Natural Resources of the Caribbean Region

Question 1

types of water

Answer 1

freshwater
marine water

Question 2

examples of marine water

Answer 2

Caribbean Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Question 3

uses of water

Answer 3

• agriculture
• industry
• tourism
• domestic purposes
• habitat for biodiversity (e.g., marine turtles, fish).

Question 4

challenges to do with water

Answer 4

• Limited freshwater in some islands (e.g., Antigua, Grenada).
• Reliance on desalination, or water importation.

Question 5

what are hydrocarbons made of?

Answer 5

Made of decomposed organic matter which was pressurized thousands of years ago

Question 6

where are hydrocarbons found?

Answer 6

Trinidad and Tobago
explored in Guyana

Question 7

what is aluminium used for?

Answer 7

transport
construction
electrical
packaging industries

Question 8

mineral resources in the Caribbean

Answer 8

bauxite (Jamaica, Guyana)
gold
diamonds
limestone

Question 9

why are mountains important?

Answer 9

Important for watersheds, agriculture (e.g., Blue Mountain coffee).
Have tremendous aesthetic value

Question 10

why are beaches important?

Answer 10

attract tourism and serve as nesting sites for marine turtles
used for structural, economic and ecological purposes

Question 11

what are cliffs?

Answer 11

Vertical or near vertical rock exposures formed as a result of erosion and
weathering
Cliffs found in places like Jamaica, Dominica

Question 12

why is soil important?

Answer 12

Crucial for agriculture; historically focused on sugarcane.
Current trends: shift to agro-tourism and varied crops (bananas, coffee).

Question 13

marine life on tourism and ecosystems

Answer 13

The Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean boost tourism and marine activities (snorkeling, diving).
Coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves support diverse marine life.

Question 14

challenges of natural resources

Answer 14

• Water scarcity in some regions.
• Dependence on imported hydrocarbons.
• Environmental impact of mining and fossil fuel usage

Question 15

what is the ecosystem value of natural resources?

Answer 15

provides essentials for life (clean air, water, food)

Question 16

examples of ecosystem services

Answer 16

climate regulation
flood prevention by attenuating water flow
pollutant filtration

Question 17

why is research important for natural resources?

Answer 17

essential for conservation
sustainable management
new species discovery

Question 18

bioprospecting

Answer 18

involves discovering biological resources for new products
ex. medicine

Question 19

biopiracy

Answer 19

Unauthorized commercial exploitation of indigenous knowledge, highlighting a need for protocols

Question 20

educational institutions and initiatives

Answer 20

University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Guyana, and research bodies like CERMES at UWI Cave Hill are pivotal in biodiversity studies.
CAPE Environmental Science equips students with knowledge on biodiversity conservation

Question 21

informal educational initiatives

Answer 21

awareness campaigns, radio and television programmes, or by social media, pamphlets and cultural activities.

Question 21

importance of natural resources on tourism

Answer 21

sun-sand-sea characteristics
niche and green tourism focuses on sustainability
ecotourism

Question 21

what is ecotourism?

Answer 21

tourism that deals with the living parts of the natural environments

Question 21

roles of ecotourism

Answer 21

conservation of resources where there are threats from human encroachment
environmental education

Question 22

foreign exchange earners

Answer 22

earned in tourism, fish, bauxite and gold, and processed material

Question 23

importance of oil and gas

Answer 23

oil and gas remain critical despite sustainability challenges, with a significant portion of GDP allocated to energy imports.

Required for powering houses, fuelling cars, boats and airplanes, as well as industry

Question 24

importance of forestry products

Answer 24

oils and medicinal plants
local use and exports
domestic and fuelwood consumption

Question 25

importance of mining and manufacturing

Answer 25

contributes significantly to GDP
produces goods for export
sand and gravel are used in the construction industry
sandy soils are used in cultivating watermelon and dairy farming

Question 26

importance of agriculture

Answer 26

crucial for food security and export
reduces reliance on food imports
maintains traditional food sources

Question 27

mariculture and aquaculture importance

Answer 27

reduces pollution, habitat destruction and fragmentation
increases demands for seafood

Question 28

what is aquaculture?

Answer 28

the farming of aquatic organisms using freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions (ex. Shrimp farming).

Question 29

what is mariculture?

Answer 29

a specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms for food and other products in the open ocean, an enclosed section of the ocean or in tanks filled with seawater.

Question 30

recreational value of natural resources

Answer 30

support diverse recreational activities that attract tourists and residents
ex. beaches, hiking, natural landmarks, diving, snorkeling

Question 31

spiritual importance of natural resources

Answer 31

indigenous groups and Hindus hold nature as sacred with practices tied to the sea, rivers and land

Question 32

what is an intrinisic value?

Answer 32

The value that an entity possesses as a result of being itself, as opposed to its instrumental value.

Question 33

intrinsic value of natural resources

Answer 33

People value ecosystems intrinsically for their complexity, diversity, spiritual significance, wildness, beauty or wondrousness