Concept and introduction to natural resources

Nature has given us valuable resources like water, forests, wildlife, soil, air and minerals. All these are essential for our welfare and prosperity. Natural resources are the gifts of nature. Different types of natural resources are found in different places. Forest, animals and birds, air, water, sunlight, soil, minerals, mountains, pastures, etc. found in the environment are natural resources. Some of the natural resources are exhausted and some new resources have been found. Such process continues. For examples, old trees and plants, grass, etc. die. New trees and plants grow in that place.

Introduction:
Natural resources are the natural gifts which are formed by the earths natural processes. Soil, water, minerals, sun, air, fossil fuels, forest, grass, land and wildlife are the natural resources. Every resources has some utility. Nature has been kind to man. Ever since its appearance on the earths surface, man has been dependent on nature resources for his subsistence. All organism also depend on natural resources for their survival, reproduction, growth and development. Natural resources change with time and therefore their utility also gets changed.

Classification of natural resources
Natural resources can be categories into three types:

i)Renewable natural resources:
Some natural resources are used as food, some as raw materials and others as sources of energy. Some resources, such as plant and animals are replaced from time to time because they have a life-cycle and a continuous harvest is possible. Hence they are called renewable resources. For example, in the forest, old trees, grass and other vegetation die and get replaced by new vegetation.

ii)Non-renewable natural resources:
Some resources are not regenerated because they do not have a life cycle, so, they are termed as non-renewable natural resources. For examples, mineral deposits are formed slowly over millions f years and once used cannot be regenerated. Besides, some of the natural resources like coal, petroleum or metallic ores are said to be non-renewable.

iii)Exhausted natural resources:
The resources which don not get exhausted after large exploitation is called exhausted natural resources. As for example, solar energy, water tides and air. The solar energy is never ending resource and it will exist till there is sun. Air is the free gift of the nature but it polluted by many factors. The solar energy, air and water are free gift bestowed by the nature. Flowing water is also exhausted natural resources.