Tag: natural resource

Introduction

A natural resource is any naturally occurring substance that is used to sustain life and satisfy human needs. A wide range of natural resources that we use on a daily basis, are food, water, non-synthetic clothing, timber, metals, oil, coal, natural gas, sunlight, air, soil etc. One must be aware that not all of these resources are open to endless use. These resources should be used judiciously as they are for essential human growth and sustenance. Hence, natural resource management has now become the need of the hour. Natural resource management (NRM) is the collective term for a range of interdisciplinary and comprehensive approaches developed to manage and maintain the natural resources now in use, both for the benefit of the current generation and for future generations. It emphasises the management of land, water, and forest resources as well as the preservation of flora and fauna. 

Approaches to Management of Natural Resources 

The approaches must include the necessary policies, the sustainability of the rules and practises, and the need to recover resources that have already been depleted or are running out. Following are the strategies for Natural resource management:

• Top-down approach: 

• Based on the paternalistic notion that only environment specialists who have practical expertise and sound judgement should plan and implement NRM. Since local input is required for good results in natural resource management, this strategy is frequently unsuitable and unsustainable.

• Community-based approach:

• • • Aggressive farming methods and urbanisation harm people whose livelihoods depend on natural resources, particularly forests.
    • The community-based approach gives local groups a role in developing NRM strategies and conservation projects that directly impact them.
    • Multi-stakeholder partnerships, the creation of powerful local groups, the use of law enforcement to stop unauthorised land invasion, and cooperative management plans are some of the features of the community-based approach.

• Integrated approach

• • • It encompasses a variety of sectors including the public and private organizations.
    • It strives to conserve the environment, provide food security, and decrease poverty.
    • The main goal of this startegy is to make resource management sustainable for all.

• Adaptive approach

• • • This approach addresses the reasons and consequences of using NRM tactics.
    • It incorporates diverse viewpoints, experimentation with social learning, evaluation of progress, testing of policies, detecting knowledge gaps, and improved communication with related people.
    • It ultimately will lead to proper and effective management practices.

• Environmental economics approach: 

• This approach incorporates the use of management tools, such as grants, quotas, licences, rights to property, permits, etc., that are successful in the regulation, monitoring, analysis, and assessment of natural resources.

Sustainable Management

Strategies and practices that combine resource management with sustainable development constitute sustainable management of natural resources. When building long – term sustainable management practises, three factors should be taken into account they are:-

• Current and future requirements
• Ecological preservation
• Financial viability

Effective models and practises that are developed in this way not only conserve resources and maintain sustainability, but also assist in meeting the future needs of these resources.

Methods of Sustainable Management

Agriculture, mining, petroleum, and other industries are all involved in the sustainable management of natural resources.In addition to the five R’s of sustainable management, resource management  includes-

• Integrated Forest Management (IFM)
• Integrated Water Management (IWM)
• Creating sustainable agriculture methods
• Safeguarding coral reefs and coastal mangrove habitat
• Programs for recovering resources from “waste materials”
• Public education and awareness

Summary

• Natural resource management is an integrated, comprehensive strategy for promoting prudent methods for resource utilisation.
• The need for implementation NRM technique has arised due environmental pollution, urbanisation, industrialization, and overpopulation.
• The top-down strategy, community-based approach, adaptive approach, integrated approach, and environmental economics are examples of NRM approaches.
• Natural resources must be handled sustainably while taking into account current and future requirements, environmental protection, and economic viability.
• Effective management requires raising public knowledge and participation, as well as utilising adaptive management techniques.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is water harvesting?

Water harvesting is the practise of collecting surface runoff or rainwater by building catchments, prevent pollution of the collected water and storing water for later use. In various regions of India, like Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, etc., it has helped in solving issues such as water scarcity and water shortage.

There are various methods for collecting water:

• Catching runoff from rooftops
• Collection of runoff from nearby catchments
• Seasonal flood water collection
• Watershed management

2. Which sectors are affected due to delpetion natural resources?

Following sectors are affected by the delpetion natural resources-

• The agricultural and forestry sector are most severely impacted. This is because of their reliance on the availability of natural resources directly.
•  Along with ineffective animal husbandry techniques, the depletion of water and soil resources has a direct impact on agricultural output and food availability.
• The diminishing natural resources has impacted the forest communities as well as they depend on the forest produce for food, shelter and financial income.
• In addition to endangering their ability to support themselves, it has also increased the frequency of landslides and soil erosion, which has directly endangered their survival.

3. Inlist the 5 R’s of sustainable management.

The 5 Rs of sustainable management are-

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle 
• Repurpose
• Refuse

 

Introduction

The air is a fundamental element of planet Earth that sustains life. The broad term “air” is used to describe the mixture of gases that makes up the earth’s atmosphere. It is a clear gas required for breathing and performing regular cellular activities. Air is a very essential and makes up the atmosphere of the earth.

It has the following other applications-

• All life depends on air to thrive, including humans, plants, animals, and other species.
• The air is necessary for the water cycle to take place.
• It facilitates combustion and breathing.
• It keeps the temperature constant.
• Air assists in the process of pollination in wind-pollinated plants.

Components of Air

The air around is composed of various components given below-

• Oxygen makes up around 21% of the air.
• The highest amount of gas present in the air is Nitrogen, which makes up 78% of the total air.
• Argon is 0.9% of the total air.
• Carbon dioxide is the lowest around 0.04% of the air.
• There are still other gases which are present in very lower concentrations eg. water vapour.
• Microscopic airborne particles known as “aerosols”  are also present in the air and are present in minute quantities.
• These aerosols include bacteria, suspended dust, pollen, and spores.

Properties of Air

• Air is colourless and odourless and cannot be seen, heard or touched.
• It is a mixture of many gases and they occupy space and matter.
• Air exerts pressure. Near the surface, the air pressure is more and at higher altitudes the air pressure is low.
• When heated the air expands and when cooled the air compresses.

Uses of Air

Respiration

• Respiration is the process where gaseous exchange occurs and oxygen is inhaled and carbon dioxide is exhaled.
• The two main gases involved in respiration are carbon dioxide and oxygen.
• Plants and animals require oxygen to convert the chemical energy found in food into energy that can be used for various metabolic processes.
• This energy is used in all actions of growth, development, locomotion and reproduction.
• Oxygen is created through the process of photosynthesis, which occurs when plants use carbon dioxide to make chemical energy while utilizing light energy.
  

Combustion

• A fuel oxidises when it is burned and produces lots of energy.
• This is an exothermic reaction wherein light and heat are generated.
• Any carbon-containing substance that is burned in the presence of oxygen produces carbon dioxide, water vapour, heat, and light energy.
• Colourful flames are created when methane, an essential element of combustion, combines with air. These colourful flames are an indicator of the combustion reaction.
• Explosive burning might occur if there is too much oxygen present hence to prevent this nitrogen gas is present in the atmosphere.
• Nitrogen does not contribute to combustion and inhibits too much oxygen from causing higher reactivity. Therefore, these two components work together to make sure that fuel energy is used in a controlled way.
• The heat that is generated during the process of combustion is used to cook, run our vehicles, generate electricity etc.

Regulation of temperature

• The earth’s surface is kept at a constant temperature by air.
• The density of hot air is less and hence it rises above the ground. This leads to the formation of a low-pressure area which is quickly filled by cool air.
• This phenomenon leads to the formation of winds.
• As the temperature of the air rises the air moves up draws in cooler air from the surroundings, warms it up, and the cycle repeats.
• When hot air rises, it radiates heat into space before sinking back to earth.
• Convection is the process of moving heat, and this is referred to as temperature regulation.
• Heat is transferred in this way from hotter to colder places and thus the temperature of the earth is regulated.
• The atmosphere and air also help to cool the earth and protect it from the sun’s excessive UV rays.

Summary

Air surrounding the earth makes up its atmosphere. The air is a mixture of gases and is essential to many living things. Air consists of 78% of nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.04% carbon dioxide, and there are traces of other gases as well. The thick layer of air supports vital life-supporting activities. Contrarily, air is a substance and it has mass, can be compressed, and takes up space. Air performs the following major processes—breathing, combustion, and regulating the earth’s temperature.

Frequently Asked Question

1. Give the function of the ozone layer
Ans: The ozone layer, which is found in the stratosphere of the earth and absorbs the majority of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, works as a screen to protect the planet from these rays.

2. What does acid rain mean?
Ans: Polluted air consists of oxides of nitrates and sulphates. These oxides react with water vapour and other air components to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When there is rainfall both of these acids fall on earth which is termed acid rain. This acid rain is not only harmful to people but also affects various other living organisms.

3. What are the ill effects of air pollution?
Ans: Air pollution is a very severe problem that aggravates pre-existing respiratory and cardiac problems and causes several pollution-related ailments. Common diseases caused due by air pollution are lung cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory infections.