Natural Resources Conservation

NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSERVATION
By: Eng. Abdi Farah
WHY DO WE NEED TO CONSERVE
NATURAL RESOURCES?
• Life on this planet earth depends upon a variety of goods and
services provided by the nature, which are known as natural
resources.
• Examples of Natural Resources
Water
 air
 soil
 minerals
 coal
 forests
crops and
Wildlife
All living organisms are able to grow, develop and live by utilising
various natural resources
TYPES OFNATURAL RESOURCES
Renewable resources:
• which are inexhaustive and can be
regenerated within a given span of time
• EXAMPLE
• forests, wildlife, wind energy, biomass energy,
tidal energy, hydro power, Solar energy etc.
Non-renewable resources:
• which cannot be regenerated Once we
exhaust these reserves, the same cannot be
replenished.
• EXAMPLE
• Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, minerals etc.
• Even our renewable resources can become
non-renewable if we exploit them to such
extent that their rate of consumption exceeds
their rate of regeneration.
• For example, if a species is exploited so much
that its population size declines below the
threshold level then it is not able to sustain
itself and gradually the species becomes
endangered or extinct.
• It is very important to protect and conserve
our natural resources and use them in a wise
manner so that we do not exhaust them.
• It does not mean that we should stop using
most of the natural resources. Rather, we
should use the resources in such a way that
we always save enough of them for our future
generations.
A. Water—A Precious Natural
Resource
• Although water is very abundant on this earth,
yet it is very precious. Out of the total water
reserves of the world, about 97.4% is salty
water (marine) and only 2.6% is fresh water.
• Overuse of groundwater for drinking,
irrigation and domestic purposes has resulted
in rapid depletion of groundwater in various
regions leading to lowering of water table and
drying of wells.
• As per the United Nations estimates (2002), at
least 1.1 billion people do not even have
access to safe drinking water and 2.4 billion do
not have adequate sanitation facilities.
Increasing population and expanding
development would further increase the
demand for water.
• It is estimated that by 2024, two-thirds of the
world population would be suffering from
acute water shortage.
B. Land—A Finite and Valuable
Resource
• Land is a finite and very important resource upon which we
depend for our food, fibre and fuel wood, the basic
amenities of life.
• Soil, especially the top soil, is classified as a renewable
resource because it is continuously regenerated by natural
process though at a very slow rate.
• About 200-1000 years are needed for the formation of one
inch or 2.5 cm soil, depending upon the climate and the soil
type. But, when rate of erosion is faster than rate of
renewal, then the soil becomes a non-renewable resource.
• Hence, there is a need to conserve the land and prevent its
degradation.
C. Biodiversity—A Multi-valued
Resource
• The value of biodiversity in terms of its
commercial utility, ecological services, social
and aesthetic value is enormous.
• (i) Consumptive use value
• (ii) Productive use values
• (iii) Social value
• (iv) Ethical value (Existence value)
• (v) Aesthetic value
D. Economic and Environmental Value
of Forest Resources
• Forests are one of the most important natural
resources on this earth. Covering the earth like a
green blanket these forests not only produce
innumerable material goods, but also provide
several environmental services which are
essential for life.
• Forests are of immense value to us. They are not
only useful for industry but also for rural
economic growth. They offer huge potential for
reducing poverty while also conserving their
valuable key resources.
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
PRACTICES
• There are various types of conservation
practices for different natural resources.
A. Water Conservation
• Water being one of the most precious and
indispensable resources needs to be
conserved.
• The following strategies can be adopted for
conservation of water.
(i) Decreasing run-off losses
• Contour cultivation
• Conservation-bench terracing
• Water spreading
• Chemical wetting agents (Surfactants)
• Surface crop residues
• Chemical conditioners
• Water-storage structures
• (ii) Reducing evaporation losses
• (iii) Storing water in soil
• (iv) Reducing irrigation losses
• (v) Re-use of water
• (vi) Preventing wastage of water
• (vii) Increasing block pricing

Natural Resources Conservation

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NATURAL RESOURCES

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