Key Natural Resources and Issues Related to Their Sustainable Use
Introduction
Natural resources are substances and materials derived from the Earth that are essential for human survival, development, and economic activity. These resources are categorized into renewable and non-renewable based on their capacity for regeneration. Sustainable development demands the responsible utilization of natural resources so as to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, as defined in the Brundtland Report (1987).
The challenge lies not only in the conservation of these resources but also in ensuring equitable access, efficient use, and ecological integrity.
I. Key Natural Resources
Natural resources can be broadly classified into the following categories:
1. Water Resources
Water is indispensable for drinking, agriculture, sanitation, and industrial processes. It includes surface water (rivers, lakes), groundwater, glaciers, and rainfall.
2. Land and Soil Resources
Land is essential for agriculture, habitation, forestry, and mining. Soil fertility determines food productivity and ecological balance.
3. Forests and Biodiversity
Forests provide timber, fuel, medicine, and are a reservoir of biodiversity. They regulate climate and water cycles and support indigenous livelihoods.
4. Minerals and Fossil Fuels
Coal, petroleum, natural gas, and metallic/non-metallic minerals are non-renewable and crucial for industrialization and energy production.
5. Air and Atmosphere
Air, particularly its composition of oxygen and carbon dioxide, is vital for life and climate regulation. Clean air ensures health and productivity.
6. Renewable Energy Resources
Solar, wind, hydro, and biomass are renewable and environmentally sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
II. Issues Related to Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
Despite their importance, natural resources are under increasing stress due to population growth, industrial expansion, and unsustainable consumption patterns. Below are key issues associated with the sustainable use of natural resources:
1. Overexploitation and Depletion
a. Water Overuse
- Excessive extraction of groundwater has led to falling water tables in regions like Punjab and Haryana.
- Rivers are shrinking due to unregulated use and pollution.
b. Forest Degradation
- Illegal logging, mining, and encroachment have led to deforestation.
- India’s forest cover, although increasing marginally, suffers from quality decline (degraded forests).
c. Soil Erosion and Land Degradation
- Unsustainable farming techniques, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to desertification, especially in arid regions like Rajasthan.
d. Mineral Resource Exhaustion
- Non-renewable resources like coal and petroleum are being consumed at unsustainable rates.
2. Pollution and Environmental Damage
- Air pollution from fossil fuels causes health hazards and contributes to climate change.
- Water bodies are polluted with industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and sewage.
- Soil pollution from pesticides and industrial waste degrades agricultural productivity.
Example: The Yamuna River in Delhi has been declared ecologically dead in some stretches due to high levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD).
3. Inequitable Distribution and Access
- Richer regions and urban centers have better access to water, energy, and forests, while tribal and rural communities often face resource scarcity.
- Global North-South divide in resource consumption is evident. According to the UN, high-income countries consume over 80% of global resources, while contributing less to resource regeneration.
4. Climate Change and Resource Vulnerability
- Climate change induced by excessive resource use is altering rainfall patterns, reducing glacier volume, and increasing desertification.
- It affects water availability, agricultural output, and biodiversity survival.
Example: The Himalayan glaciers, the source of rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra, are retreating, threatening water security for millions.
5. Policy Gaps and Weak Enforcement
- Although India has environmental laws (like the Environment Protection Act, 1986), enforcement remains weak due to corruption, lack of awareness, and administrative inefficiency.
- Land and forest rights of indigenous communities are often ignored in development projects.
III. Strategies for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
Sustainable management of resources involves a multi-pronged approach integrating policy reform, public participation, and technological innovation:
1. Integrated Resource Management
- Linking water, land, and forest policies to create synergies.
- Watershed management and river basin planning are good examples.
2. Promotion of Renewable Energy
- Reducing dependency on fossil fuels by investing in solar, wind, and bioenergy.
- Government initiatives like PM-KUSUM and National Solar Mission are steps in this direction.
3. Community Participation and Indigenous Knowledge
- Involving local communities in forest conservation and water management.
- Example: Chipko Movement and Joint Forest Management (JFM) in India.
4. Education and Awareness
- Curriculum and public campaigns must stress sustainable living and responsible consumption.
5. Policy and Legal Framework
- Enforcing environmental impact assessments (EIA).
- Strengthening institutions like National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Conclusion
Natural resources are the lifelines of civilization, and their sustainable use is essential for intergenerational equity and ecological balance. India, with its growing population and economic aspirations, faces the dual challenge of ensuring development while preserving its rich natural endowment. Achieving this balance requires integrated policy-making, community engagement, and a strong ethical commitment to environmental stewardship.
Vocabulary Building Tips
- Depletion = Reduction in the number or quantity of something.
- Ecosystem = A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
- Watershed = A land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt into rivers and streams.
- Stewardship = The responsible management of resources.
- Afforestation = Planting trees in barren lands to create forests.
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