Introduction

Introduction to Natural Resources

Natural resources are things we get from nature that we use to live and produce other things.

Natural resources are materials and components (something that can be used) that can be found within the environment.

This means everything we use that was not made by man, like water and trees, are natural resources.

Everything you see that people built was made using things from the bush, the ground, or the water.

Every man-made product is composed of natural resources (at its fundamental level).

Whether it is a plastic chair or a car, if you check very well, they all came from nature first.

A natural resource can be something you use just as it is, like the air you breathe or the water you drink from a stream.

A natural resource may exist as a separate entity such as fresh water, air, and as well as any living organism such as a fish, or it may exist in an alternate form that must be processed to obtain the resource such as metal ores, rare-earth elements, petroleum, and most forms of energy.

Some resources like fish are ready to use, but others like crude oil or iron must be cooked or cleaned in a factory before we can use them.

Countries and people all over the world often argue about who should get what share of the things nature provides.

There is much debate worldwide over natural resource allocations.

People fight over land or oil because they want to make sure they have enough for themselves.

This happens mostly when the resources are finishing or when people are using them too fast.

This is particularly true during periods of increasing scarcity and shortages (depletion and overconsumption of resources).

When there is not enough fuel or good water to go round, the struggle to get them becomes very serious.