Natural Resources and Their Use
Toward a Regenerative Economy
- Vision for the Future: Social scientists stress the necessity of moving toward a regenerative economy. This is defined as an economy that operates in harmony with nature, repurposing used resources, minimizing waste, and replenishing depleted resources.
- Foundational Philosophy: As expressed by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac in The Future We Choose, humanity must return to the "innate wisdom of nature herself," identifying nature as the ultimate regenerator and recycler of all resources.
- The Big Questions: * How do we categorise natural resources? * What is the connection between the distribution of natural resources and different aspects of life? * What are the implications of unsustainable use or over-exploitation of natural resources?
Defining Natural Resources
- Nature vs. Resource: * Nature: Defined as the totality of life and non-life forms that are part of our environment but have not been created by humans. * Resource: Elements of nature become "resources" when humans use them for sustenance or create new things from them for consumption. * Example: Trees exist independently in the environment as part of nature. When humans cut them and convert wood into furniture, those trees are viewed as a resource.
- Criteria for an Entity to be a Resource: 1. Technological Accessibility: We must have the technology to reach and extract the entity (e.g., petroleum deep under the ocean). 2. Economic Feasibility: The cost of extraction and utilization must not be too high. 3. Cultural Acceptability: The use must align with cultural values (e.g., cutting trees in sacred groves is often culturally unacceptable).
- Note on "Exploitation": In this context, the term implies "extraction, utilisation and consumption of natural resources," rather than carrying its usual negative connotation.
- Earth's Treasures: Resources formed over millions of years include: * Obvious resources: Water, air, and soil. * Not-so-obvious resources: Coal, petroleum, precious stones, metal ores, and timber.
Categorization of Natural Resources
Categorization and naming based on shared characteristics allow for effective communication and discussion without needing to describe entities every time.
Categorization Based on Use
- Resources Essential for Life: These are resources without which life could not exist. Humans cannot "make" these; they must be taken from the atmosphere, rivers, ponds, or through soil cultivation. Examples include the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.
- Resources for Materials: These are "Nature's gifts" used to create physical objects for utility or beauty (e.g., wood transformed into a chair or a statuette). India's geographical diversity provides materials ranging from wood and marble to coal and gold.
- Resources for Energy: A cornerstone of modern living, energy is required for buildings, transportation, and production. Sources include coal, water, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight, and wind.
Categorization Based on Renewability
- Restoration: The process of returning something to its original healthy state after degradation or damage (e.g., a forest recovering after a wildfire or a cut on skin healing).
- Regeneration: This goes beyond simple restoration; it is Nature's ability to create new life and conditions for thriving.
- Nature's Cycle: Nature operates in cycles where no waste exists. For instance, a fallen tree decomposes via bacteria, fungi, and insects to enrich the soil, from which new trees grow.
Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources
Renewable Resources
- Definition: These resources exhibit restorative and regenerative characteristics over time.
- Examples: Solar energy, wind energy, energy from flowing water (e.g., microhydel plants), and timber.
- Conditions for Renewability: They remain renewable only if the natural rhythm of restoration and regeneration is not disturbed. We must manage them in a sustainable manner.
- Impact of Human Disturbance: * Harvesting timber faster than a forest can grow leads to depletion. * Fossil fuel-driven industrialization and deforestation have led to rising temperatures. * Glacial Impact: In the Himalayas, glaciers are melting faster than precipitation can replace them, threatening water security for populations in the plains (often called the "water tower").
- Ecosystem Functions vs. Services: * Ecosystem Functions: Inherent ways nature works (e.g., a forest filtering water, preventing erosion, and providing habitats). * Ecosystem Services: The benefits humans receive from these functions (e.g., clean water, protected farmland, and pollinated crops).
- Oxygen Data: * A mature tree produces approximately of oxygen per day. * A human being requires approximately of oxygen per day (varying based on activity, height, and weight).
Non-Renewable Resources
- Definition: Resources created over long periods that cannot be replenished at the rate they are consumed.
- Examples: * Fossil Fuels: Coal and petroleum. * Minerals and Metals: Iron, copper, and gold.
- Coal Reserves in India: While India has significant reserves, it is estimated they may last only another due to increasing demand for electricity from a growing population.
Resource Distribution and its Implications
- Uneven Distribution: Natural resources are not spread evenly across the planet. This inequality shapes human settlements, trade patterns, and international relations.
- Conflict and War: Control over natural resources has been, and remains, a primary cause of wars.
- Economic Impact: Industries located near resources create local employment and townships, improving the quality of life through modern facilities.
- Human Costs: Resource extraction often leads to the displacement of people from their homes and threats to sacred places.
- Trade and Geography: Geographical locations of resources, combined with human skill, create unique products (e.g., Wootz steel). Trade historically fueled the development of large empires in India.
- Political Tensions: Nature ignores political boundaries, leading to disputes over resource sharing: * Kaveri River: Shared among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry; requires negotiations to maintain peace. * Brahmaputra River: Shared waters between countries (e.g., India and neighbors).
- Geographic Mineral Hotspots in India (Fig. 1.11): * Coal: Raniganj, Jharia, Bokaro, Talcher, Korba, Singareni, Neyveli. * Oil: Digboi, Naharkatia, Moran, Hugrijan, Kalol, Ankleshwar, Mumbai High, Bassein. * Iron Ore: Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Gua, Bailadila, Ratnagiri, Goa, Ballari, Chikkamagaluru, Kudremukh, Chitradurga, Tumkur. * Bauxite: Katni, Amarkantak, Bilaspur, Durg, Koraput.
The 'Natural Resource Curse'
- The Paradox of Plenty: Abundant natural resources do not guarantee economic prosperity. Some resource-rich regions experience slower growth because they cannot develop industries to convert raw resources into higher-value products.
- India's Approach: India has largely avoided this curse by investing in industrial development and technology to process resources domestically.
- Stewardship: Human knowledge, strategic planning, and good governance determine if resources become lasting benefits or temporary windfalls.
Case Studies in Resource Management
Overexploitation of Groundwater: Punjab
- History: The Green Revolution in the made India self-sufficient in food but utilized high-yielding varieties of wheat and paddy that required excessive water.
- Current Crisis: * Almost of Punjab is classified as "over-exploited." * Groundwater extraction rates exceed replenishment rates. * Water Depth: Water levels have become inaccessible until depths of about . * Health Hazards: Free electricity led to over-pumping, and intensive chemical fertilizer/pesticide use has contaminated groundwater.
Transition to Sustainable Agriculture: Sikkim
- The Challenge: Pema’s family farm initially faced declining yields and debt due to expensive chemical inputs.
- The Policy: The state government promoted a transition to $100\%$ organic farming.
- The Process: Initially, yields dropped while soil recovered. The family switched to compost, natural repellents (neem and garlic), and multi-cropping.
- The Result: By , Sikkim became a organic state. Local biodiversity flourished, tourism increased, and farmers' incomes grew by an average of .
International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- Leadership: Launched by India and France in .
- Goal: A coalition of sunshine-rich countries to harness solar power and create affordable financing for developing nations.
- Example: The Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan is one of the world's largest, capable of powering roughly of Rajasthan’s current needs.
Traditional Wisdom and Sustainable Practices
- Sacred Nature: Many indigenous traditions view nature as a sacred nurturer and nourisher (e.g., Tulasĩ puja for wellbeing, Surya arghyam - offering water to the sun).
- Indigenous Fishing: Communities traditionally refrained from fishing during spawning seasons to maintain populations. Commercial fishing (e.g., for tuna) has ignored these rhythms, leading to population declines.
- Sustainable Construction: * Traditional Materials: Use of stone, mud, and lime (e.g., Jaisalmer Fort, a -century mud and sandstone structure). * Modern Mud Architecture: The Auroville Earth Institute (UNESCO Chair for Earthen Architecture) uses modern techniques to build with mud, which is less polluting than cement.
- *Vᖗkshāyurveda (The Science of Plant Life):‣ *Origin:* Ancient Indian botanical science formalised by Surapala around the century CE. * Scope: Details specific plants for soil types, seed preservation, irrigation based on growth stages/species, and pest management through natural repellents. * Techniques: Promotes crop rotation, mixed cropping, and ploughing methods that retain soil moisture and support soil organisms like earthworms and fungi.
Questions and Discussion Activities
- Ecosystem Services Activity: Identify five ecosystem functions that serve humans.
- Traditional Practices: Research traditional communities' water harvesting, pond rejuvenation, and fishing regulations.
- The Concept of Lokasangraha: Derived from the Bhagavad Gĩtā, it is the idea that individuals must transcend personal desires and act for the wellbeing of all.
- Let's Explore Prompts: 1. Identify human actions causing nature to lose its regenerative ability. 2. Carry out a research study on regional renewable resources and their changes over time. 3. Identify daily non-renewable resource use and find renewable substitutes (e.g., transitioning from coal power to solar). 4. Map the distribution of two natural resources across India and discuss economic implications. 5. Investigate international conflicts regarding natural resource sharing.