Natural Resources PDF

NATURAL RESOURCES; 'Ecological Footprint' is the ecological services that a given population requires to produce the natural resources it consumes and to assimilate waste and carbon emissions generated whereas 'biocapacity' is the productivity of the planet's ecological assets to regenerate its na...

NATURAL RESOURCES; 'Ecological Footprint' is the ecological services that a given population requires to produce the natural resources it consumes and to assimilate waste and carbon emissions generated whereas 'biocapacity' is the productivity of the planet's ecological assets to regenerate its natural resources and absorb the wastes and carbon emissions generated.​ An ecological deficit occurs when the [[Ecological Footprint]](http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/glossary/#Ecologicalfootprint) of a population exceeds the [[biocapacity]](http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/glossary/#biocapacity) of the area available to that population. A national ecological deficit means that the nation is importing biocapacity through trade, liquidating national ecological assets or emitting carbon dioxide waste into the atmosphere. An ecological reserve exists when the biocapacity of a region exceeds its population\'s Ecological Footprint.​ - Natural resources are materials, energy, and their attributes that are derived from the Earth and are useful or of value to the maintenance and improvement of the quality of human life. The harmonious links between soils, plants, animals, solar energy, and water in a functioning Earth ensures the availability of natural resources such as clean water, fertile soil, and clean air to sustain human existence on our planet Natural resources are often categorized as renewable or nonrenewable Renewable Resources Renewable resources are the products of the natural processes resulting from the harmonious interactions of the physical and biological components of the Earth's systems Renewable resources regenerate naturally as long as the well-balanced flow of matter and energy within the system is not altered by natural catastrophe or human activity. Solar power:46.28% Wind power:39.87% Bio-power:10.58% Small hydro:4.81% Nonrenewable resources are those that are present in finite quantities and cannot be regenerated within the lifespan of humans after they are harvested or used. These include fossil fuels, minerals, and ores They are considered nonrenewable because the rate at which they are regenerated is extremely slow on the timescale of human perspective. Soil & Land Resources - **Understanding Soil Formation** The upper layer of the ground made of unconsolidated material produced due to weathering agencies from the rocks and generally modified subsequently by a variety of mechanical, chemical and organic processes all operating constantly in a complex manner. - **Soil Horizon** - **Classification of Soil in India** - The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) divided the Indian soils into eight major groups. - Alluvial Soils - Black Soils - Red Soils - Laterite Soils - Forest and Mountain Soils - Arid and Desert Soils - Saline and Alkaline Soils - Peaty and Marshy Soils - **Understanding Land and its degradation** The most important natural resource of the country is land, which is the base for agricultural production. While population grows, the land surface is fixed, and of this only a certain proportion is available for cultivation. Several aspects of the problem need to be studied. The most important natural resource of the country is land, which is the base for agricultural production. While population grows, the land surface is fixed, and of this only a certain proportion is available for cultivation. Several aspects of the problem need to be studied. Through irrigation and other measures of agricultural development, the productivity of land can be considerably increased. It is necessary to ascertain the extent to which land now lying waste can become available for cultivation. Increasing population also means withdrawal of areas now under farms for building houses. Development of communications such as roads, railways, and airways may take up fertile land. Owing to rapid urbanisation and growth of large cities land is needed for parks and open spaces. Irrigation dams may submerge fertile areas. Industrial plants and other establishments also require substantial areas Forest Resources - Forests play an important role in balancing the Earth\'s CO~2~ supply and exchange, acting as a key link between the atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere. - It provides habitat for numerous animal species and is an important source of medicinal ingredients. - Commercial forestry is an important industry throughout the world. Forests are cropped and re-harvested, and the new areas continually sought for providing a new source of lumber.  - The main issues concerning forest management are depletion due to natural causes (fires and infestations) or human activity (clear-cutting, burning, land conversion), and monitoring of health and growth for effective commercial exploitation and conservation. - **Scheme of classification in India** ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Very dense Forest All Lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density of 70% and above Mod Dense forest All lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density between 40% and 70% above Open forest All lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density between 10% and 40% Scurb All forest lands with poor tree growth mainly of small or stunted trees having canopy density less than 10 percent Non Forest Any area not included in the above classes ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *More than two-thirds of India's forest land (approximately 31 million hectares) is classified as open forests, i.e., forests with a tree canopy of less than 40 percent. All of this land is available for energy production through regeneration.* - **Roles of Forest** Water Resources - **Indian Scenario** - India receives about 4000 billion cubic metre (BCM) of precipitation in a year, but 80−95% of this is received during three to four months of monsoon season - Spatial distribution of water is also highly uneven. Annually, arid and semi-arid regions of western India receive 300−500 mm rainfall, while humid regions of eastern India receive about 3000 mm rainfall - With increasing urbanization and water demand, the per capita water availability in the country has declined by almost 20% in the last two decades and is likely to decline by another 20% by 2050, making India a water-scarce country India has more than 18% of the World's population, but only 4% of the World's renewable water resources and 2.44% of World's geographical area. As per report of National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD), the total water availability of India received through precipitation is about 4000 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) per annum. After evaporation, 1869 BCM water is available as natural runoff. Due to topographical and other factors, the utilisable water availability is limited to 1137 BCM per annum, comprising of 690 BCM of surface water and 447 BCM of replenishable ground water. Availability of water is highly uneven in both space and time, with monsoon confined only to four months in a year with substantially rainwater as well as evaporation. Precipitation varies from 100 millimeter (mm) in the Western parts of Rajasthan to over 10,000 mm in Meghalaya. By 2030, 40% of India\'s population, up from 34% in 2011, is expected to reside in urban regions.31% of urban homes do not have access to public tap water or piping for drinking.In urban India, 67.3% of homes lack access to a piped sewage discharge system.According to the Centre of Science and Environment, groundwater supplies 48% of India\'s urban water needs.The average amount of water given by urban local authorities in India is 69.25 liters per person per day.Water in cities must be accessible in quantities of 135 liters per person per day. - Social and Political risks - Economic risks - Environmental risks - **Watershed management** - - **Watershed management programme** - To control damaging runoff and degradation and thereby conservation of soil and water. - To manage and utilize the runoff water for useful purpose. - To protect, conserve and improve the land of watershed for more efficient and sustained production. - To protect and enhance the water resource originating in the watershed. - To check soil erosion and to reduce the effect of sediment yield on the watershed. - To rehabilitate the deteriorating lands. - To moderate the floods peaks at down stream areas. - To increase infiltration of rainwater. - To improve and increase the production of timbers, fodder and wild life resource. - To enhance the ground water recharge, wherever applicable Critical minerals are those minerals which are essential for economic development and national security, the lack of availability of these minerals or even concentration of existence, extraction or processing of these minerals in few geographical locations may lead to supply chain vulnerability and disruption - - Wind - Wave \[Tidal energy\] - OTEC \[Ocean thermal exchange capacitors\] - Solar - Hydro-power (renewable?/sustainable?) - Hydrogen energy - Fuel-cells - Biofuels: biomass energy (including wood, cow dung etc.) Hydro power's categorization as a renewable or sustainable fuel is somewhat questionable because of the limited supply of rivers and also its environmental and social impacts. **History of energy use\ ** **Energy and global politics** Post industrial revolution, energy has taken on a central role in our lives. This can also be seen in our global politics. Most major events in recent times have or have been influenced by energy and its sources. **Energy Consumption by Source: India**  India is still heavily reliant on Coal and Oil and is steadily increasing even in 2023. **India's electricity use by sector**  But if you look at per capita consumption of energy, India is still very low. This is because large energy inequities exist in India across social, economic, and geographic hierarchies**.** As these inequities are addressed, India's energy consumption will almost certainly will rise. The question is how is India going to meet its increasing energy demand and tackle climate change at the same time. **India's power generation forecast by source.** While it is expected that India's power generation will move increasingly towards renewable energy sources, it is by no means a guarantee. Over the expected rise in energy demand, the uncertainty of power generation using renewables and abundant supply of coal and the relatively simple technology required to generate energy from may buckle this trend. **Renewables: Advantages and Disadvantages.**  The upper layer of the ground made of unconsolidated material produced due to weathering agencies from the rocks and generally modified subsequently by a variety of mechanical, chemical and organic processes all operating constantly in a complex manner.​ - - - - - - -