NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL RESOURCESINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONNatural Resources: Air, Water, Soil,

and Minerals along with the climate and Solar energy which form the non-living or abiotic part of nature.

Biotic: Plants, animals. Living organisms.

Earth’s Resources and ManEarth’s Resources and Man1.The Atmosphere2. Hydrosphere3.Lithoshere4.Biosphere

1.The Atmosphere1.The AtmosphereOxygen for human

respiration.Oxygen as part of

carbon dioxide used for the growth of plants.

Lower layer is Troposphere:12km thick.

Upper layer is Stratosphere(contains ozone layer):50km thick.

GreenHouse effectGlobal warming

2. Hydrosphere2. Hydrosphere

Clean water 4 drinking, water 4 washing & cooking, agriculture and industry

Food resources from sea.

covers three-quarters of the Earth’s surface.

Major part is marine system.

Deforestation, no rain fall,

3.Lithoshere3.LithoshereSoil, stone,sand&gravelMicronutrients in soil

useful 4 plant growthMinerals.Oil,coal&gas.92 elements in

lithosphere, 8 r common

Crust of the Earth is 6-7kmthick.47%oxygen,28%silicon,8% aluminium &5% iron.sodium,magnesium,pottassium,calcium 4%

4.Biosphere4.BiosphereThe term "Biosphere" was

coined by Russian scientist Vladimir Vernadsky in the 1929

The biosphere is the life zone of the Earth and includes all living organisms, including man, and all organic matter that has not yet decomposed.

The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known as the food chain whereby all life is dependent upon the first tier (i.e. mainly the primary producers that are capable of photosynthesis).

Natural Cycles between the spheresNatural Cycles between the spheres

TheAtmosphere,Hydrosphere&Lithosphere r all connected through the hydrological cycle.

Evaporation from Oceans 

Precipitation on Land  Infiltration into Ground

(Ground Water)  Runoff (Erosion)

The Hydrologic Cycle The Hydrologic Cycle

Activity 1Activity 1Take a simple object in daily use and trace

its components back to each of its spheres.A Text Book: Paper from wood---Biosphere Water for pulping wood---

Hydrosphere Bleach to whiten the paper—a

mineral from the

Lithosphere.

Renewable and non-renewable Renewable and non-renewable resourcesresources

Ecosystems act as resource producers and processors.

Solar energy is the main driving force of ecological systems.

The sun also drives the water cycle.Our food comes from both natural and

agricultural ecosystems.To manufacture consumer products,

industries require raw materials from nature including water, minerals and power

Natural resources and Associated ProblemsNatural resources and Associated Problems

The unequal consumption of natural resources: Developed nations:The north; developing nations:The south.

Consumption of resources per capita of the developed countries is up to 50 times greater than in most developing countries.

Developed nations also produce 75% of of the global industrial waste and GHGs.

Planning land use:Necessary 4 food production,Animal

husbandry, Industry…..Scientist 2day believe that at least 10%

of the land and water bodies of each ecosystem must be kept as wilderness for the long-term needs of protecting nature and natural resources.

The need for sustainable life style:The quality of human life and the quality of

ecosystems on the Earth are indicators of the sustainable use of resources.

Indicators of sustainable lifesyles in human life:Increased longevityan increase in knowledgean enhancement of incomeIndicators of the quality of the ecosystemsa stabilized populationthe long-term conservation of biodiversitypreventing the degradation and pollution of

the environment

a) Forest Resourcesa) Forest ResourcesA forest is a highly

complex,constantly changing environment made up of a variety of living things.

For humans,they have many aestetic,recreational,economic,historical,cultural and religious values.

One-third of the world’s population depends on wood for fuel as a significant energy source.

Key Benefits of ForestsKey Benefits of ForestsProvide clean waterProvide home to unique plants and

animalsSource of economic growthProvide clean airProvide recreational opportunitiesEcological benefits.

Use and OverexploitationUse and OverexploitationScientists estimate that India should

have 33% of its land under forests.Today we have only 12%.

They used to be controlled by the tribal people.In British times large amt of timber was extracted for building their ships.

DeforestationDeforestationToday logging and mining r serious causes of loss

of forests in our country and all over the world.Due to timber extraction and our dependence on

fuelwood.Joint Force management(JFM) co-opts local village

communities and the forest department work together to sustainably manage our forests.(1988)

From the initiation of the program until 2002 there were 63618 JFM commitees managing over 140953 sq km of forest under JFM in 27 states in India.

The share of profits for the VFcs ranges from 25% in Kerala to a 100% in AP, 50% in Gujarat,Maharastra,Orissa and Tripura.

In many states 25% of the revenue is used for village development

Forest functionsForest functionsWatershed protection(reduce surface run-off,prevent

flash floods &soilerosion)Atmospheric regulation(absorption of solar

energy,maintaining co2 levels and local climate conditions)

Erosion control(holding soil)Land bank(maintaining soilnutrients and structure)Local use(Food,fodder 4

cattle,fuelwood,charcoal,timber,fiber,medical plants)Market use(fruit,gum,fiber,paperpulp)

Case studyCase studyJFM began in 1972 in the Midnapur

district of West Bengal

b) Water Resourcesb) Water ResourcesWater cycle maintains hydrological systems.Wetlands r the intermediate forms between terrestrial

and aquatic ecosystems.Wetlands contain species of plants and animals that r

highly moisture dependent.The world depends on a limited quantity of fresh

water.Water covers 70% of the Earth’s surface but only 3%

of this is fresh water.Of this 2% is present as polar ice caps and only 1% is

usable water in rivers, lakes and subsoil aquifers.At a global level 70% of the water is used for

agriculture, about 25% for industry and only 5% for domestic use.

India uses 90% of its water for agriculture, 7% for industry and 3% for domestic use.

World population has passed the 6 billion markThe total annual fresh water withdrawals 2day

r estimated at 3800 cubic kilometers, twice as much as just 50 years ago.

A person needs a minimum of 20 to 40 liters of water per day for drinking and sanitation.

More than one billion people worldwide have no access to clean water.

Local water conflicts r started:Karnataka and TamilNadu over the waters of the Cauvery River and Karnataka and AP over the Krishna waters.

India is expected to face critical levels of water stress by 2025.

At the global level now 31 countries facing the problem , by 2025 48 countries will face the same.

The UN estimated that by the year 2050, 4 billion people will be seriously affected by water shortages.

Around 20 major cities in India face chronic or interrupted water shortages.

There r 100 countries that share waters of 13 large rivers and lakes.

Over-Utilization and Pollution of surface Over-Utilization and Pollution of surface and ground waterand ground water

We use more water than needed.Use biomass as fertilizer and non

toxic pesticides like neem products to reduce pollution of surface and ground water.

Industry: wastesPublic awareness.

CASE STUDYCASE STUDYThe Narayani River of Nepal has been

polluted by factories located on its bank.

This has endangered the fish, dolphins, crocodiles and other flora and fauna of the region.

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate ChangeCaused by increasing air pollution:

affect our climate.Long droughtsGreen house effectAffect hydrological conditions.

FloodsFloodsSerious environmental hazard for

centuries.Rivers overflowing their banks.Wetlands in flood plains r nature’s

flood control systems.Deforestation in Himalayas causes

floods.Kill people , damage crops, destroy

homes

DroughtDroughtRains r unpredictable in most of the

areas.India has “Drought Prone Areas

Development Programs:Under this people r given wages in

bad years to build roads, minor irrigation works and plantation programs .

Water for agriculture and power generationWater for agriculture and power generation

By creating large dams, it is met.Area under irrigation increased from 40

million ha in 1900 to 100 million ha in 1950 and to 271 million ha by 1998.

Dams support 30 to 40 % of this area.Dams alter river flows, change nature’s

flood control mechanisms (wetlands and flood plains)

Sustainable water managementSustainable water managementMeasures need to be taken for the better management

of the world’s water resources:Building several small reservoirs instead of few

mega projects.Developing small catchment dams and protecting

wetlands.Soil managementTreating and recycling municipal waste water for

agricultural use.Preventing leakages from dams and canalsPreventing loss in municipal pipesEffective rain water harvesting in urban

environmentswater conservation measures in agriculture

DamsDams45000 large dams around the worldAbt 30-40% of the irrigated land world

wide relies on dams.19% of the world’s total electric

power supply and used in over 150 countries.

China-India have built around 57% of the world’s large dams.

Problems caused by damsProblems caused by damsThe fragmentation and physical

transformation of rivers.Serious impacts on riverine ecosystemsSocial consequences of large dams due to

the displacement of people.Water-logging and salinization of the

surrounding lands.Dislodging animal populations,damaging

their habitat and cutting off their migratory routes

Disruption of fishing and waterway trafficThe emission of greenhouse gases from

reservoirs due to rotting vegetation and carbon inflows from the catchment is a recently identified impact.

Case StudyCase StudySardar sarovar project:

SMART SMART SS: Specific: Specific MM: : MeasurableMeasurable AA: Achievable: Achievable RR: Realistic : Realistic TT: Time : Time boundbound

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR GOAL IS

DEVEOP SENSE OF HUMOUR.DEVEOP SENSE OF HUMOUR.