Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable to humans.

Biotic Resources

Natural resources that come from living things.

Abiototic Resources

Natural resources that come from non-living things.

Renewable Resources

Biotic resources that can restock themselves if not over-harvested and used sustainably.

Non-Renewable Resources

Natural resources that exist in a fixed amount and cannot be remade or regenerated quickly.

Primary Industries

Industries that deal with the extraction of raw materials from natural resources.

Secondary Industries

Industries that involve refining and manufacturing of raw materials into usable goods.

Tertiary Industries

Industries that provide services to consumers and other businesses.

Quaternary Industries

Industries that involve the creation, distribution, and management of information and knowledge resources.

Metallic Minerals

Minerals that yield metal when refined, such as Gold, Copper, and Iron.

Industrial Minerals

Minerals that are neither metallic nor fossil fuels but are varied combinations of products extracted from the earth.

Fossil Fuels

Minerals that can be burned to produce energy.

Strip Mining

Mining method used to extract minerals located in horizontal layers beneath the surface.

Open Pit Mining

Mining method used for minerals near the surface that may extend deep into the earth.

Underground Mining

Mining method used to extract minerals deep beneath the surface using deep shafts and tunnels.

Tailings

Poisonous by-products of mining, consisting of water, processing chemicals, and rock particles.

Deforestation

The permanent removal of forests to enable land use for other purposes.

Hydroelectricity

A form of energy that harnesses the power of water motion for electricity generation.

Run off

Water that runs off the land into rivers and lakes.

Groundwater

Water that seeps deep into the Earth through porous rock and soil.

Wetlands

Areas of land saturated with water.

Conventional Energy

Energy derived from traditional means such as wood, oil, gas, and water.

Alternative Energy

Energy generated in ways that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment.

Clear Cutting

Cuts down every tree. Replanted

Shelterwood Cutting

Cuts only parts of the forest, oldest

Selective Cutting

Harvest only mature trees. Best for enviroment

Commerical Forest

Forests that have trees that can be harvested for profit

Non-Commerical Forest

Unlikely to be cut down for industrial use

Boreal Forest

Made up of Coniferous trees(pines)

Taiga Forest

Made up of Coniferous Trees

West Coast Forest

Most active forest in Canada. Composed of Deciduous

Montane Forest

Less rain and cooler temps produce smaller Coniferous trees

Mixed Forest

Very small forests due to urban sprawl. Hardwoods and Maple Spruces

Economic Benefits

1-16 jobs in Canada are forestry related. 80 billion a year