ESS Standard Topic 7.1

Natural Resources

These are raw materials (air, water, metals, minerals, timber, soil etc) and sources of energy (sunlight, fossil fuels, wind, flowing water) used and consumed by society.

Natural Capital

The total stock of natural resources available on Earth.

E.g. High rates of biodiversity in a forest via fauna and flora = Higher Natural Capital

Natural Income

The sustainable yield humans can derive from natural capital in terms of goods and services

Goods

Tangible, physical items such as timber, food, metals and minerals that can be used in production

Services

The natural processes that supports and benefits life via things such as climate regulation or flood prevention

Coral reef as natural income

Services - Breaks wave energy before reaching the shore, reducing the chance of storm surges and beach erosion. Long term carbon sink. Provides habitat for fish

Natural Resources

Can be regenerated and/or replaced as fast as they are being used via

• natural growth or reproduction (for example, food, crops or timber) 

• recurring processes (for example, freshwater or ozone)

What makes a renewable energy source non-renewable?

When ‘renewable’ resources are used beyond their regeneration rate e.g. wood, soil, water

Non-renewable energy sources

• Mineral deposits

• Fossil fuels

• Potassium and phosphorus for fertilisers

• Lithium and cobalt for batteries

• Uranium for nuclear energy 

EVS Perspective - Extreme Anthropocentrism

The idea of Natural Capital and Natural Income in itself might be associated with the contentious philosophical perspective that nature is there for human exploitation

Benefits of Natural Capital and Natural Income

•  There is a practical reason to conserve them

•  Can convince governments, businesses, and societies to manage resources sustainably to maintain human benefits.

• Allows ecosystem services to be assigned economic values, which can be persuasive in environmental planning.

Natural Capital

Places that have aesthetic, cultural, economic, environmental, health, intrinsic, social, spiritual and technological value.

This is dynmaic

Natural Capital

Places that have aesthetic, cultural, economic, environmental, health, intrinsic, social, spiritual and technological value.

This is dynmaic

Examples of Natural Capital

○ Aesthetic - Mount Everest

○ Cultural – Amazon Rainforest

○ Economic – North Sea fisheries

○ Environmental – Yellowstone National Park

○ Intrinsic – Giant Panda, China

○ Health - Hot Spring, Island

○ Social – Hyde Park

○ Spiritual - Mount Fuji, japan

○ Technological - Lotus leaf-inspired cleaning surfaces

Resources with Dynamic natural capital

1. Coal

2. Lithium

3. Cobalt

4. Cork

5. Whale oil

The dynamic value of Coal

As a cheap energy source it was used primarily in the industrial revolution to generate power. However due to pollution it is slowly being phased out in favour of renewables.

Dynamic value of Whale oil

Extremely prized and valuable in the 18th and 19th century used for lighting lamps, lubrication and industrial purposed. This declined significantly in the 20th century due to overexploitation d the introduction of petrolum based oils.

Dynamic value of Lithium

Relatively low until the late 20th century. It’s value skyrocketed with the introduction of rechargeable batteries, now a critical resource in the global energy ransition.

Dynamic value of Cobalt

Now a key component in lithium batteries has a high natural value. However their are ethical/environmental concerns for it’s extraction in the DRC

4 types of ecosystem services

• Provisioning services (Food)

• Cultural services (Education and spirituality)

• Supporting Services (Fundamental ecological processes)

• Regulating Services (indirect benefits of ecological processes)

Life-supporting ecosystem services - Water Replenishment

• Maintains freshwater suplliers for flora and fauna

• Reduces the risk of droughts

• Supports Agriculture, sanitation and portable water

(Ogallala Aquifer in the USA)

Life-supporting ecosystem services - Flood and Erosion Protection

• Protects human settlements and infrastructure.

• Maintains fertile soil for agriculture

• Reduces sedimentation in rivers and reservoirs

(Wetlands and Floodplains, Coastal vegetation, Forests [Amazon Rainforest] , Increase Vegetation [Tea plantations in India] )

Life-supporting ecosystem services - Pollution Mitigation

Ecosystems that reduce pollution by filtering, breaking down, or absorbing pollutants.

• Soils and microorganisms break down organic pollutants

• Plants absorb access nutrients and some toxic substances

• Wetlands trap sediments and pollutants before they enter rivers or lakes

(Reed Bed buffer zones remove nitrates and phosphates from agricultural runoff [Norfolk Broads, UK])

Life-supporting ecosystem services - Carbon Sequestration

• Reduces the concentration of greenhouse gases

• Helps mitigate climate change

• Supports long term climate stability essential for life

(Photosynthesis - Carbon sinks in forests, oceans, peatlands etc.)