Natural Resources and Their Management

Major Natural Resources:

(i) Water

(ii) Forest

(iii)Soil

(iv)Fossil Fuel

(v) Sunlight

(vi)Air

Management: Management of natural resources can involve judicious use, reduction of wastage and proper recycling. As most of the natural resources are limited in quantity so we should take every possible step to prevent their exhaustion. Even those resources which are available in plenty, like sunlight and air, need to be preserved from pollution. Proper management will ensure that we would leave a conducive environment for our future generations.

Water:

Source of Potable Water: Rivers, Lakes and Underground Reservoir.

Source of Water Pollution: Industrial Effluents, Sewage

Sewage in most of the cities in India flows into rivers or nearby ponds polluting the water. Some of the sewage percolates down to pollute even the underwater reservoir.

Depletion of Underground Water: Excess exploitation of underground water by bore wells is a major cause of depletion of underground water reservoir.

Remedies:

(II)Sewage treatment plants should be utilized to prevent water pollution. Sewage treatment plant filters out all the muck and cleanses water before releasing it into the river.

(III) Ban on bore wells will help reduce depletion of underground water reservoir. Like UK water supply can be privatized to ensure adequate supply of drinking water to masses. This will reduce the need for private bore wells.

(IV) Rainwater Harvesting is a process of catching rainwater and allow it to

seep down the ground which helps recharge the underground water reservoir.

Forest Benefits:

1. Forest is necessary to maintain the biodiversity and ecological balance of the earth.

2. Trees help prevent soil erosion.

3. Trees balances the excess Carbon Dioxide during photosynthesis, reducing

greenhouse effect.

4. Forest is a source of livelihood for tribes.

Causes of Deforestation:

1. Increasing human need for land for residential, commercial and agricultural purpose.

2. Need of timber for construction, furniture and industrial use.

Remedies:

Find a proper balance to address the need of all who are dependent on forest.

Conserve forests to conserve biodiversity.

Three Way Approach of Natural Resource Management:

Reduce: Reduce usage of natural resources. Avoid going by car to short distances, this will help preserve the fossil fuel. Reduce use of plastic bags can help in minimizing garbage.

Recycle & Reuse: Recycle as much as possible. Biodegradable packing materials, like jute bags, should be used instead of polythene bags. Indians are the best at recycling and reusing newspaper. Paper bags made of old newspaper should be used as extensively as possible. Aluminium cans, paper, glass, etc. should be recycled to make new items.