EVS: Natural & Forest Resources

• Natural resources are covered by Bachelors EVS, Unit 1, Session 3

Natural Resources

• Natural resources include forest, water, food, energy, mineral and land resources

Forest Resources

• Forests are vast, natural ecosystems that cover about 31% of the Earth’s land area
• Forests include trees, plants, wildlife, and microorganisms
• Forests maintains an ecological balance
• Forests are classified based on climate and geography
• Tropical Rainforests: near the equator (Amazon, Congo, Southeast Asia).
• Temperate Forests: found in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.
• Boreal Forests (Taiga): Located in the northern hemisphere (Canada, Russia, Scandinavia).
• Mangrove Forests: Found along coastal regions, providing habitat and protection against erosion.

Uses of Forests

• Forests are used for Economic, Ecological, and Socio-Cultural purposes:
• Economic uses include:
• Timber Industry
• Non – Timber Forest Products
• Tourism and Recreation
• Employment Generation
• Ecological uses include:
• Oxygen Production
• Climate Regulation
• Biodiversity
• Conservation
• Soil Protection
• Water Cycle Regulation
• Socio-cultural uses include:
• Livelihood Support
• Spiritual and Cultural importance

Over exploitation of Forests due to

• Industrialization & Urbanization increases demand for wood and land
• Agricultural Expansion leads to forest clearance for crops like soybeans and palm oil.
• Infrastructure Development such as the Construction of roads, railways, and dams leads to deforestation.
• Overgrazing: causes excessive livestock grazing damage to young plants and trees.
• Illegal Logging leads to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.

Effects of Over-Exploitation

• Loss of Biodiversity disrupts ecosystems and endangers species.
• Soil Degradation leads to reduced soil fertility and desertification.
• Water Scarcity disrupts rainfall patterns, affecting agriculture.
• Increased Carbon Emissions: Reduces carbon sequestration, accelerating global warming.
• Approximately 13 million hectares of forests are lost annually due to over-exploitation.
• The Amazon Rainforest has lost 17% of its original cover in the last 50 years.

Deforestation

• Deforestation is the large-scale clearing or destruction of forests for human activities.
• Major Causes of Deforestation include:
• Agriculture accounts for 80% of global deforestation as forests are cleared for crops, livestock, and plantations.
• Logging involves both legal and illegal logging for timber, fuelwood, and paper industries.
• Urbanization & Infrastructure Development causes clearing of land for cities, roads, and industries.
• Mining Activities extracting minerals and fossil fuels leads to forest destruction.
• Forest Fires both natural and human-induced destroy vast forest areas.
• Consequences of Deforestation include:
• Climate Change with forest loss contributing to 15-20% of global carbon emissions.
• Loss of Habitat threatening nearly 50% of world species that live in forests.
• Soil Erosion & Desertification with loss of tree cover resulting in degraded land.
• Displacement of Indigenous Communities when traditional forest dwellers lose their homes and livelihoods.

Strategies to Prevent Over -Exploitation & Deforestation

• Afforestation involves planting trees in barren lands.
• Reforestation involves restoring lost forest cover.
• Sustainable Logging Practices use selective logging and Agroforestry integrating trees with crops.
• Forest Conservation Laws & Policies that include REDD + (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and Strengthening anti-logging laws and enforcement.
• Alternative Resources & Eco-friendly Products through Promoting bamboo, recycled wood, and biodegradable products.
• Community Involvement & Awareness by empowering indigenous communities to manage forests, and educating the public on responsible consumption.

Water Resources

• Water is a vital natural resource that sustains life, supports ecosystems, and drives economic activities.
• Surface Water includes rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, and oceans which are a major source of drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower.
• Rivers (e.g., Nile, Amazon) provide freshwater and facilitate transportation.
• Lakes (e.g., Great Lakes) store large amounts of freshwater.
• Oceans & Seas (97% of Earth's water) play a crucial role in the global climate system.
• Wetlands act as natural water purifiers and flood buffers.
• Ground Water is found beneath the Earth's surface in aquifers and is extracted through wells and boreholes, being a key source of drinking water in arid regions
• Shallow Aquifers are easily accessible but susceptible to contamination.
• Deep Aquifers store ancient water reserves but are non -renewable.

Use of water

• Domestic Use such as drinking, cooking, cleaning, sanitation use approximately 300–400 liters of water per day, per household
• ~70% of global freshwater is used for Agricultural for irrigation and livestock production
• ~20% of global freshwater consumption is used for Industrial uses such as the Cooling of various power plants, manufacturing, textile, and chemical industries.
• Hydroelectric Power. Generation of electricity comes from converting water movement using Dams and turbines
• Recreational & Ecological Uses include tourism (boating, fishing, beaches) and maintaining wildlife

Over exploitation of Water

• Overuse of Groundwater: Excessive irrigation lowers water tables and unregulated well drilling depletes aquifers

• Overuse of Surface Water: River water diversion reduces downstream flow and Damming and reservoirs disrupt natural water cycles.

• Effects of over-exploitation:

• Water scarcity affects agriculture and drinking water supply.

• Soil salinization reduces land fertility.

• Desertification occurs as water sources dry up.

Water Disasters include

• Floods that occur due to heavy rainfall, river overflow, hurricanes, or dam failures.
• Causes include extreme weather conditions due to climate change, deforestation reducing natural drainage, and poor urban planning.
• Effects loss of life and property, spread of waterborne diseases and agricultural destruction and food shortages.
• Mitigation Measures include building dams and levees to control water flow, reforestation to enhance water absorption and improved urban planning.
• Droughts are prolonged periods of water shortage due to insufficient rainfall.
• Causes include climate change reducing rainfall and over-extraction of groundwater, plus deforestation and land degradation disrupting the water cycle.
• Effects include agricultural failure, desertification, and water scarcity
• Mitigation and adaptation includes water conservation through rainwater harvesting, drought-resistant crop farming, and efficient irrigation techniques.

Water Conflicts

• Water Conflicts are caused by

• Unequal Distribution

• Transboundary Water Disputes:

• Water Pollution:

• Major Water Conflicts include:

• India-Pakistan (Indus River): Dispute over water-sharing under the Indus Waters Treaty.

• Egypt-Ethiopia-Sudan (Nile River): Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam affects water flow.

• Israel-Palestine (Jordan River): Water control is a geopolitical issue.

• Possible Solutions include various water based international agreements, joint river management programs between neighboring countries, and investments in water desalination & conservation technologies.

Mineral Resources

• Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure
• Minerals are formed over millions of years through geological processes.
• Mineral resources are classified into two broad categories:
• Metallic Minerals: Contain metals and are extracted for industrial use.
• Ferrous Minerals (Iron, Manganese, Nickel)
• Precious Metals (Gold, Silver, Platinum)
• Non-Ferrous Minerals (Copper, Aluminum, Zinc)
• Non-Metallic Minerals: Do not contain metals and are used for various industrial applications such as Industrial Minerals (Limestone, Graphite, Quartz) and Energy Minerals (Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Uranium)
• Major Mineral-Producing Countries include:
• Iron ore- Australia, Brazil, India
• Gold - China, Australia, Russia
• Copper - Chile, Peru, USA
• Coal - China, India, USA

Use of Minerals

• Industrial Uses:
• Iron & Steel Industry: Iron ore is used in construction, transportation, and machinery.
• Electronics: Copper, silicon, and rare earth minerals are used in smartphones, batteries, and semiconductors.
• Energy Generation:
• Coal & Petroleum are major sources of electricity and fuel
• Uranium is used in nuclear power plants.
• Construction & Infrastructure:
• Limestone & Sandstone for cement and concrete production.
• Granite & Marble for buildings and monuments.
• Agriculture & Medicine:
• Phosphate Minerals in fertilizers.
• Salt & Magnesium in food and medical industries.

Environmental effects of Mining

• Land Degradation
• Strip mining and open-pit mining remove topsoil, making land infertile
• Water Pollution
• Acid Mine Drainage (AMD): Sulfuric acid from mines contaminates rivers and groundwater.
• Mercury Contamination: Gold mining releases toxic mercury into water bodies.
• Air Pollution
• Mining dust and emissions from processing plants cause respiratory diseases. Coal mining releases methane, contributing to climate change.
• Loss of Biodiversity
• Mining disrupts ecosystems and destroys habitats of endangered species.
• Rare earth minerals (used in electronics) are being over-mined in China, leading to environmental pollution and depletion.

Sustainable Management

• Sustainable Management includes Recycling & Reuse of metals.
• Electronic waste recycling prevents mineral depletion
• Sustainable Mining Practices that use Eco-friendly mining techniques along with Rehabilitation of mined land through reforestation and soil restoration.
• Alternative Materials: Using synthetic materials that reduces mining demand.
• Stricter Regulations & Policies such as creating governmental laws to enforce environmental and Corporate responsibility programs to ensure ethical mining.
• Community Participation and Awareness. Involving local communities in resource management when promoting sustainable mining education.