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Natural resources are central to human
well-being. We cannot live without the clean air that we are breathing, the
plants we cook and eat or the water we drink for our survival. We need natural
resources to put a roof over our heads and heat our homes. We need them to
survive and thrive.
The concept of natural resources refers to
the naturally occurring living and non-living components of the Earth system,
including plants, fish and fungi, but also water, soil and minerals. An
important way to think about natural resources is to look at them in terms of
their risk of degradation: are they being regenerated, and if so, at what rate?
Some resources, such as trees, plants and vegetations are renewable because
they regenerate relatively quickly. Others, such as copper and oil, take longer
to form and are considered non-renewable. Together,
natural resources form a dense web of interdependence, creating ecosystems that
include humans. Thus, the distribution of resources shapes the face of our
planet and the local uniqueness of our environment. People have developed a
variety of cultural, spiritual and subsistence-based relationships with the
natural environment, adopting value systems that transcend the economic
framework. Natural resources are often seen as key
assets for development and wealth creation. Over time and with progressive
industrialization, the use of resources increased. we humans depend on natural resources for survival, but the universal
truth is not all natural resources are renewable. The food and water we
consume, the air we breathe and shelter are all derived from natural resources,
so we must take action to protect what we have to promote the health and
longevity of both the planet and humanity. We can conserve the natural
resources by practicing the recycling techniques like 3R (Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle), using energy efficient eco-friendly lights, choosing reusable goods,
turning off the water when it not used, conserving energy at home, walking
short distance by using cycles or carpools, avoiding non-recyclable packaged
materials, using renewable energy, by thrift shopping, using less paper, eating
less meat. Some of the extension methods
that are used to conserve the natural resources are educating others,
organizing community activities, promoting sustainable farming methodologies,
initiating biodegradable and non-bio degradable waste segregating programmes.