Natural Resources PDF

Natural Resources 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 1 Source: https://www3.weforum.org/  Ecological Footprint Source: https://www.footprintnetwork.org/our-work/ecological-footprint/ 9/17/2024 EVS...

Natural Resources 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 1 Source: https://www3.weforum.org/  Ecological Footprint Source: https://www.footprintnetwork.org/our-work/ecological-footprint/ 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 2  Natural Resources 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 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 3 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. Source: https://www.ibef.org/industry/renewable- energy/infographic 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 4 Non-Renewable Resources 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. 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 5  Drivers of Resource demand and Consumption oGrowing population oExpanding industrial and service-related production oRising (average) income oGrowing middle class and/or expanding cohort of middle class oIncreasing urbanization 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 6  Discussion on oSoil and Land Resources oForest Resources oWater Resources oMineral Resources oEnergy Resources 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 7  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. Influencing factors? Parent material Time Climate Plants and animals Slope Source:ENVIS Puducherry 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 8  Soil & Land Resources Soil Horizon The process of soil formation generally involves the downward movement of clay, water, and dissolved ions, and a common result of that is the development of chemically and texturally different layers known as soil horizons Source:llustration by Madeline Schill. 2021 in Soils-Iowa’s Nature Series 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 9  Soil & Land Resources Classification of Soil in India The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) divided the Indian soils into eight major groups. oAlluvial Soils oBlack Soils oRed Soils oLaterite Soils oForest and Mountain Soils oArid and Desert Soils oSaline and Alkaline Soils oPeaty and Marshy Soils 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 10  Soil & Land Resources 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. Source:Down to Earth 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 11  Soil & Land Resources Source:Vedas.sac.gov 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 12  Forest Resources oForests play an important role in balancing the Earth's CO2 supply and exchange, acting as a key link between the atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere. oIt provides habitat for numerous animal species and is an important source of medicinal ingredients. oCommercial 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. oThe 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. 13 9/17/2024 EVS 2024  Forest Resources 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 Source: https://fsi.nic.in/scheme-of-classification 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 14  Forest Resources 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. Image: Shutterstock 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 15  Forest Resources Roles of Forest Source:CIFOR 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 16  Water Resources Projected water stress in 2040 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 17  Water Resources Indian Scenario o 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 o 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 o 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 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 18  Water Resources Indian Scenario Social and Political risks Economic risks Environmental risks 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 19  Water Resources Watershed management. Source:riversweb.org 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 20  Water Resources Water Scarcity And Need of Watershed management Adapted from FAO (Ed.), Coping With Water Scarcity: An Action Framework for Agriculture and Food Security. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2012. 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 21  Water Resources 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 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 22  Water Resources Water Conservation Techniques? Source: The statesman 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 23  Water Resources Water conservation Techniques? Source: Econaur.com Source: Dhanu et al (2019) 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 24  Mineral Resources Source: mines.gov.in 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 25  Mineral Resources 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 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 26  Energy Resources Non-renewable Fossil fuels : petroleum, coal, gas Renewable 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.) Sustainable Nuclear power 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 27  Energy Resources History of energy use Source: https://energyfocus.the-eic.com/power/energy-transition-starts-home 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 28  Energy Resources Energy and global politics 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 29  Energy Resources Energy Consumption by Source: India 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 30  Energy Resources India’s electricity use by sector Source: MOSPI, 2024 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 31  Energy Resources 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 32  Energy Resources Source: U.S. Energy Information Administratio n, Internatio nal Energy Outlook 2019 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 33  Energy Resources India’s power generation forecast by source. Source: Rystad energy research analysis, Rystad Energy RenewableCube, IRENA, IEA. 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 34  Energy Resources Renewables: Advantages and Disadvantages. Source: Abdul Halim et al (2023) 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 35  Energy Resources Way forward? 9/17/2024 EVS 2024 36