Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

These flashcards cover the key vocabulary and concepts regarding natural, human, and human-made resources, as well as conservation efforts and sustainable development strategies mentioned in the lecture.

Resource

Anything that is found in nature and has some value or use for humans.

Utility

Also known as usability, this is what makes an object or substance a resource.

Value

The worth of an object or resource, which can be economic or non-economic.

Patent

The exclusive right over any idea or invention.

Biotic Resources

All biological or living beings such as plants, animals, and insects.

Abiotic Resources

All physical or non-living things such as land, minerals, soil, water, and climate.

Actual Resources

Resources whose quantity and quality are known to us, such as oil reserves or hydroelectric power.

Potential Resources

Resources that are known to exist but have not been used as yet, such as waterfalls, wind, or solar energy.

Renewable Resources

Resources like soil, water, and forests that can be renewed or replenished quickly.

Non-renewable Resources

Resources such as iron ore, gold, petroleum, and coal that are depleted and do not develop quickly, taking millions of years to form.

Continuous Resources

Natural resources that are always available and do not rely on human action, such as solar energy and tidal energy.

Ubiquitous Resources

Resources found everywhere, such as the air we breathe, water we drink, and sunlight.

Localised Resources

Resources that are found only in certain places, such as copper and iron ore.

Human Resources

The most important resource, consisting of human beings who have the techniques and expertise to utilize nature's gifts.

Carbon Footprint

The imprint of human activities on the planet Earth, serving as a yardstick for measuring impact on the environment and climate change.

Global Warming

A term for the gradual increase in global temperature on the Earth's surface caused largely by human activities.

Human Resource Development

The phenomenon where the quality of education, skills, and expertise increases, allowing human beings to create more resources.

Technology

The practical application of science to commerce and industry; it is considered a human-made resource.

Conservation

The protection of all our natural resources.

Sustainable Development

The effective use of natural resources in such a way that the resources are sufficient for the present as well as the future.

Minerals

Naturally occurring material that has a definite chemical composition.

Raw Material

Basic commodity, natural or processed, transformed by manufacturing into another product.