8.2 Resource use in society

Question 1

general idea of renewable natural capital

Answer 1

can produce natural income indefinitely, in the value of goods and services

Question 2

how can we provide income indefinitely?

Answer 2

the products and services should not reduce orginial source (or capital)

Question 3

analogy of renewable natural capital

Answer 3

living on interest from a bank account
the original money is not used, only the interest is removed and spent

Question 4

when human well-being is dependent on goods and services provided by certain forms of natural capital…

Answer 4

…long-term harvest and pollution rates should no exceed rates of capital renewal

Question 5

sustainbility and the use of natural capital means

Answer 5

living within the means of nature and ensuring resources are not degraded so that future generations can continue to use the resource. t Farmers grow water-intensive crops like rice

Question 6

outline an example of how renewable natural capital has been mismanaged (4 marks)

Answer 6

Groundwater in northern India has been mismanaged due to over-extraction for agricultural irrigation. Farmers grow water-intensive crops like rice, supported by government subsidies for electricity that allow for excessive pumping of groundwater. This rate of extraction exceeds the natural recharge rate, causing water tables to fall. In regions like Punjab, the falling water table has led to land subsidence and the drying up of shallow wells, which disrupts local soil structure and reduces the availability of water for native vegetation.

Question 7

outline an example of how non-renewable natural capital has been mismanaged (4 marks)

Answer 7

Oil in Nigeria is a non-renewable natural capital that has been mismanaged due to unsustainable extraction practices driven by economic demand and overreliance on fossil fuels. The country’s energy system is heavily dependent on oil exports, contributing to a high ecological footprint. In the Niger Delta, inefficient infrastructure and frequent oil spills have led to long-term contamination of soil and freshwater systems. This pollution has severely reduced the region’s water quality, killed mangrove forests, and destroyed fish populations, which in turn disrupts local food chains and weakens critical ecosystem services like water filtration and coastal protection.

Question 8

types of ecosystem services: supporting

Answer 8

essentials for life, all other ecosystem services depend on these

Question 9

examples of supporting services

Answer 9

primary productivity, soil formation, nutrient cycling

Question 10

examples of regulating services

Answer 10

pollination, production of food fibre wood, regulation of pests, water quality regulation

Question 11

types of ecosystem services: provisioning

Answer 11

services and goods people obtain from ecosystems

Question 12

exampls of provisioning services

Answer 12

goods: food, fibre, fuel
water: from aquifers, rivers, lakes

Question 13

types of ecosystem services: cultural

Answer 13

dervied from places where people interact with nature, enjoying cultural goods and benefits

Question 14

cultural services examples

Answer 14

open spaces (eg. parks, gardens, forests) = outdoor recreation, learning, spiritual well-being, human health

Question 15

how can we value natural capital?

Answer 15

aesthetic, cultural, economic, enviornmental, ethical, intrinsic, social, spiritual, technological

Question 16

direct use values

Answer 16

ecosystem goods and service sthat are directly used by humans

most often people visiting or residing in the ecosystem

Question 17

consumptive use

Answer 17

harvesting food products, timber for fuel or housing, medicinal products, hunting animals for food or clothing

Question 18

non-consumptive use

Answer 18

recreational or cultural activies that dont require harvesting of products

Question 19

indirect use

Answer 19

derived from ecosystem services that provide benefits outside the ecosystem itself (eg. natural water infiltration that can profit people downstream)

Question 20

optional values

Answer 20

potential future use of ecosystem goods and services, not currently used either by yourself or by your future offspring

Question 21

non-use values

Answer 21

aesthetic or instrinsic values (also called existence values=

Question 22

other ways of measuring the value of a resource include calculating or estimating:

Answer 22

• the cost of replacing it with something
• the cost of mitigating its loss
• the cost of adverting the cost of its degradation
• the contribution to other income or production
• how much people are prepared to pay for it

Question 23

how is ecotourism helping to solve the conflict between sustainability and income in LEDCs?

Answer 23

countries with natural resources that are attractive to tourists can provide an alternative income that is sustainable and not does not deplete the source of natural capital

eg. rainforests that are under threat from logging

Question 24

explain the dynamic nature of the concept of natural capital.

Answer 24

• possibility of status changing over time
• as humans advance culturally + technologically, resource base changes > importance of resource is transformed
• the value may also vary over time
• the value and status of natural capital may vary regionally

example:
1. flint, value decreased
- was important as a hand tool > how redundant
- technology increased > replaced by development of metal extraction from ores

2. uranium, value increased but still varies
   - little value before advent of nuclear age
   - gained value > low carbon energy source (eg. France relies heavily on uranium for electricity generation to reduce ghg emissions)
   - but value of uranium varies from place to place:
   -> potential for nuclear weapons (countries can technically pursue nuclear energy, but face massive international pressure, sanctions, or bans eg. Iran)
   -> disasters (eg. Fukushima) decreased value in Japan and Germany

Question 25

Explain how deforestation may impact the world’s oceans (3) ## Footnote Exam-style question

Answer 25

- removing vegetation increases CO2 levels in atmosphere which promotes global warming; - global warming/higher temperatures cause thermal expansion which raises sea levels; - global warming/higher temperatures cause the melting of glaciers which raises sea levels;

Question 26

Explain how the inequitable distribution of natural resources can lead to conflict. (7 marks) ## Footnote Exam-style question

Answer 26

Inequitable distribution of natural resources occurs when access to essential resources such as water, land, or minerals is unevenly divided between countries or communities. This can lead to competition, resentment, and conflict—especially when the resources are vital for survival and economic development. One key example is the Nile River conflict, which involves countries like Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. The Nile is a critical water source for these nations, particularly Egypt, which relies on it for about 90% of its freshwater. However, the Nile originates from the Ethiopian highlands, and in recent years, Ethiopia has constructed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to meet its energy needs and support development. This has caused tensions with Egypt, which fears a reduction in its water supply due to the dam's reservoir filling. Egypt argues that its historical water rights, established in colonial-era treaties, must be respected. Ethiopia, on the other hand, views those treaties as outdated and seeks more equitable use of the resource. The conflict arises because the benefits of the Nile are not equally shared—Ethiopia contributes most of the water but historically has had limited access to its use. This imbalance fosters distrust, and negotiations have often stalled, increasing the risk of diplomatic or even military conflict. In summary, when vital natural resources are unequally distributed—especially in regions where multiple countries depend on the same source—it can create power struggles, threaten livelihoods, and potentially escalate into conflict, as seen in the ongoing Nile River dispute.