ESS SL topic 7.1: Natural resources - uses and management (new syllabus)

Natural resources (7.1.1)

Raw materials and energy sources that society uses and consumes, such as water for drinking and irrigation, timber for construction and paper production, example: The Ogallala Aquifer in the United States

Natural capital (7.1.2)

The total stock of Earth's materials and living systems available for human use, example: The Amazon rainforest contains biodiversity, timber stocks, and water cycling systems

Natural income (7.1.3)

Goods and services that flow from natural capital on an ongoing basis, example: Fish populations in the North Sea regenerate annually, providing sustainable harvest opportunities

Ecosystem services (7.1.5)

Life-supporting functions that ecosystems provide to all organisms including humans, example: Mangrove forests in Thailand protect coastlines from erosion and storm surges

Renewable resource (7.1.6)

Material or energy source that can be regenerated or replaced as quickly as it is used through natural processes, example: Sustainably harvested cork from Mediterranean oak trees

Non-renewable resource (7.1.6)

Material or energy source that cannot be regenerated within human timescales once extracted, example: Petroleum deposits formed over millions of years in Saudi Arabia

Finite resource (7.1.6)

Any material that exists in limited quantities on Earth, example: Phosphorus reserves in Morocco used for fertilizer production

Regeneration rate (7.1.6)

The speed at which a renewable resource can naturally replenish itself, example: Bamboo forests in China can regrow to harvest size in 3-5 years

Value of natural capital (7.1.7)

The worth assigned to materials and systems based on aesthetic, cultural, economic, environmental, health, intrinsic, social, spiritual, and technological factors, example: Mount Fuji in Japan holds spiritual significance while also supporting tourism

Dynamic value (7.1.8)

Worth that changes over time due to technological advances, availability, and societal priorities, example: Lithium's value increased dramatically with electric vehicle battery demand

Sustainable management (7.1.9)

Using materials and systems at rates that allow long-term regeneration without permanent depletion, example: Rotational grazing practices on rangeland in Mongolia

Resource security (7.1.10)

A society's ability to ensure long-term availability of sufficient materials to meet population demands, example: Singapore's investment in desalination plants for water independence

Perspective (7.1.11)

A particular viewpoint shaped by economic, sociocultural, political, environmental, geographical, technological, or historical factors, example: Indigenous communities in Canada prioritize traditional land relationships while mining companies emphasize economic development