Natural Resources

1. Natural Resources

All biomes on Earth contain materials useful to humans. These materials are called natural resources. Examples of natural resources are air, water, soil, forests, plants, animals, and minerals. They fall into one of two categories: renewable or nonrenewable natural resources.

1a. Renewable Natural Resources

Renewable natural resources are resources that can be replaced in a reasonable human time span or are unlimited in supply. If renewable resources are those that can be replaced in a reasonable human time span, we need to dictate what that is. A reasonable human time span is months, years, or decades.

The following are examples of renewable resources:

• Water
• Plant resources, such as wood, oils, sugars, starches, medicines, rubbers, ethanol, and biomass
• Animal resources, such as furs, oils, and meat
• Energy resources, such as sunlight, wind, and geothermal energy

term to know

Renewable Natural Resources

Resources that can be replaced in a reasonable human time span or are unlimited in supply.

1b. Nonrenewable Natural Resources

Nonrenewable natural resources are resources that cannot be replaced in a reasonable human time span, usually taking thousands or millions of years to form. From a human perspective, these resources are finite and once used, will be gone.

The following are examples of nonrenewable resources:

• Energy resources, such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas
• Mined resources, such as metals, minerals, and gems.

term to know

Nonrenewable Natural Resources

Resources that cannot be replaced in a reasonable human time span.

2. Natural Resource Management

If not properly managed and maintained, renewable resources, such as animal resources, water, wood, and biomass (like the log trees shown below), can become nonrenewable if degraded or destroyed. They must be managed and used wisely, using sustainable practices in order to continue being renewable resources. Natural resource management is a form of stewardship.