slightly over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps. The remaining unfrozen freshwater is found mainly 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.

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WATER QUALITY

• Water that exists in nature, like any other material, undergoes changes. These changes are driven by both physical and chemical means. Chemicals(either organic or inorganic) that dissolve in water can change its characteristics and may cause it to become contaminated. Among other things, these chemicals could change its pH, cause hardness, or add dissolved oxygen.

Fossil FuelsFossil fuels take millions of years to form. They are the product of the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals that have been exposed to the heat and pressure deep within the earth’s crust. There are many types of fossil fuels, such as petroleum (gasoline), natural gas, and coal. It is estimated that 86 percent of the world’s energy comes directly from burning fossil fuels.Fossil fuels are a major contributor to air pollution because when they are burned they release many dangerous gases such as nitrogen dioxide, methane, and carbon dioxide.

Solar EnergyThe sun is the closest star to Earth. It brings heat and light to the world. Some areas of the world, such as those closest to the equator, have more sun than others. The sun shines naturally but it is not affected by human activity. It cannot be used up. However, its intensity varies with the seasons, and it is not available at night.The sun’s rays are used for energy by organisms that undergo photosynthesis. Nearly every organism on the planet gets energy through photosynthesis, directly or indirectly. There are also ways that people can utilize the energy that the sun provides.We can use solar power in simple (facing the sun to get warm, using greenhouses to grow food, etc.) and more complex (solar panels for heating) ways.

WindThe wind blows naturally – it is not caused by human activity, and it cannot be used up.The power of the wind drives sailboats. It has been used to power windmills that grind grain. Windmills can also use the circular movement of the blades to turn a turbine. This is increasingly used as a means of generating electricity.Wind power does not make greenhouse gas emissions. It does not directly cause pollution. However, critics of wind power say a large number of windmills could cause problems for animals, especially migratory birds. Some people think the windmills are unattractive.

Soil, Rocks, and Minerals are Natural Resources

• A rock is a natural solid made of one or more minerals.

• Minerals are natural solids usually formed as crystals that are found in rocks. All rocks are made of one or more minerals.

Soil is a Natural Resource• Soil is the loose top layer of the earth’s surface.

All soil comes from rocks and minerals. • Although many of us don't think about the

ground beneath us or the soil that we walk on each day, the truth is soil is a very important resource. Think of the Earth as an egg. The shell is a very thin layer. Soil is the thin layer of the Earth’s surface.

Rocks are Natural Resources• A rock is a natural solid

made of one or more minerals.

Minerals are Natural Resources• Minerals are natural solids usually formed as

crystals that are found in rocks. All rocks are made of one or more minerals.

Plants are Natural Resources• Plants have many uses…

– They make surroundings more beautiful.– Trees are used for wood to build houses and make furniture.– Trees are also used to make paper.– Fabric is made from plants, like cotton.– Branches from plants are used for fuel to make a fire.– Plants are used for food: fruits, vegetables and grains.– Plants are used to make cooking oils, herbs, and spices for

seasoning foods.– Plants are also used to make medicines.– Some plants are even used to make rubber for tires.

. Geothermal energy

1Geothermal energy is power extracted from

heat stored under the earth’s crust. This power source is generally cost effective, usually reliable, mostly sustainable, and generally environmentally friendly.

Wind Energy

2. • Wind power is growing at a rate of 30% a year and is harmless to the

environment. • Three minor problems with wind energy however, wind is not available in

sufficient quantities in all locations all of the time, the current turbine technology tends to be loud, and birds can sometimes fly into the propellers and get killed.

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Solar energy

• Solar energy has been used by humans since the beginning of mankind.

• Three types of solar energy: passive solar energy, active solar energy, and solar energy created by converting solar radiation into electricity using photovoltaic cells.

• Solar energy using photovoltaic or solar cells is currently the fastest growing power generating technology in the world.

. Hydropower

4•Hydroelectric dams use hydro-power to produce electricity. •Hydro-power is created from the force of moving water turning large turbines to create electricity. •Modern age large scale hydroelectric dams however impact the environment through loss of natural habitat, changes to the downstream riverbed, the disruption of fish spawning, and even the loss of fish and other species.

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Tidal Hydro-power

5. •This is a form of hydro-power where the rising tide fills a damned reservoir, then as the tide lowers, the water is released through a turbine that produces electricity, similar to that of a hydroelectric dam.

Oil

•Crude oil is a naturally occurring highly toxic combustible liquid primarily made up of hydrocarbons.

•Oil is the result of the partial decaying of living organisms occurring in the rock strata of certain geological formations.

Coal

• Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock formed from fossilized plants.

• Coal consists of amorphous carbon with various organic and some inorganic compounds and is normally occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds.

• Coal is another highly toxic element that is bad for the environment, and currently is the largest source of energy for power plants, referred to as coal fired power plants.

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Natural Gas

3. • Natural gas is another combustible mixture of

hydrocarbon gases that occurs with petroleum deposits consisting primarily of the gas methane.

• It is found with other fossil fuels and in coal beds. It is created by the decay of methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills.

• Lower temperatures are likely to produce more petroleum, and higher temperatures are likely to produce more natural gas.

Nuclear Power

4. Nuclear power is produced by the controlled splitting of atoms, which is called nuclear fission.

• In m cases nuclear power plants use nuclear fission chain reactions to heat water, using the resulting steam to produce electricity.

• Uranium, specifically, uranium -235, is one of the few elements easily fission-ed.

• Some would think of this as renewable, but it is not, and it is also dangerous, as the radioactive materials used and the resulting radioactive waste are extremely hazardous to both humans and the environment.

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• Food security: It is the ability of all people at all times to access enough food for an active and healthy life.

• It is estimated that 18 million people worldwide, most of whom are children, die each year due to starvation or malnutrition, and many others suffer a variety of dietary deficiencies.

• If the world’s carrying capacity to produce food cannot meet the needs of a growing population, anarchy and conflict will follow.

SOLAR ENERGY

• Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar thermal energy, solar heating, artificial photo synthesis etc.

• It is an important source of renewable energy. Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular as the world takes notice of the burgeoning carbon emission problems that come with burning fossil fuels.

SOIL CONSERVATION

• 1 Biological methods - strip cropping(small strips on slopes), crop rotation, application of manure, shelter belt(green belts of trees) and vegetation cover.

• 2 Mechanical methods – contouring(on slopes), terracing(large areas on slopes), control of gully through retention of run-off, diversion of run-off and new structures.

ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY• The sun is constant. It will always be there and is therefore a

reliable, utterly renewable source of energy.• Solar energy does not emit any green house gases.• Solar energy is produced by conducting the sun’s radiation – a

process void of any smoke, gas or other chemical byproduct.• Solar energy doesn’t require expensive and ongoing raw

materials like oil or coal and beyond initial installation and maintenance it is free.

• Solar energy offers decentralization in most locations that is self-reliant and need no transportation.

ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR....• As solar energy doesn’t rely on constantly mining raw

materials, it doesn’t result in the destruction of forests and ecosystems that occurs with many fossil fuel operations.

• As solar energy doesn’t rely on the burning of harmful fuels to generate electricity,solar power is non-polluting. It doesn’t contribute to global warming or greenhouse gas emissions.

• Solar energy is renowned for its versatility, and can be used to power anything from a tiny torch to a satellite in space, without the need for wires, cords or power sources.

• Solar technology is improving and reducing in cost all the time, whereas fossil fuel prices are only steadily increasing.

DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY

• The biggest disadvantage of solar energy is that its not constant and doesn’t work at night. It also decreases over winter months when there are less sunlight hours and sun radiation is less intense.

• Solar energy production is inefficient as current widespread solar panel efficiency is at around 22% only. It means a fairly vast amount of surface area is required to produce adequate electricity, as solar panels are currently converting a maximum of 34% of the available sunlight.

• Solar electricity storage technology has not reached its potential as solar drip feed batteries available are currently costly and bulky.

• The methods by which we harness solar power are constantly being improved and, although efficiency and cost are not ideal right now, the future looks like it might be bright, sunny and solar powered.

Hydrogen energy

• Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen consists of only one proton and one electron. It is also the most plentiful element in the universe, but doesnot really exists as a separate form of matter. Instead it is usually combined with other elements. Production of hydrogen is possible by thermal dissociation, photolysis or electrolysis of water. To separate hydrogen gas from its companion substances takes a lot of work but it produces a powerful, nearly clean source of enrgy. As hydrogen burns in air , it combines with oxygen to form water and a large amount of energy (150 kilojoules per gms ) is released. Due to its high, rather the highest calorific value, hydrogen can serve as an excellent fuel.

Advantages of hydrogen energy• As hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe it is

readily available.• Hydrogen energy when burned, leaves almost no harmful

byproducts. In fact, when used in NASAs spaceships the burned hydrogen gas leaves behind clean drinking water for the astronauts.

• Hydrogen is also non-toxic and environment friendly fuel sources.• Hydrogen energy is very powerful and efficient . infact it is three

times as powerful as gasoline and similar fossil fuels, meaning it takes less of it to accomplish more.

• Unlike other conventional source of energy it is renewable and can be produced again. All we need is fossil fuels to break the water molecules.

DISADVANTAGES

• Hydrogen energy is expensive and time consuming to produce.

• Hydrogen energy is hard to move around as compared to other fuels.

• Existing infrastructure doesnot support the use of it and needs advanced structure for its functioning.

• Hydrogen being a powerful source of fuel , is highly inflammable and potential risks are associated with it.

• Though hydrogen energy is renewable but depends on fossil fuels to produce hydrogen fuel.

Section 1 Conserving Land and Soil

• 3 uses that change the land are agriculture, development, and mining.

• Less than 1/3 of Earth can be farmed. New farmland must be created for the growing populations.

• In the U.S. about a million hectares of farmland is developed each year.

• Development is the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, dams and other structures.

Mining• Mining is the removal of nonrenewable resources such as

iron, copper, and coal from the land.• Strip mining removes a strip of land to obtain minerals, and then replacing

the strip. This exposes the soil and can be washed or blown away. These areas can remain barren for years before they are rich enough to support the growth of new plants.

Protecting the Soil

• Poor soil management can result in 3 problems: erosion, nutrient depletion, and desertification.

Terms• Litter: The very top layer of dead leaves and grass.• Topsoil: A mixture of rock fragments, nutrients, water, air,

and decaying animal and plant matter.• Subsoil: Below the topsoil, contains rock fragments, water

and air, but less animal and plant matter.• Bedrock: Soil that makes up Earth’s crust.• It takes hundreds of years to form just a few centimeters of

new soil.

Erosion

Is the process by which water, wind, or ice moves particles of rocks or soil.

Nutrient Depletion• Nutrient Depletion: When farmers plant the same crops in a

field year after year. As a result, the plants use more nutrients than the decomposers can replace. The soil becomes less fertile.

Desertification

• The advance of desertlike conditions into areas that previously were fertile.

Review

• List three ways that people use land.• What are 3 problems that can occur when

topsoil is not properly managed?• Describe the effects of strip mining.• Describe two methods for reducing soil

erosion.

Indian Perspective

India, with only 2.3% of world’s total land area is supporting 18% and 15% of world’s human and livestock population, respectively. The per capita arable land in the country is only 0.15 ha and it is expected to come down to 0.08 ha by 2025. The increasing pressure on the scarce soil resource and unscientific practices adopted for short-term gains to meet the mounting multiple demands has led to over exploitation and degradation of these resources. Long-term sustained productivity is being ignored for short term gains.

It is a paradoxical situation that on the one hand more production is required from the scarce soil resources for meeting the demand of ever expanding population, on the other hand vast areas are either going out of cultivation or showing alarming reduction in productivity due to land degradation at an alarming rate. Therefore, reclamation of the degraded lands and prevention of any further degradation of land, are among the serious national challenges.

As per the recent estimates of National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, out of a total of 146.5 million ha of degraded land, water erosion affects 103.9 million ha, wind erosion 13.1 million ha physical deterioration 12.23 million ha, chemical deterioration 10.3 million ha and deterioration due to other complex problems is 7.2 million ha.

About my Country:

• Area: 3,287,590 sq km• Population: 1,188,310,000• Literacy : 61%• Government: Federal Democratic Republic• Unemployment: 10.7%• GDP: $3.57 trillion • Chief Occupations: Agriculture is the chief

occupation of the country followed by service and industrial jobs.

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Our Natural Resources Wealth• Land

– Arable Land: 48%– Forests: 22%

• Water– Total renewable water resources: 1,907.8 km3/year

• Soil– Many fertile soils including alluvial soil which comprises 80% of the total fertile soil

available

• Minerals– India occupies a prominent place in the world in the production of many minerals.

The chief minerals include Coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, diamonds, limestone, thorium, petroleum, natural gas

• Energy– India makes use of both renewable and non renewable energy resources. Energy

resources include natural gas, thermal, hydro, nuclear and other renewable sources.

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Our Natural Resources Wealth• Vegetation

– India has diverse vegetation which includes tropical rainforests, deciduous forests and coniferous forests. India has 6 % of the world’s flowering plants.

• Wildlife – India has many species of animals, birds and reptiles which includes

7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of avian, 6.2% of reptilian of the wildlife population in the world Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Sloth Bear and Indian Rhinoceros, antelopes are some of the important animals.

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Natural Resources Chart

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What is calling for our attention?• India as country is blessed with rich natural

resources. But from our research on the usage of natural resources in our country, we found that the resources are depleting every day. For example: – Forest and arable land is being depleted due to

urbanization, overpopulation and overconsumption– Wild life resources are being lost due to illegal

poaching, hunting and industrialization.– Water resources are being contaminated are drying

up due to industrialization.