INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL RESOURCES Introduction to Environmental and

INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL RESOURCES Introduction to Environmental and Agricultural Science

Our Natural Resources • NATURAL RESOURCES are resources found in nature. – People cannot make more natural resources, but many can be renewed. – Natural Resources essential for living • Oxygen • Water

Kinds of Natural Resources • Natural Resources can be classified into Eight Groups • • Wildlife Air Wind Soil Water Minerals Fossil Fuels Sunlight

Wildlife • WILDLIFE is a plant, animal, and any other thing that lives in the wild. – It has NOT been domesticated. – Includes all species that exist in nature, including fungi, wild flowers, trees, insects, fish, snakes, etc. • DOMESTICATION is bringing plants and animals under the control of humans. – Domesticated Animals – Cattle, Horses, Pigs, Chickens, Sheep, etc. – Domesticated Plants – Rice, Corn, Potatoes, Cotton, Tomatoes, Grapes, etc.

Air • AIR is the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth. – Important Natural Resource – All living things must have air to survive. – Oxygen is the most important component of the air. – Polluted air contains substances that may be harmful to people and other resources. .

Wind • WIND is large-scale air movement across the surface of the earth. – Weather fronts and surface features influence wind. – Wind power is harnessing wind movement. • Windmills and Turbines collect the power and use it to pump water, generate electricity, etc. • Problems – Wind direction and speed varies

Soil • SOIL is the outer layer of the earth’s surface that supports plant life. – Naturally occurring resource – All living things rely on soil in one way or another. • Basis for all living things – Plants need soil to grow – Animals eat plants – Remains decay and become soil again – Damaged and lost by erosion

Water • WATER is a tasteless and colorless liquid natural resource. – All living things must have water to survive. – Only natural resource found in 3 forms – Solid (ice) – Liquid (water) – Gas (vapor) – Amount of water on the earth is constant, however its form and condition changes in the water cycle. – Flowing water can be used as a power source.

Minerals • MINERAL is a natural inorganic substance on or in the earth. • INORGANIC SUBSTANCE does not have the structure of living things, does not contain carbon. – Examples: • Iron • Precious Metals (Copper, Gold, Silver, Nickel) • Granite, Sand, Gravel

Fossil Fuels • FOSSIL FUELS are materials used to provide energy. – Created by the decomposition of plants and animals – Three main groups: – Petroleum (gas, oil, plastics) – Natural Gas – Coal – Problem – Major source of pollution

Sunlight • SUNLIGHT is the light and warmth of the sun. – Light produces solar energy. – Energy is used by plants in photosynthesis. – Life on earth depends on sunlight.

Renewability • RENEWABILITY is whether or not a resource can be restored after it has been used. • Basis for classifying natural resources: – Renewable – Nonrenewable

Renewable Resources • RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES can be replaced when used. – Resource may renew itself and be used again, but renewing may take a long time – Examples • • • Air Soil Wildlife Plants Water

Nonrenewable Resources • NONREWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES can not be replaced when used. – With careful management, some can be reused. – Examples: • Minerals (Gold, Silver) • Fossil Fuels (Oil and Coal)

Exhaustibility • EXHAUSTIBILITY is whether or not the supply of a resource is replenished as it is used. • Some resources can be replenished; others cannot be replenished.

Inexhaustible Resources • INEXHAUSTIBLE NATURAL RESOURCES are resources that are continually being replenished. – Examples: • Sunlight • Air & Wind • Water

Exhaustible Resources • EXHAUSTIBLE NATURAL RESOURCES are resources that are available in limited quantity that can be used up. – Examples: • Minerals • Fossil Fuels • Soil (replaced so slowly)

Conservation • CONSERVATION is using resources wisely. – Resources are not abused, wasted nor destroyed. – “Wise” is using a resource in ways that do not diminish its value and assure that supplies will be available for future generations. • SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE is using resources so they last a long time.

Preservation • PRESERVATION is maintaining a natural resource without using it up. – Resource is protected. – Set aside for future use. – People can view the resource, but cannot harvest, mine or otherwise take it. – Examples: • Wildlife Preserves and Refuges • Old Growth Forests protected from cutting