10 Questions
What are the three elements of the 'Human development index' mentioned in the text?
Increased longevity, increase in knowledge, enhancement of income
How does fresh water get replenished on Earth after being used?
By evaporating into water vapor, forming clouds, and falling back as rain
Why can forests be considered non-renewable resources if overused?
Because once destroyed, they take thousands of years to regrow into fully developed ecosystems
Give an example of a non-renewable resource mentioned in the text.
Fossil fuels such as oil and coal
What are the consequences of water sources being heavily polluted?
It becomes impossible to use the water
What is the importance of watershed protection?
To prevent water sources from running dry due to overuse or wastage
What is the role of scientific forestry in forest conservation?
To ensure forests are managed sustainably for long-term benefits
Why is the long-term conservation of biodiversity important?
To maintain the balance of ecosystems and prevent species extinction
How do non-renewable resources behave once used?
They remain on earth in a different form and become waste material if not recycled
What are the indicators of the quality of ecosystems that are mentioned in the text?
Indicators that are more difficult to assess
Study Notes
Introduction to Natural Resources
- Our environment provides us with various goods and services necessary for our daily lives, including air, water, soil, minerals, climate, and solar energy.
- Natural resources consist of abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) parts, including plants, animals, and microbes.
- Plants and animals survive in communities, requiring specific abiotic conditions, and habitats include forests, grasslands, deserts, mountains, rivers, lakes, and marine environments.
Importance of Wilderness
- At least 10% of land and water bodies in each ecosystem should be preserved as wilderness to protect nature and natural resources.
- Wilderness areas cannot be artificially recreated, whereas industrial complexes or dams can be built in alternative locations.
Forests and Land Use
- Forests provide essential services, including maintaining oxygen levels, removing carbon dioxide, controlling water regimes, and slowing down erosion.
- Forests also produce various products, such as food, fuel, timber, fodder, medicinal plants, etc.
- The loss of forests is more significant in the long term than the short-term gains from converting forested lands to other uses.
Renewable Resources
- Renewable resources, like water and biological living resources, are only renewable within certain limits and are linked to natural cycles.
- Fresh water can be overused or wasted, leading to local water scarcity, and pollution can make water sources unusable.
- Forests, if overused, can take thousands of years to regrow into fully developed ecosystems.
Non-Renewable Resources
- Non-renewable resources, including minerals, are formed in the lithosphere over millions of years and constitute a closed system.
- These resources, once used, remain on earth in a different form and, unless recycled, become waste material.
- Examples of non-renewable resources include fossil fuels like oil and coal, which will soon be depleted if extracted at the current rate.
Sustainable Lifestyles
- Indicators of sustainable lifestyles include increased longevity, knowledge, and income, as well as the quality of human life and ecosystems.
- Long-term conservation of biodiversity, careful use of natural resources, and prevention of environmental degradation and pollution are essential for sustainable lifestyles.
Test your knowledge on the use and exploitation of mineral, food, energy, and land resources. Explore the environmental effects of extracting and utilizing these resources through case studies and examples.
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