Why are Natural resources important?

Any substance that is used by us in any form makes it a resource. For example, the air is a gift of nature. Humans have learned to use it as a source of energy through windmills. Similarly, sunlight is a resource as plants use this energy to grow. Solar energy is also converted into electricity and thus, is another resource for us. Water is also a natural resource that we drink and use for agriculture and domestic purposes. We use electricity to run various appliances, carry goods and people, and thus see that all these substances become our resources. Hence, we can say that anything that can be used to satisfy a need is a resource. Now let us look around and try to identify what can be qualified as a need and called resources. Water: It is our need as we need to live on Earth. We use it for cooking our food and for washing, bathing, and many other things. Electricity: We need it to light our homes, to run the electrical appliances.

Vehicles: We all need vehicles to transport us and our goods.

Textbooks: We need them for studies and to get knowledge.

Vegetables, fruits, and flowers: We need vegetables and fruits for our food and flowers to beautify our homes and as gifts of affection.

In fact, another definition of a resource is that any object or substance that has utility or usability is a resource. Hence, all the above-water, electricity, vehicles, textbooks, vegetables, and fruits are all needed by us and are all resources. In other words, all these objects or things are of use or utility to us...

VALUE OF RESOURCES

Value means the worth of an object or resource) The value of a resource can differ from time to time and from person to person. One resource may have an economic value, while others may have an aesthetic value. It could be that the same resource may have both an economic as well as aesthetic value. For example, flowers have an aesthetic value at home, but when a florist sells them in the market, they acquire an economic value. Similarly, a waterfall has an aesthetic value, but it gains an economic value when the same is used to generate hydropower.

TYPES OF RESOURCES

Resources can be broadly classified into three main categories: natural resources, human-made resources, and human resources.

Natural Resources

These are material objects and energy resources that exist in the environment around us. Air, water, and naturally growing plants are essential for survival. Some others help in satisfaction of secondary wants. Air and sunlight are available perpetually.

Natural resources are obtained from land, soil, water, animals, and mines. Besides these, there are energy resources.

These resources may be further classified as follows:

(i) based on their development

Actual, Potential.

(ii) based on their origin

Abiotic, Biotic.

(iii) based on their renewability

Renewable, Non-Renewable.

(iv) based on their distribution

Ubiquitous, Localised.

Conservation of Resources

All resources should be used very carefully and wisely. If we are not careful, then renewable resources will become scarce and will get exhausted.

While using the resources, we must give them time to be renewed.

For example, petroleum is a fossil fuel formed by the remains of plants and animals buried under the Earth for millions of years. The heat and pressure converted them to petroleum. Petroleum is an important resource for means of transport and industries.