Natural Resources And Their Use

Definition: Natural resources are materials and substances that occur in nature and are valuable to humans.
Objective of the Chapter: To explore the categorization, significance, and implications of natural resources.

Advocated by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac, the need for an economy that:
- Operates in harmony with nature.
- Repurposes used resources.
- Minimizes waste.
- Replenishes depleted resources.

How do we categorize natural resources?
What is the connection between the distribution of natural resources and different aspects of life?
What are the implications of unsustainable use / overexploitation of natural resources?

Definition of Nature: Totality of life and non-life forms in the environment, not created by humans.
Transformation into Resources: When humans extract these elements for sustenance or create products from them, they become resources (e.g., cutting trees for furniture).
Criteria for Resource Classification: For something to be called a resource, it must be:
- Technologically accessible.
- Economically feasible.
- Culturally acceptable.
Examples of Natural Resources:
- Obvious ones: Water, air, soil.
- Less obvious: Coal, petroleum, precious stones, metal ores, timber.

Use-based Categorization:
- Essential for Life: Air, water, food.
- Air is sourced from the atmosphere.
- Water comes from rivers and ponds.
- Soil is cultivated for food production.
- Source for Materials: Transformation of natural gifts into physical objects.
- Examples:
  - Wood into furniture or carvings.
- Sources for Energy: Vital for modern living, derived from:
- Coal, water, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight, wind.

Restorative Nature: Nature functions restoratively, healing and renewing over time.
- Restoration involves returning something to its original healthy state.
- Regeneration exceeds restoration by creating new life.
Renewable Resources:
- Characteristics:
- Can be replenished naturally (e.g., timber, soil).
- Must be managed sustainably to remain renewable.
Non-renewable Resources:
- Created over long periods, cannot be replenished at the rate of usage (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals).
- Example: India's coal reserves are projected to last approximately 50 years.

Uneven Distribution: Resources are not uniformly spread which affects:
- Human settlements.
- Trade patterns.
- International relations and potential conflicts.
Implications: Control over resources has historically led to wars and continues to shape societal dynamics.
Local Economic Impacts: Industries near natural resources create jobs, lead to urban development, but may displace local populations.

Concept: Regions rich in natural resources may experience slower economic growth—a phenomenon known as the ‘natural resource curse’ or the ‘paradox of plenty.’
Mitigating Factors: India has invested in developing industries to convert resources into higher-value products, thereby avoiding the curse to an extent.

Stewardship Needed:
- Practices must promote restoration and regeneration of resources.
- Irresponsible treatment has led to pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
Examples of Resource Misuse:
- Groundwater extraction exceeding replenishment rate causes depletion.
- Chemical fertilizers leading to soil degradation.
Traditional Practices:
- Utilizing methods such as cow dung as fertilizer, multi-cropping and water harvesting are crucial for sustenance.

Punjab Over-exploitation:
- Groundwater depletion due to high-yield crop varieties and policy incentives.
- Health hazards from contaminated groundwater due to agricultural chemicals.
Cement Industry Impact:
- Major polluter with guidelines set for reducing environmental impact.
- Shift towards alternative materials to mitigate pollution.

Vṛikṣhāyurveda: Ancient Indian botanical science promoting sustainable agriculture.
- Provides guidance on plant care, pest management, and soil health maintenance.
Example of Sikkim's Organic Transition:
- Shift to organic farming led to increased biodiversity, higher farmer incomes, and resulted in Sikkim becoming wholly organic.

Launched by India and France in 2015 to facilitate solar power harnessing among sunshine-rich countries.
An example of India’s commitment to renewable energy and environmental responsibility.

The importance of responsible resource use for sustainable development.
The Bhagavad Gītā’s concept of lokasangraha emphasizes collective well-being over individual desires, urging humanity to act for a sustainable future.