Natural Resources and Their Use
Study Notes + Worksheet with Answers | India and the World: Land and the People
For something to become a resource, it must be:
π§ Technologically Accessible
We must have the technology to reach/extract it.
π° Economically Feasible
The cost of extraction should be practical.
π€ Culturally Acceptable
Society must permit its use (e.g., sacred groves cannot be cut).
π Essential for Life
- Air, Water, Soil/Food
- Cannot be made by humans
- Taken from atmosphere, rivers, land
πͺ΅ Resources for Materials
- Wood, marble, coal, gold
- Used to create objects of utility and beauty
- India's diversity gives us great variety
β‘ Resources for Energy
- Coal, petroleum, natural gas
- Sunlight, wind, flowing water
- Drives electricity, transport, production
Nature's Principle: Nature works in cycles β it restores and regenerates itself. Restoration = returning to original state. Regeneration = creating new life.
π Uneven Distribution
Resources are not spread equally across regions or countries. This shapes trade, settlements, and power.
π Employment & Growth
Industries near resources create jobs. Townships grow. Better facilities become available.
βοΈ Conflicts
Wars are fought over resources. People get displaced. Sacred places are threatened.
π Shared Rivers
Rivers cross borders. Example: Kaveri river shared by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry β requires careful management.
| Mineral | Important Locations in India |
|---|---|
| Coal | Jharia, Bokaro, Raniganj, Korba, Talcher, Singareni |
| Iron Ore | Bailadila, Gua, Keonjhar, Ballari, Kudremukh |
| Oil | Digboi, Mumbai High, Ankleshwar, Kalol, Bassein |
| Bauxite | Katni, Amarkantak, Koraput, Ratnagiri |
Abundant natural resources do not automatically make a country rich. Economies that fail to develop value-adding industries remain poor despite their resources. India has largely avoided this by investing in industries that process resources into products of higher value.
Irresponsible use leads to: Pollution Β· Biodiversity loss Β· Climate change
π° Punjab Groundwater Crisis
- Green Revolution (1960s) needed more water
- Free electricity β over-pumping
- Chemicals dissolved in groundwater
- 80% of Punjab area = over-exploited
- Water now inaccessible till 30m depth
πΎ Sikkim Organic Farming
- Switched from chemical to organic farming
- Used compost, neem, garlic as repellents
- Multi-cropping introduced
- 2016: 100% organic state
- Farmers' incomes grew by 20%
- Biodiversity and tourism increased
ποΈ Cement & Pollution
- One of the most polluting industries
- Dust damages lungs, plants, soil, water
- CPCB has guidelines to minimise pollution
- Alternatives: stone, mud, plant-based, recycled plastic materials
βοΈ International Solar Alliance
- India + France launched in 2015
- Coalition of sunshine-rich countries
- Channels billions into solar projects
- Bhadla Solar Park = symbol of India's solar ambitions
An ancient Indian science of plant care. VαΉikαΉ£ha = tree, Ayurveda = science of life. Formalised by Surapala (~10th century CE). It covers soil types for plants, seed preservation, irrigation, natural pest management, crop rotation, and mixed cropping β all for sustainable soil health.
A forest filters water, prevents soil erosion, provides habitat (= ecosystem functions). When WE benefit from clean water, protected farmland, pollinated crops (= ecosystem services).
π A mature tree produces ~275 litres of oxygen/day. A human needs ~350 litres/day.
- Natural resources = materials/substances from Nature, valuable to humans.
- Categorised by use (life/materials/energy) or by renewal ability (renewable/non-renewable).
- The 'resource curse' is overcome through investment in technology and skills.
- Renewables must not be over-exploited; non-renewables must be used judiciously.
- We must act as stewards of Nature β restore, regenerate, sustain.
π Worksheet
Questions from the Exercise + In-Chapter Activities β with Short, Easy Answers
π Exercise Questions (End of Chapter)
A renewable resource becomes non-renewable when we use it faster than Nature can restore it. Examples:
- Cutting forests faster than they regrow β timber runs out
- Pumping groundwater faster than rain refills it β wells dry up
Actions to prevent it:
- Use resources only at the rate Nature can renew them
- Practice water harvesting and conservation
- Avoid deforestation; plant trees
- Use organic farming to preserve soil
- Switch to renewable energy (solar, wind)
- Forests filter and purify water
- Tree roots prevent soil erosion
- Bees and insects pollinate crops
- Trees produce oxygen (about 275 litres/day per tree)
- Forests regulate climate and absorb carbon dioxide
Renewable resources can be naturally replenished over time (e.g., sunlight, river water, forests).
Non-renewable resources take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly (e.g., coal, petroleum, gold).
To ensure renewables continue:
- Do not harvest timber faster than forests can regrow
- Avoid over-pumping groundwater; practice rainwater harvesting
- Avoid polluting rivers and water bodies
Two examples of renewable resources: Solar energy, Wind energy
- TulasΔ« puja β treating plants as sacred, which protects them
- Offering arghyam (water) to the sun β expressing gratitude to Nature
- Not cutting trees in sacred groves β preserves forest cover
- Not wasting food or water during festivals and daily life
- Seasonal fishing restrictions in fishing communities β allows fish to breed
- Composting kitchen waste β returns nutrients to the soil
- Production should not pollute air, water, or soil (e.g., industrial waste discharge)
- Use sustainable materials β less polluting alternatives to cement, plastic
- Prefer renewable energy in production processes
- Minimise waste generation; recycle and reuse wherever possible
- Ensure fair access to resources for all sections of society
- Think about long-term impact on future generations, not just short-term profit
π In-Chapter Questions (Think About It / Let's Explore)
What might be the different criteria we can use to categorise natural resources?
- By use: Resources for life, for materials, for energy
- By renewal: Renewable or non-renewable
- By origin: Biotic (from living things) or abiotic (from non-living things)
- By location: Land resources, water resources, atmosphere resources
Look at yourself and the things around you. What is the origin of each of them?
Everything traces back to Nature. For example:
- Cotton shirt β cotton plant (Nature)
- Plastic button β petroleum (fossil fuel from Nature)
- Metal pen β iron ore mined from earth
- Paper β wood from trees
- Glass window β sand (silica)
What are the non-renewable resources you use daily, directly or indirectly? What are renewable substitutes?
| Non-Renewable Used | Renewable Substitute |
|---|---|
| Coal / electricity from coal | Solar energy / wind energy |
| Petrol / diesel (vehicle fuel) | Electric vehicles (charged by solar) |
| Plastic (from petroleum) | Bamboo / jute / biodegradable materials |
| LPG cooking gas | Biogas / solar cookers |
What are the different inputs required to use natural resources in different geographical areas?
- Technology β to extract, process, and use resources
- Capital/Finance β money to build industries and infrastructure
- Human skills and labour β trained workers and engineers
- Good governance β policies for fair and sustainable use
- Infrastructure β roads, power, transport to move resources
- Strategic planning β to balance current use with future needs
Identify human actions in your surroundings that result in Nature losing her ability to restore and regenerate. What types of interventions can restore Nature's cycle?
Harmful human actions:
- Industrial waste discharged into rivers (poisons water)
- Overuse of chemical fertilisers/pesticides (destroys soil health)
- Deforestation for construction
- Over-extraction of groundwater
- Burning fossil fuels (climate change, glacier melt)
Interventions to restore:
- Rainwater harvesting and pond rejuvenation
- Organic farming and composting
- Planting native trees (afforestation)
- Treating industrial waste before discharge
- Switching to renewable energy
π The Big Questions (Chapter Opening)
How do we categorise natural resources?
By use: Resources essential for life (air, water, soil) | Resources for materials (wood, stone, metals) | Resources for energy (coal, solar, wind)
By renewal: Renewable (replenish naturally β sunlight, wind, water) | Non-renewable (cannot be replaced quickly β coal, petroleum, minerals)
What is the connection between the distribution of natural resources and different aspects of life?
- Human settlements grow near resource-rich areas
- Trade patterns depend on where resources are located
- Employment is created by industries near resources
- Conflicts and wars are fought over control of resources
- International relations are shaped by who has what resources
- River disputes arise when resources (water) cross borders (e.g., Kaveri)
What are the implications of unsustainable use / over-exploitation of natural resources?
- Depletion β resources run out (Punjab groundwater crisis)
- Pollution β industrial waste poisons rivers, air, soil
- Biodiversity loss β ecosystems collapse when habitats are destroyed
- Climate change β burning fossil fuels, deforestation raise temperatures
- Soil degradation β chemical overuse reduces crop yields
- Water scarcity β cities may run out of groundwater
- Health hazards β chemical-contaminated water causes diseases