Natural resources Flashcards
What are Natural resources
Natural resources are the essential elements of the natural environment which are exploited to satisfy human wants. These resources are extracted in the form found in nature and then processed into the forms desired for human use and consumption
Abiotic and Biotic Natural resources
Abiotic natural resources are non-living resources such as beaches wind soil water gold bauxite
Biotic natural resources are resources from the living components of organic matter of the biosphere such as plants and animals
Renewable(Inexhaustible) and Non-Renewable(Exhaustible) resources
Renewable resources are those that have short cycle times so can be replenished naturally. These resources are continually available and their quantity is not noticeably affected by human consumption. But some of these resources take time to replenish themselves so when they are overused they can become depleted. Resources are renewable only if their replenish rate is higher than their extraction rate.(forests sunlight)
Non-renewable resources are those that form naturally within the environment but there is a finite amount of them. Once they are utilized they cannot be regenerated or have a slow regeneration rate.(minerals and fossil fuels)
Consumptive and Non Cosumptibe use of natural resources
Consumptive use of natural resources refers to extracting them from their source and utilizing it so that the amount used no longer exists.So each time the resource is used the supply is reduced.(fishing and logging)
Non consumptive use of resources refers to the use of natural resources without reducing its supply.Basically enjoying a natural resource without taking anything away from its numbers(whale watching ecotourism, going to the beach)
Political factors affecting natural resource use
Privatization
Nationalization
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental and Natural resource policies
Economic Factors affecting natural resource use
Role of Foreign Investment
Export of Natural resources as primary products
National Debt
Tourism
Agriculture
Mining and Manufacturing
Forestry and Fisheries
Slash and Burn
The vegetation of the area to be cropped is cut down and the remaining foliage is burned and the ashes are used to provide nutrients to the soil for use of planting food crops. This is necessary because the shallow layer of humus meant that the soil would become infertile if the vegetative layer was removed. The cleared area of slash and burn known as SWIDDEN is used for a relatively short period of time and then left alone to allow wild crops to grow atop it.This period would be long and then the process would begin again.
Intercropping and Organic Farming
This is the growing of two or more crops simultaneously in the same piece of land which yields greater quantities of crops and 2 or more crops per year. It can maintain soil fertility as the different plants absorb different nutrients from the soil, it helps reduce soil runoff and allows for the use of resources that would otherwise not be used with one crop. The crops can also stop pest outbreaks as they would provide a habitat for pest predators which would limit the amount of pests feedng on the crops.
Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation green manure compost and biological pest control.Organic farming is a production system which relies on ecological processes that sustains the health of soils ecosystems and people.
Fishing
Fishing included the capture of whales cetaceans and fish.It rallied the indigenous population as a source for food and an opportunity to get in touch with their spirituality. Indigenous people fished on a subsistence level utilizing techniques such as spearfishing, poisons, traps and nets paralyzing agents and the use of explosives.
Timber and non Timber forest products
Indigenous people utilized the forest for fishing hunting shifting agriculture.
Non Timber forest products are commodities gathered from the forest without harvesting trees(game nuts oils). They are an important component of sustainable forest management and the conservation of biological and cultural diversity.
Natural resources in the Caribbean region
Biodiversity Species Ecosystems Water Hydrocarbons(crude oil natural gas and pitch) Minerals(Bauxite limestone) Soil Landscapes Seascapes
What are the tools for management of renewable and non renewable resources
Sustainable Yield managemnet Sustainable extraction of non ren resources Use of substitute technology Recyclying Reducing and Re Using Land and Costal use and zone planning Create terestrial and marine protected areas Create economic incentives or Penalties Education on natural resource use Creation of laws and agreements
tools and techniques for natural resource conservation
RENEWABLE RESOURCES:
Sustainable Yeild Management- The largest yield that can be taken from a species stock over an indefinite period of time without stock becoming unviable. The sustainable yield is half of the carrying capacity
NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES:
Sustainable extraction of non renewable resources- Because these are fixed if they are used up now future generations will not be able to us e it
Use of subsitiute technology to become less dependent on fixed resources which will eventually and inevitably run out.
