Env 2001 Sustainable Resource Management PDF

ENV 2001 SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Dr. Betty Mbatia Office Number: SC 31 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: By Appointment OR Mon/Wed 2.00-4.00 PM Tue/Thur 2.00 -3.00 PM By the end of this class you will be able to: Discuss the different classifications of...

ENV 2001 SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Dr. Betty Mbatia Office Number: SC 31 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: By Appointment OR Mon/Wed 2.00-4.00 PM Tue/Thur 2.00 -3.00 PM By the end of this class you will be able to: Discuss the different classifications of natural resources Explain the different uses of resources Define environmental sustainability Describe key principles of sustainability Describe what causes environmental problems and why they persist Introduction to Sustainable Resource Management https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Puv0Pss33M What is a resource? 1. Resource Anything obtained from the living and non-living environment to meet human needs, e.g. minerals, wildlife, etc. 2. Natural Resource The earth’s natural materials and processes that support life on earth and our economies, e.g., land, water, forests, energy, etc.  Classification of Earth’s Natural Resources Natural resources can be broadly classified as: 1. Organic or Inorganic The inorganic resources. They can contain elements like oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and many others, but they do not necessarily contain carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds. They include non-living substances such as: Fuels (Hydrogen-used as a fuel for fuel cells, aluminum or magnesium powder- undergo exothermic reaction when reacted with an oxide, nuclear fuel) Water Metalliferous ores Building stones Chemicals and raw materials from the earth Soil –a complex mixture of both organic and inorganic components. It consists of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air  The inorganic components of soil consist of mineral particles derived from the weathering of rocks. These mineral particles are categorized by size:  Sand: Larger mineral particles that provide good drainage but have low water and nutrient-holding capacity.  Silt: Intermediate-sized particles that have good water and nutrient-holding capacity.  Clay: Smaller particles that have excellent water and nutrient- holding capacity but can lead to poor drainage.  Natural Resources Organic resources are substances that contain carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen, oxygen, and other elements. Usually they have C-H bond They are derived from living organisms or once-living matter on the earth such as: Plants Natural pasture Wild life Fishes Textiles Food etc fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) organic or inorgani  Natural Resources 2. Natural resources may also be classified based on the level of abundance/renewability; that is: Inexhaustible e.g. Quantity is unaffected by consumption. They include: Air, Sand, wind , sun , solar energy , tides etc also renewable Non – renewable (coal, oil, nuclear energy, minerals, fossil fuels)-resources that take longer than a person’s life span to be replaced. They exists in fixed quantities hence diminishes with use Renewable ( e.g. water, trees, pasture , biomass, geothermal, hydropower etc.)- They are resources that can re-grow or be replaced within a person’s lifespan. They can be replaced at the rate at which they are used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLBK1ux5b7U  Renewable resources are typically considered inexhaustible because they are naturally replenished over time and can be used sustainably without running out. However, in some cases, renewable resources can be overexploited or mismanaged, leading to a situation where they become effectively exhaustible in the short term.  This occurs when the rate of extraction or use exceeds the resource's natural replenishment rate. Classification of Natural Resources 3. On the basis of origin: Biotic and Abiotic Resources Biotic resources are obtained from living things, e.g., forests and their products; birds and their products, fossil fuels, etc; Abiotic resources comprise of non-living things, e.g., land, water, etc; Classification of Natural Resources 4. On the basis of the stage of development: Potential and Actual Potential resources are those which exist in a region and may be used in the future Actual resources are resources which are being exploited at the present time Uses/Value of Resources What are the uses of resources? Uses/Value of Resources Economic – used to produce goods , e.g. minerals; Uses/Value of Resources Aesthetic – are beautiful, e.g., plants, star fishes Medicinal – e.g. neem plant, etc Scientific – used in research, e.g., insects; Recreational – used in sporting activities, e.g., water; Cultural – cleansing of taboos in communities; Religious – some plants or animals are considered sacred Others? Value of a Resource What makes a resource valuable? Value of a Resource This is influenced by several factors: - The needs of people/demand e.g. for timber in the construction industry, land The level of technological development of the people, e.g., in the field of medicine: Herbs vs. Tablets; Time –can change the value of a resource as people discover new uses for the resource, e.g., land Characteristics of a Resource Utility – they have value/use Quantity – are available in certain amounts Used to produce other resources  What are the Environmental Impacts of Exploitation and Use of Resources? Environmental Impact of Exploitation and Use of Resources Impacts include: - Soil erosion Pollution (water, air, soil, noise) Deforestation Loss of biodiversity Overgrazing Loss of ground water Climate Change Loss of soil fertility Hazardous Waste Ocean acidification Resourses depletion Climate change e.t.c Resource Degradation/Depletion A natural resource becomes degraded when the rate at which it is used far much outstrips its ability to replenish itself, e.g., overgrazing; It is often due to overuse Resources affected are the free-access resources, like wildlife, forests, open water, etc Degradation may also be due to Political environment Corruption/greed Rising human population Sustainability The pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that the needs of future generations can also be met. It comes from the word to sustain, which means to support, maintain or endure. Sustainable management of resources entails exploitation of resources to meet peoples needs without depleting the natural capital that supplies these resources.