Unit 2 Ch 5 : Minerals and Energy Resources — Social Studies STD 10 — Question

Everything material in our culture ultimately comes from natural resources. For example, Coal, Oil, Soil, Water, Land, Minerals, Forests and Timber, and Air we breathe. The role natural resources has on earth is imperative indeed. That is why it’s so important for us to all have some accountability and why we need to PROTECT and RESPECT our environment.
few reasons listed below which will through light regarding the importance of natural resources and the need to conserve them:

1. Nature helps to maintain the environmental balance and satisfy the needs to the fullest.
2. A wide range of industrial material and biological material from plant and animal, directly or indirectly are used in production and in the manufacturing of medicine.
3. Resource are known as capital converted to commodity inputs to infrastructural capital processes.
4. These are the “3R Concept” 3R means “REDUCE”, “REUSE” and “RECYCLE”. An example is papers, our used papers will reuse by recycling it and turn it into a new paper product.
5. Resources are important for the development of any country. For example, to generate energy, one need fossil fuels; and for industrial development, we require mineral resources.
6. Irrational consumption and over utilisation of natural resources has led to socio-economic and environmental problems.
7. Natural resources are available in fixed quantity and they are non – renewable,
8. Natural resources are getting scarce with the increasing population, so it is essential to conserve them. This empowers us as well as our future generation to utilise the natural resources to the full extent.
9. It takes millions of year for the formation of natural resources.
10. They play a vital role in the economic development of the country by enriching agriculture, trade, imports and exports, etc.

How to conserve the resources:

• Reforestation: Planting trees helps in reducing soil erosion.
• Terracing: Terrace farming helps to control the fast flow of water which takes away soil with its flow. It is usually practised in hilly areas.
• Soil fertility: Maintenance of soil fertility is obtained by adding manure or fertilizers or even by crop rotation.
• Rainwater Harvesting: It is the process of storing rainwater.
• Treatment of Industrial Wastes: The chemical wastes must be treated before releasing them into the water bodies.
• Dams and Reservoirs: Dams help to store water and supply them when needed. They also help in producing energy.
• Growing Flora: It helps to prevent the flow of water and makes it sink into the soil increasing groundwater levels.