essay on depletion of natural resources

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Essay on Depletion of Natural Resources

List of essays on depletion of natural resources, essay on depletion of natural resources – 10 lines on the depletion of natural resources written in english (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on depletion of natural resources – short essay for children (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on depletion of natural resources – causes and prevention (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on depletion of natural resources – for school students (class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 standard) (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on depletion of natural resources (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on depletion of natural resources – causes and conservation (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on depletion of natural resources – for college and university students (essay 7 – 750 words).

• Essay on Depletion of Natural Resources – Long Essay for Competitive Exams like IAS, IPS, UPSC and Civil Services (Essay 8 – 1000 Words)

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Standard) and college students. Furthermore, those students preparing for competitive exams like IAS, IPS and UPSC can also increase their knowledge by studying these essays.

Depletion of natural resources will eventually lead to a world with lesser elements to survive and makes human life a hardship. Natural resources are the ones that maintain equilibrium in the environment and life.

Natural resources like air, water, solar energy, soil, minerals, coal, etc., are those basic elements that we, living beings, use to lead a normal life. Depletion of natural resources will completely stun the day to day life of a human being as well as fellow living things.

The depletion of natural resources occurs when we vigorously use the available ones at a rapid speed. Some of these non-renewable resources like coal, minerals, etc., take millions of years to form and thus their rapid use will result in depletion of these natural resources. Unsustainable use of these natural resources due to the demand and increase in population has also resulted in depletion of natural resources.

Switching to the renewable sources is one of the many ways to save natural resources from depletion. In order to save this depletion of natural resources, we humans should find out and execute more sustainable and nonpolluting ways to use these natural resources.

Introduction:

Natural resources are provided by Mother Nature to enable the survival of living things and the sustenance of the ecosystem. Depletion of natural resources is the increased consumption of resources that overlaps the replenishment of those resources. The depletion of natural resources occurs due to significant increase in the dependents of the natural resources without an increase in the sources of resources. It can be a devastating problem to the ecosystem because the resources necessary for survival and depletion will cause significant loss of living things

Causes of Depletion of Natural Resources:

Increased population of species that are dependent on the same natural resources cause faster consumption of those resources and results in depletion. The other cause is unnecessary consumption of resources and wastefulness.

Environmental pollution also causes depletion of natural resources through contamination. When natural resources are contaminated, they will be no longer fit for consumption. Deforestation is a major cause of depletion of natural resources. Deforestation results in loss of habitat, food and destruction of the ecosystem. Drought is brought about by deforestation. Drought is an extreme of depletion of water in the environment.

Consequences of Depletion of Natural Resources:

There will be a loss of biodiversity due to death and extinction of living organisms. Natural disasters like drought will also occur upon depletion of natural resources.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the depletion of natural resources is a serious concern because of the adverse effects it has on the ecosystem. Controlled consumption of resources is to be encouraged.

Depletion of natural resources is undoubtedly the product of massive urbanization and industrialization. It occurs due to the continuous, extensive, and irresponsible use by humans disregarding future consequences.

What are the causes of depletion of natural resources?

1. As the earth population exceeds 7 billion, the overpopulation is one of the significant reasons for depletion of natural resources.

2. Wastage and overconsumption tend to contribute to the reasons why natural resources will exhaust in the future.

3. Deforestation leads to the destruction of the earth’s ecosystem, one of the critical reasons for the depletion of natural resources.

4. Mining of minerals and oils also account for resource depletion.

5. Erosion, pollution, and contamination of resources sum up why natural resources will be scarce shortly.

What are the natural resources that might get depleted in the future?

The following natural resources might get a hit and will get exhausted in the near future if we continue to exploit it without any consideration for the future generation and existence of the planet earth.

Water, the essential natural resources will be at stake after 2025, as scientists apprehend that almost 1.8 billion people will have no water to drink. Although the earth’s crust is covered with 70% water, only 2.5 % is drinkable as it comes from the ice-capped mountains and streams while the rest are saline water containing wastes.

Although it’s one of the most important natural resources we have, scientists predict that the available coal deposit will be able to meet the world’s requirement for just another 188 years. With that said, if the demand increases, this timeframe will squeeze.

The present hydrocarbon content of the world, 188 million tonnes is enough to meet the demand but only up to the next 46 years. When the stock finishes, transportation will be hampered.

4. Natural Gas:

The reserve of natural gas will serve till the next 58.6 years which is not enough to meet the world’s demand.

5. Seafood:

Fishermen report that the catch they depend upon for their living is gradually decreasing. If not cultured naturally, some stock of seafood will actually diminish soon.

How to prevent the depletion of natural resources?

Well, the answer is embracing a nature-friendly lifestyle and shifting to renewable and sustainable energy resources like solar power, wind, and hydropower, we can at least slow down the depletion of natural resources.

Depletion of natural resources can be described as a situation where natural resources are consumed faster than they can be replaced or replenished. Natural resources are not always available in infinite quantity. Though they are replaceable, this process takes a long time.

For instance, it takes hundreds of years to replace crude oil reserves. It also takes many years to grow a tree into maturity. The important question now becomes – are we consuming these resources at the same rate at which we use them? The answer to that is definitely negative.

Though natural resources can be renewable and nonrenewable, depletion of natural resources affects both.

The causes of depletion of natural resources could sometimes be man-made and in other cases, unavoidable. We would, however, concern ourselves with only the man-made causes of natural resources depletion.

The following are some of the apparent causes of depletion of natural resources:

1. Overpopulation:

This is a situation whereby the number of people living in a place falls below the number of resources available in that community. The implication is that natural resources get consumed faster than they can be produced.

2. Deforestation:

One might be quick to assume that deforestation only affects trees. This is however far from the truth. Deforestation reduces animal life expectancy and more importantly, it destroys our ecosystem thereby affecting other natural resources.

3. Pollution:

Pollution of various kinds damages natural resources making it difficult for the resources to be produced in good condition. For instance, soil pollution affects plant life making it difficult for trees to grow.

Though we extract natural resources from the ground through mining for human consumption. Every time we get something from the ground, we hasten up the depletion process.

Prevention of Depletion of Natural Resources

Below are some of the efforts that can help curb the excesses of natural resources depletion.

1. Protecting The Trees – This involves several coordinated efforts aimed at reducing the number of tree cutting. It includes sensitizing the populace about the dangers of tree cutting and encouraging them to plant more trees.

2. Recycle – Recycling reduces waste and also reduces the number of toxic materials in our land water and air. Less toxicity leads to less depletion.

3. Reduce the consumption of fossil fuel products.

Depletion of natural resources affects everyone. The food we eat, the water we drink, the fuel we consume all comes from the natural resources. If we lose these resources life becomes difficult for everyone. So we need to be cautious and promote sustainable use of natural resources.

In ancient times, people used energy only for daily activities, such as lighting, guarding, and cooking. But as the development took place, in terms of industrial revolution and urbanization, animals were domesticated for household and farming activities and later as the industrial revolution took place, humans used a lot of power drawn from the natural resources. Initially, it was thought that the natural resources are found generally in abundance but of late, it is found that the availability of natural resources are depleting in quantity and can’t be replenished quickly. This is precisely the depletion of natural resources.

Depletion of Natural Resources:

Earth has two types of natural resources, those that can be replenished despite continuous usage like sunlight, tidal energy, etc. These are renewable resources of energy and those that can’t be replenished are called non – renewable resources. Explosive growth in the human population had led to population overconsumption. Humans’ activities have harmed the nature to that extent that now nature cannot replenish the resources at the rate of the resources being consumed. This leads to the depletion of natural resources.

The major causes of depletion of natural resources are:

1. Population explosion – The increased growth of population demand supply of energy and resources for their survival. The demand for energy supply is taken care of by the natural resources and the technologies invented to harness the natural resources’ benefits. To quench the demand, natural resources are depleted.

2. Environmental pollution – Extensive activities on earth by humans have caused polluted environment. The production of uncountable pollutants by us not only makes the environment hazardous, but also the pollution of various natural resources like air, water, soil, and land, thereby leading to the depletion of natural resources available in the environment.

3. Deforestation – The forest is a rich habitat and the powerhouse of the earth’s ecosystem. The industrial revolution and urbanization by clearing the forested areas deplete the biological resources of the earth.

4. Population over consumption – The demand of resources for a population becomes higher than it actually requires. This is because the human population uses resources and energy as a desired demand commodity to live a very sophisticated life.

5. Natural calamities –Calamities like Tsunami, storms, earthquake deplete a whole lot of natural resources. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is the only cause that humans have no control on, to save the resources from depletion.

6. Climatic change – Global warming is a phenomenon that the environmentalists are talking about. Global warming brings about changes in the climatic cycle which can’t be tolerated by the biological species in the environment. This alters the survivability of various species and leads to extinction of many threatened or near-threatened species.

Prevention of Depletion of Natural Resources:

It has become evidently clear that we are facing a threat in terms of natural resources. With the current higher rate of depletion of the natural resources, it is feared that in a few years, we may not have resources to be utilized for our survival. We must know that nature has its own balancing concept. But as we have been continuously abusing nature, a serious imbalance is in effect.

We must be responsible to take up the arduous task of conserving the natural resources. Planting trees, minimizing energy wastage, conserving water and avoiding the wastage of water, conserving electricity at home and workplace, use of alternative and cleaner energy, replacement of the extraneous energy using equipment with eco–friendly and efficient energy conserving gadgets and equipment, are few steps that we can start doing at local levels to prevent and conserve the natural resources from depletion.

As we understand that the depletion of natural resources is a very serious concern in terms of human survival and environmental sustainability, it’s high time that we take necessary steps to avoid the natural resources from depletion.

Natural Resources:

Depletion of natural resources is the cause of serious concern for the world. Natural resources, as the name suggests, are the materials and sources of energy which are found naturally on earth. There are two major types of natural resources.

The first one is known as the non-renewable or conventional sources of energy. Depletion of natural resources is applicable to this category. Examples are coal, oil, petroleum, minerals, etc. Whereas the second type of natural resources is renewable or nonconventional. The depletion of natural resources in this category is not possible. These include solar energy, wind, energy, hydro power, etc. Both have their own benefits but since the beginning, an excessive dependency and consumption of the non-renewable resources have led to the depletion of natural resources.

Our earth takes years to produce fossil fuels such as coals, oils, petroleum etc. But the exhaustion has happened at a rapid rate. As a result of this depletion of natural resources, we are now falling short of these reserves of energy.

Depletion of natural resources has befallen us for a number of reasons. And when we talk about the depletion of natural resources, it also includes the shrinking of forest areas and vegetation. The biggest cause of depletion of natural resources is industrialization.

Lots of trees are cut to make space for setting up the industries. Industries also consume a lot of coals, oils, and other fossil fuels, adding further to the depletion of natural resources. The humongous growth of human population has direct and indirect roles in the depletion of natural resources.

Large portions of land are required to build houses and other amenities for the people. And to feel the population, farmers often end up clearing the forests for growing crops there. This replacement of vegetation with crop fields is another cause of depletion of natural resources.

Implications of Depletion of Natural Resources:

Deforestation alone means various kinds of depletion of natural resources. For instance, soil erosion is a consequence of it, causing floods, drought, and landslides. Shrinking greenery poses a threat to the wildlife and leads to their extinction.

Depletion of natural resources expands to oceans and seas also. Drilling of ocean beds for oils and other fossil fuels interferes with the functioning of marine life. Moreover, excessive use of coals, petroleum, and mineral oils, has created enormous pollution over the years.

The pollution touches its peak by making a hole in the protective ozone layer of the earth. The depletion of natural resources is an indication that we have badly exhausted and exploited the earth’s surface and stripped of its valuable stores.

Conservation of Natural Resources:

The severe depletion of natural resources has brought to us a point where it has become necessary for us to come up with some long-term and effective measures to nourish back our planet. Shifting to the consumption of renewable and green sources of energy is one such step.

By controlling the pollution and putting a check on our reckless and toxic ways of life would significantly curb further depletion of natural resources. Every one of us should plant trees and make the earth healthier.

Some simple measures can have a huge impact on the current situation of mother earth. By reducing the wastage, reusing the day to day things, and recycling the biodegradable materials, we can save our planet from dying.

Human beings are dependent on nature, but nature is not dependent on humankind. It is the right time to pay back to nature what we have harnessed from it for millions of years.

Depletion of natural resources has long been a concern for people as well as the governments all over the world. Natural resources are vital for our survival. However, there has been a steady decline in the availability of natural resources for human use over the last decade.

There are many causes which have led to the depletion in natural resources. First and foremost is the increase in human population. With an ever-increasing population, the demand for natural resources has also increased substantially. This has led to excess usage of natural resources than the speed at which they are replenished in nature.

Mining is another human activity which has led to depletion of natural resources. We have been suing mining techniques to extract various metals, fossil fuels and other minerals from the earth. But, we have been indifferent of the thought as to how much should we extract in a given period. With hardly any monitoring in place by the government, illegal mining has been on the rise. This has led to over-extraction of the natural resources, thereby depleting them. Although laws are in place to catch and punish the offenders, the execution of the same is still a challenge for the government.

Another important factor which has led to the depletion of natural resources is the increase in pollution levels in air, water and land. The waters of the rivers are so polluted now that they cannot be used for various purposes such as drinking and bathing. So, although the resource is available, we are not in a position to use it for our own use. Additionally, pollution levels in water, air and land have made it difficult for the survival of others species as well which are important to maintain balance in the ecosystem.

The effects of depletion of natural resources are all but harmful for the life on the earth. Depletion of natural resources has altered the ecosystem of the earth. Change of climatic conditions has been noticed over the last decade. Many species have become extinct because they were not able to adapt themselves to the changing environment.

Additionally, it has also led to global warming. There has been a constant increase in the average temperature of the earth. This, in turn, poses a threat to the coastal regions of the world as the water levels have been rising up steadily.

Due to change in climatic conditions, there have been altered patterns of rains in different regions affecting the yield of crops. This has led to price rise as the demand is more than what is being produced in the fields. Also, India is a country where half of the population is dependent on agriculture. Damage of crops has affected the farmers and there has been an increase in farmer suicides as well.

Remedies Available:

There are plenty of natural resources available to us. We put them to use as per our own requirements. For instance, we use fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum to generate electricity, drive vehicles; we use water to rotate turbines in a hydropower station. Similarly, we use sunlight as well to some extent to trap and the solar energy and generate electricity. Depletion of natural resources is actually a concern only for the resources which cannot be replenished easily, for example, coal and petroleum.

On the other hand, resources such as wind and sunlight are available in plenty and shall not be exhausted no matter how much we use them. This is the key to our remedy to minimise the depletion of natural resources. We should switch over to the resources which can easily be replenished. On the other hand, we should minimise the use of fossil fuels.

It is true that there would be no life on earth if we do have the natural resources available to us. However, at the same time, it is also true that it is we who have to ensure that we utilise the resources carefully. Depletion of natural resources is surely an environmental concern that we all should be serious about. There was a time when we switched from cleaner to fossil fuels. Now is the time perhaps to go back in history and rewind our life.

We should think of the solutions available to us such switching to cleaner resources which can easily be replenished in nature. Moreover, the use of resources such as fossil fuels which are on the verge of extinction should be minimised. But, execution of the same is not an easy task. Only a collective effort of people, as well as governments all over the world, can perhaps save the earth and reduce the depletion of natural resources.

Essay on Depletion of Natural Resources – Long Essay for Competitive Exams like IAS, IPS, UPSC and Civil Services (Essay 8 – 100 0 Words)

Depletion of natural resources can be said to be the consumption and use of a particular natural resource a lot faster than the rate of replenishment of the natural resources. We can commonly divide natural resources into non-renewable resources and renewable resources. Anytime either one of the two forms of natural resources is used beyond the rate of their replacement; we can consider it to be the depletion of natural resources. Natural resources depletion usually occurs in reference to fossil fuels consumption, water usage, mining, fishing and farming. Defaunation is a term that is used to describe the depletion of the populations of wildlife.

Causes of the Depletion of Natural Resources:

1. Soil erosion

2. Agricultural practices like slash and burn

3. Contamination and pollution if resources

4. Overpopulation

5. Unnecessary, excessive or overconsumption resources use

6. Mining for minerals and fossil fuels

7. Deforestation

8. Aquifer depletion

Depletion of Minerals:

We need minerals to help provide us with housing, clothing and food. A study carried out by the geological survey of the United States discovered a trend that is long-term during the nineteenth century on resources that are non-renewable like minerals that supply greater ratio of all the raw materials put into the non-food, non-fuel economy sector. A good example can be said to be the increased consumption of gravel, sand and crushed stone that are employed in construction.

Mineral exploitation on a large scale started during the period of industrial revolution in England around 1760 and it has rapidly grown since then. Advancements in technology have made it easier for humans to access grades that are lower and dig deeper with various forms of ore. All forms of industrial basic metals like bauxite, iron and copper and also minerals of rare earth usually encounter limitation in production output periodically.

Some minerals that are believed to start declining in production in twenty years include:

ii. Copper (2024)

iii. Gasoline (2023)

Some minerals that are believed to start declining in production in this century include:

i. Iron (2068)

ii. Coal (2060)

iii. Aluminium (2057)

Depletion of Oil:

Peak oil period is believed to be the particular period in time when we reach the rate that is the maximum for the extraction of petroleum globally. After the peak oil period, the theory of peak oil posits that there will be a decline in the long term of the production rate of oil. A report in 2005 by Hirsch put forward that the prices of predictions that are petroleum derived will increase significantly all over the world as a result of the combination of decreased supply and increased demand, and the most significant one is going to be the price and availability of fuel that is liquid for transportation.

It was concluded by the report that there is going to be a problem of risk management that is unprecedented as a result of the oil production of the world that is peaking. There will be a sharp increase in the prices of fuel that is liquid and there will be volatility in the price. If there is no timely mitigation, there will be unprecedented political, social and economic costs.

Deforestation:

Deforestation can be said to be the process of forest clearing through the burning or cutting of plants and trees that are in an area that is forested. Deforestation has led to the destruction of about half of all of the areas of forests that at one point in time covered the earth. Deforestation happens as a result of a variety of reasons and there are a lot of negative effects of deforestation on our atmosphere and also on the quality land surrounding and in the forested area.

Causes of Deforestation:

One major cause of deforestation can be said to be the clearing of forests for reasons that are agricultural. With the increase in the population of areas that are developing especially those that are near the forests, there is usually more need of lands that are needed for farming. A lot of people usually see the forest as being without value just because the resources of the forest are not in use, for people like this; the profits of deforesting usually outweigh the profits of keeping the forest. As a result of this, it is of utmost importance that developing countries know the value of forests economically.

Depletion of Water:

A vital resource that we need in order to survive each day in life is water. Studies have shown that man can only last about a week if he does not take any water at all. The success and prosperity of people and nations historically has depended heavily on the availability of water. One type of water source that is a resource that is non-renewable is groundwater. Groundwater is about 98% of the fresh water that is available on the earth.

Groundwater can be used in supplying aquifers and wells for public, agricultural and private use. Only about 6% of all the groundwater is replenished about every fifty years.

Renewable Natural Resources:

We can get renewable energy from renewable natural resources. We have two major sources of energy that is renewable which are wind power and solar energy. A lot of research is ongoing on how we can get different alternatives that can replace the depletion of resources that are non-renewable.

We have a lot of major causes and things that give rise to the depletion of natural resources in our planet earth. We are beginning to really see that depletion of natural resources is a thing and there is the need for us to be careful about our consumption of these natural resources.

There is a need for us to learn how to find a balance between resources preservation and economic development. If we fail to do this and exhaust all of our natural resources, there would not be any more natural resources for us to exploit and use to meet all of our needs.

Depletion , Natural Resources

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Natural Resource Depletion Essay | Essay on Natural Resource Depletion for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Natural Resource Depletion Essay:  To survive on this planet has only been possible because of the natural resources of the earth. Mother Nature has provided us with so many natural resources to make our lives comfortable. Natural resources like wood, minerals, coal, water, plants, fuel, and air have been provided by mother nature. But now for the longest period of time, we have been destroying these resources and overusing them to the extent that their depletion could be soon. The earth is our home planet and we must protect it at all costs, before venturing out to other planets and seeing the viability of life, let us try to save what is left of our planet as it is still not too late.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long and Short Essays on Natural Resource Depletion for Students and Kids in English

We provide children and students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic “Natural Resource Depletion” for reference.

Short Essay on Natural Resource Depletion 250 Words in English

Short Essay on Natural resource depletion is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

In our environment, we have two types of resources one which can be used as long as we want in abundance which is known as Renewable Resources and the other set of resources are those which are more likely to perish in a while known as non-renewable resources. We should be careful about our non-renewable resources and not to be too quick to exhaust them.

We should learn to use our resources wisely and keep more for our future generations, we should learn to use our natural resources in a well timely constructed manner. Since we are the citizens of this planet it is a duty that we should take upon ourselves to do.

Natural resources have given us so much to live and have made our lives so comfortable and nourished us for so long. With the help of these resources, we have been able to make so many advancements in technology to the point we have found viable ways to use these resources so that they won’t get exhausted so quickly.

Long Essay on Natural Resource Depletion 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Natural resource depletion is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Natural resources are everything we find around us that has been produced by nature naturally, this includes the air we breathe, the water we drink, the sunlight we bask in, and also other organic elements such as minerals, timber, and fossil fuels. Without these resources, Human life would have been impossible.

Certain biotic elements are the natural resources that are obtained from living organisms such as animals, forests, fishes, and also fossil fuel because it is actually the decay of the dead organisms. The resources which are referred to as the non-living elements of mother nature are Abiotic Resources, examples are soil, minerals, wind, sunlight, etc…

Throughout the world natural resources are well distributed, you can’t find all the resources in one area but over the years humans have found efficient ways to use up the natural resources present in their region. If we were to take India for example we have learned that our most natural resources are our soil and varied weather in different regions which work best for different types of crops such as cotton, tea, rice, sugarcane, etc…

Over the years humans have learned to use our natural resources in ways that they are originally not intended for like using water not only for drinking but also creating hydroelectric power., using sunlight as solar energy, and so on.

Ever since industrialization and globalization, we are moving forward to find ways where we can use our resources in different ways and also create various products that can also serve us in better ways. In our ecosystem not all resources are unlimited and we have to learn to be careful of our consumption. Over the past couple of decades, many technological advancements have made our lives much more convenient and also we have found so many alternatives to some of the natural resources.

After industrialization and globalization came trade and commerce which sparked up interconnectivity between people and this allowed for an instant boom in technology which has allowed us to create many efficient and effective products that are designed to serve us better. We have also realized that we need alternatives to these resources quickly because we are constantly using our natural resources and they are not unlimited.

Advancements like wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, and solar are renewable resources because they are present in such abundance and they are constantly self-replenishing in nature. The resources such as nuclear elements, coal, iron, freshwater, and fossil fuel will take a million to self replenish and we must move start using alternatives ao we deplete these resources.

Throughout the world natural resources are well distributed, obviously, you can’t find all the resources in one area but over the years humans have found efficient ways to use up the natural resources present in their region. If we were to take India for example we have learned that our most natural resources I sour soil and varied weather in different regions which work best for different types of crops such as cotton, tea, rice, sugarcane, etc…Over the years humans have learned to use our natural resources in a way that it is originally not intended for like using water not only for drinking but also creating hydroelectric power., using sunlight as solar energy, and so on.

Historically speaking natural resources were very important for countries if they wanted to develop and compete with other countries on a global level. But because of the socioeconomic disparity between different counties we have seen how so many natural resources have either been depleted or not been used at all. Most developed countries have the money and the technology to extract these resources and use them to their fullest whereas developing countries are still struggling with this process.

Though today globalization has made it possible for ease of accessibility of natural resources around the world we are still dependent on those countries that have the most amount of natural resources. Let’s take for example the middle east who has an abundance of fossil fuel which even in the twenty-first century is extremely crucial. Countries have started using more viable options that are more eco-friendly and this is possible because of the technology advancements but this means that those countries that are still dependent on these natural resources will fall back.

Coal mining and the availability of iron had helped make Britain one of the most developed countries at the time and one of the richest nations too. This allowed for the industrial revolution to take place and similarly, this had made France, America, and other nations into such superpower nations. So using these natural resources had progressed so fast but that was in the past, now the country’s economy is based on so many different factors. It does need to use up its natural resources because there are many alternatives to non-renewable resources like fossil fuel like electricity. It is of grave importance that nations come to understand this and make the right moves so that they don’t suffer as much in the future.

As we move to an unsure future we must consider our future generations and how we can still provide them with so much by just conserving and wisely using our resources. technological advancements have made it possible for us to use different resources and create products that cater to our needs, but we should be aware of how precious these resources are to the earth and our future generations.

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Causes, Effects and Solution of Depletion of Natural Resources

The depletion of natural resources occurs when resources are consumed at a faster rate than their replacement. Natural resources are those resources that are in existence without human actions, and they can either be renewable or non-renewable .

When it gets down to the discussion of natural resource depletion, it is a term used in reference to water usage, farming, fossil fuel consumption, fishing, and mining. And above all, natural resource depletion is defined on the premise that the value of a resource is measured in terms of its availability in nature.

What is Resource Depletion?

Resource depletion happens when the consumption of renewable or non-renewable resources becomes scarce, as they are consumed at a faster rate than they can be replenished. The term resource deletion is most commonly used with fossil fuels, water usage, fishing, mining, logging etc.

Wikipedia defines resource depletion as,

“ Resource depletion is the consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. Natural resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable resources. Use of either of these forms of resources beyond their rate of replacement is considered to be resource depletion. “

A resource that is rare on earth due to depletion has a higher value than a natural resource that is in abundance. Due to the increasing global population, the levels of natural resource degradation are also increasing.

Consequently, the world’s eco-footprint is estimated to be one and a half times the ability of the earth to sustainably provide each individual with enough resources that meet their consumption levels. Herein is a detailed explanation of the causes, effects, and solutions of natural resource depletion .

Causes of Depletion of Natural Resources

1. overpopulation.

The total global population is more than seven billion people. Still, there is a consistent increase in the overall earth populace and this has been a critical factor in accelerating the depletion of natural resources. An increase in the populace expands the need for resources and conditions necessary to sustain it.

Even if everyone tried to adopt a correspondingly low material standard of living, with the population approaching eight billion, it would still cause the depletion of natural resources.

In addition, it contributes to increased ecological contamination. Research further indicates that developing countries are using more and more resources to industrialize and support their ever-increasing population. Hence, the depletion of natural resources will continue as long as the world population increases.

2. Poor Farming Practices

Humans are causing a lot of stress on land resources due to the over-reliance on food production for daily nutritional requirements. Poor irrigation practices, for example, are a key contributing factor to the salinization and alkalization of the soil that sustains plant growth.

Poor soil management practices and the use of heavy machinery and farming equipment also destroy the soil structure, making it unsuitable for plant growth. Due to the drastic soil vibrations and destruction, the fertile material vital to life is being destroyed.

Some farming practices, such as excessive use of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides, equally kill important soil micro-organisms that are essential in replenishing nutrients in the soil. Furthermore, irresponsible farming leaves the soil vulnerable to soil erosion , which could further result to soil degradation.

The World Bank reported that the net loss of global forest between 1990 and 2016 was 1.3 million square kilometers . The gross loss every year that followed was around 13 million hectares, and by July 2022, the net loss of global forest was around 17 million hectares.

On the same note, tropical deforestation is estimated to occur at a rate of one percent annually, especially in the Latin American regions. People are clearing forests primarily for agricultural reasons due to the increase in population pressure.

Humans are also cutting down trees to make space for residential complexes and multiplexes. Through deforestation , the planet loses not only trees but also thousands of animals and great plant biodiversity due to the destruction of their natural habitats.

A lot of flora and fauna species have become rare, endangered or extinct over the years due to the said practice. Moreover, increased logging activities also lead to soil erosion that degrades natural soil minerals.

4. Overconsumption of Natural Resources

The 1760 industrial revolution saw large-scale mineral and oil exploration, and the practice has been gradually growing, leading to more and more natural oil and mineral depletion .

Together with the advancements in technology, development, and research in the contemporary era; exploitation of minerals has become easier and humans are digging deeper to access different ores. The increased exploitation of different minerals has led to some of them entering into a production decline.

For example, minerals such as gasoline, copper, and zinc production are estimated to decline in the next 20 years . Plus, oil mining continues to rise due to the upsurge in the number of engines that use petroleum, thereby magnifying its depletion.

The peak oil theory supports this fact by putting forward that there will come a time when the globe will experience uncertainties about alternative means of fuel owing to the over-harvesting of petroleum. When the peak of petroleum production is passed, an irreversible decline on the production rates will be faced.

5. Pollution

An increase in population and modern anthropogenic activities is a major contributor to the disposal of pollutants into the natural environment, and as such, the value of the natural environment is gradually exposed to degradation.

The soil, air, lakes, and seas are being contaminated with sewage, radioactive materials, and toxic chemicals, among other pollutants . Pollution can directly kill plants and animals , destroy the environment and cause further dilemmas, thus leading to natural resource depletion.

Uncontrolled releases of carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur oxide, and carbon dioxide, for example, have resulted in the degradation of the ozone layer and global warming — environmental changes with their resultant depletive impacts on different natural habitats. Millions of different animal and plant species have thus lost their natural habitats and are on the verge of extinction.

6. Industrial and Technological Development

The present-day world is incessantly becoming industrialized as more and more countries make major technological breakthroughs. But as technological advancements continue, there is also a considerable growth in industries that release toxins and chemical by-products which are eventually deposited in lakes, oceans, soils, and lands.

Some of the industrial by-products are organic compounds, metals, radioactive materials, and other destructive wastes. As a result, the by-products and toxic materials alter natural habits such as aquatic systems and wildlife .

Examples of the impacts include acidic lakes, dead zones , and the death of wildlife as well as aquatic life. Industrial and technological advancements have also driven the demand for virgin materials for research, development, and production.

More resources are hence being used to satisfy industrial demands, increasing the rate of natural resource depletion. As the production of industrial materials and toxic waste increases, more habitats are being disturbed and destroyed, leading to a higher natural resource depletion rate.

Effects of Depletion of Natural Resources

1. water shortages.

Poor farming practices, deforestation , and pollution are major causes of water resource depletion due to contamination, wastage, and the destruction of natural water catchment areas.

As of today, approximately two billion people lack access to clean water because of the effects of deforestation and contamination of water sources and groundwater. Water shortages further contribute to famine and food insecurity.

Due to the lack of clean water access, there are around two billion cases of diarrhea among children younger than five years old, three million cases of cholera, and 11 million cases of typhoid fever. Moreover, a lot of water-related diseases and deaths are continuously occurring.

The growing water use of people globally at more than twice the rate of population increase is calling for heavy pressure and solutions to avoid further global problems.

2. Oil depletion

Oil is a nonrenewable resource that accounts for roughly 40 percent of the total global energy consumption . Oil is used for plenty of purposes, and together with technological advancements, it is being more frequently used than ever.

Research by EIA’s International Energy Outlook had shown that due to the high rate of oil exploitation, the amount of oil remaining would last for only 25 years. Moreover, EIA’s research stated that by 2030, oil consumption will be at 118 million barrels per day.

The energy consumption of humans is increasing rapidly while replacing the resources being used in energy production is still at a slow pace. Oil is an essential commodity in manufacturing, planting, mining, and transportation among many activities, and its depletion would be devastating.

The adverse effects of oil depletion include the fall of businesses, the high cost of living in developing countries, and uncertainty in the transport sector. Moreover, oil depletion could cause international tensions as everyone would want access to the remaining oil supply.

3. Loss of forest cover

Approximately 18 million acres of forest cover are destroyed annually. This means that half of the world’s natural forest cover has already been cleared and millions of animal and plant habitats are destructed.

Furthermore, studies indicate an increase in deforestation in the past three decades has resulted in a 12% to 17% rise in greenhouse gases globally. Due to the lack of trees to absorb carbon dioxide, global warming is becoming more severe.

Other devastating effects of deforestation include soil erosion, an increase in greenhouse gases leading to global warming, loss of biodiversity , increased flooding, and drought.

4. Depletion of minerals

There has been an increase in the exploitation of minerals such as phosphorus, gasoline, copper, and zinc, among others, to sustain the seven billion people on earth.

Studies by the Global Phosphorus Research Institute, for example, show that the earth could run out of phosphorus—an essential element for plant growth—in the next 50 to 100 years.

Studies by the United States Geological Survey also indicate that there is an increase in non-renewable resource consumption of natural minerals and construction materials such as copper, sand, gravel, and stone.

As the consumption of natural minerals increases, the cost of the materials also increases, while economic returns are shrinking. The economic impact of mineral depletion is likely to outweigh the drastic global warming.

5. Extinction of Species

Due to the changes in the living conditions of animals as a result of resource overexploitation and habitat degradation , some species may go extinct. Habitat destruction is one of the primary reasons why species of plants and animals are being endangered, or worse, extinct.

Forested regions are known to be habitats for thousands of animals , but deforestation is progressively destroying forest habitats. Practices such as overfishing and pollution have similarly led to a drastic reduction in the number of marine species such as tuna fish.

Some of the animals that have become extinct recently are the ivory-billed woodpecker, splendid poison frog, Lake Lanao freshwater fish, smooth handfish, bramble cay melomys, spix’s macaw, baiji, and western black rhinoceros. In the flora area, 32 orchid species and 65 North American plants became extinct.

Solutions to Depletion of Natural Resources

1. controlling deforestation.

Programs aimed at checking against deforestation, such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), created by the World Bank, the New York Declaration on Forests, and the United Nations, are initiatives that could help reduce the depletion of natural resources.

The initiatives may also act as incentives for encouraging the general public to conserve forests as these are the habitat and protectors of some of the world’s unique plant and animal species and water sources, respectively.

Sustainability programs that aim to educate people about the importance of conserving natural resources should also be enacted as a way of focusing on the long-term risks associated with environmental degradation .

2. Reducing oil, mineral, and material consumption

Oil-rich countries, together with the World Bank, state, and consumables’ regulatory bodies, should join hands towards a common international objective of discussing how oil and mineral consumption, as well as exploitation, can be reduced.

Manufactures can, for instance, be trained on lean manufacturing (recycling, re-use, and reducing wastage) while consumers are sensitized on how to adopt re-use, reducing wastage, and recycling techniques.

3. More exploration and use of renewable sources of energy

Renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power can be explored more and utilized to reduce the dependency on fossil fuel, which is a major cause of environmental pollution , climate change, global warming, and the destruction of natural habitats.

Through the exploration of different renewable sources of energy, a lot of technological innovations can be developed, which in turn could help reduce the use of natural nonrenewable resources.

4. Protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems

Wetlands are regions saturated with groundwater that play a significant role in sustaining vegetation cover. The coastal and wetland ecosystems are thus vital in sustaining the food chain as they replenish water sources and avail minerals and nutrients for primary producers (green and flowering plants), essential for maintaining plant and animal biodiversity. Also, when coastal ecosystems are protected, they aid in controlling marine overfishing and protect coral reefs .

5. Sensitization and awareness creation

People must be educated on how their daily practices put a strain on scarce natural resources, as well as their individual contributions to resource depletion. The main purpose of creating awareness would be to encourage people to preserve and restore the natural environment by getting involved in conservation efforts.

Awareness education may be in the form of a symposium, creating videos for people to watch, writing articles and blog posts for people to read, or many other ways to educate everyone across the globe.

About Rinkesh

A true environmentalist by heart ❤️. Founded Conserve Energy Future with the sole motto of providing helpful information related to our rapidly depleting environment. Unless you strongly believe in Elon Musk‘s idea of making Mars as another habitable planet, do remember that there really is no 'Planet B' in this whole universe.

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The Sustainable Use of Natural Resources: The Governance Challenge

Still Only One Earth: Lessons from 50 years of UN sustainable development policy

Over-exploitation of natural resources harms the health of ecosystems and the wellbeing of people. In the face of environmental crises and growing inequality, we need to act, including developing extended producer responsibility and supply chain legislation, guaranteeing green public procurement, supporting technical innovation to enhance resource circularity, and adopting decision-making processes that include and respect women, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. ( Download PDF ) ( See all policy briefs ) ( Subscribe to ENB )

Natural resources are central to human wellbeing. We cannot live without the clean air we breathe, the plants we eat, or the water we drink. We need natural resources to put roofs over our heads and heat our homes. We need them to survive and to thrive.

The concept of natural resources refers to naturally occurring living and non-living elements of the Earth system, including plants, fish, and fungi, but also water, soil, and minerals. A prominent way to think about natural resources is to look at them in terms of depletion risk: do they regenerate, and, if so, at what pace? Some resources, such as trees and plants, are renewable because they regenerate relatively quickly. Others, such as copper and oil, take much longer to form and are considered non-renewable. Together, natural resources make up a dense web of interdependence, forming ecosystems that also include humans. As such, the distribution of resources shapes the face of our planet and the local distinctiveness of our environments. People have formed different types of cultural, spiritual, and subsistence-based relationships with the natural environment, adopting value-systems that go beyond economic framings.

Nature makes human development possible but our relentless demand for the earth’s resources is accelerating extinction rates and devastating the world’s ecosystems. Joyce Msuya , Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme

The use of natural resources has long been considered an element of both human rights and economic development, leading the United Nations, amid its work on advancing decolonization in the 1960s, to declare that “[t]he right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources must be exercised in the interest of their national development and of the well-being of the people of the State concerned” ( UN General Assembly Resolution 1803 (XVII) ).

Natural resources are often viewed as key assets driving development and wealth creation. Over time and with progressive industrialization, resource use increased. In some cases, exploitation levels came to exceed resources’ natural regeneration rates. Such overexploitation ultimately threatens the livelihoods and wellbeing of people who depend on these resources, and jeopardizes the health of ecosystems. This risk of resource depletion, notably manifesting in the form of fishery collapses, demonstrates the need to regulate natural resource use to better preserve resources and their ecosystems. The very first UN conference on environmental issues, the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm, Sweden, adopted fundamental principles in this regard.

Stockholm Declaration

• Principle 2: “The natural resources of the earth, including the air, water, land, flora and fauna and especially representative samples of natural ecosystems, must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations through careful planning or management, as appropriate.”
• Principle 3: “The capacity of the earth to produce vital renewable resources must be maintained and, wherever practicable, restored or improved.”
• Principle 5: “The non-renewable resources of the earth must be employed in such a way as to guard against the danger of their future exhaustion and to ensure that benefits from such employment are shared by all mankind.”

The Stockholm Declaration not only addressed resource depletion, but also benefit sharing: the objective to ensure that natural resource use not only benefits the few, but the many, both within and across countries. It also speaks to the principle of inter-generational equity: ensuring that today’s resource use does not compromise the availability of natural resources for future generations. In fact, natural resource use relates to all three dimensions of sustainability: social justice, environmental health, and economic development. The sustainable use of natural resources strives for balance between these dimensions: maintaining the long-term use of resources while maximizing social benefits and minimizing environmental impacts.

Natural Resource Use Has More than Tripled since 1970

Although the 1972 Stockholm Declaration laid out the fundamental principles for sustainable resource governance, the state of play half a century later is sobering. The International Resource Panel (IRP), launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), found that the global average of material demand per capita grew from 7.4 tons in 1970 to 12.2 tons in 2017, with significant adverse impacts on the environment, notably increased greenhouse gas emissions.

The IRP also showed that “the use of natural resources and the related benefits and environmental impacts are unevenly distributed across countries and regions” (IRP, 2019, p. 27). For one, the per capita material footprint in high-income countries is thirteen times more than in low-income countries: 27 tons and 2 tons per capita, respectively. As WWF notes , “If everyone lived like an average resident of the USA, a total of four Earths would be required to regenerate humanity’s annual demand on nature.” What’s more, since they generally rely on resource extraction in other countries, high income countries outsource part of the environmental and social impacts of their consumption. At the same time, the IRP has reported that “the value created through these traded materials in the countries of origin is relatively low” (IRP, 2019, p. 65). This imbalance highlights the global discrepancies in the distribution of benefits and negative impacts stemming from resource use, with countries “rich” in valuable resources not always benefitting from their extraction, distribution, and use, yet suffering the most environmental harm.

Human actions threaten more species with global extinction now than ever before. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Fostering Sustainable Resource Governance

A vast array of norms, institutions, and actors influence decisions on natural resources, which is why we speak of natural resource governance. A plethora of national legislation, intergovernmental agreements, regional organizations, certification mechanisms, corporate codes of conduct, and multi-stakeholder partnerships create a complex web of rules affecting how natural resources are used and benefits thereof are distributed.

Since Stockholm, numerous multilateral agreements have developed a range of operational guidelines, targets, and standards. Some intergovernmental frameworks, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are broad in focus, while others are resource-specific ( Minamata Convention on Mercury ) or relate to a specific geographical area ( Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources ). Industry initiatives and multi-stakeholder partnerships often focus on specific resources or sectors. Examples of such initiatives include the Forest Stewardship Council , the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil , the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative , and the Better Cotton Initiative .

Citizens also have agency over natural resource use: through the representatives we elect to government, our activist engagement, and our consumption and transport choices. For instance, carefully considering food production cycles—what we eat, where and how it is grown, and how it arrives on our plate—can go towards addressing the impact that agricultural expansion has on forests, wetlands, and grassland ecosystems (FAO, 2018; IPBES, 2019). However, this needs to be coupled with systemic change across governance structures.

These mechanisms and institutions are not always complementary; in fact, at times they stand in conflict with one another. Consider, for instance, an energy corporation invoking the Energy Charter Treaty to file arbitration claims against a country’s decision to phase-out coal—a decision taken in accordance with its obligations under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change .

Balancing Rights and Interests over Natural Resources

Determining how people can—and should— access, benefit from, participate in decision-making on, and have responsibility over natural resources has been shaped by concepts such as property and rights . 

On the one hand, property rights divide lands and territories into: private property, where rights are held by individuals or companies; common property, where rights are shared by a community; public property, where rights are held by government; and open access areas, where no specific rights are assigned (Aggrawal & Elbow, 2006). Property rights are closely tied to rights over natural resources, which include the right to use a resource, such as hunting in a forest; or management rights that grant authority to decide on use, for example imposing seasonal hunting restrictions. In terms of governance, different types of ownership and access rights can be held simultaneously by several actors: a wetland can be owned by the state, managed by a local council, and used as fishing grounds by communities. 

The notion of tenure security indicates that an individual’s rights over natural resources and specific lands are recognized and enforceable. These rights are key to avoiding conflict and fostering social security as well as long-term sustainable resource use.

On the other hand, there are individual and collective rights regarding quality of life. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas ( UNDROP ), for example, stipulates that “[p]easants and other people working in rural areas have the right to have access to and to use in a sustainable manner the natural resources present in their communities that are required to enjoy adequate living conditions” and that they “have the right to participate in the management of these resources” (Article 5). UNDROP highlights the importance of small-scale sustainable practices, and the need to strengthen the protection and recognition of groups who have experienced historical marginalization and violent conflict over resource use. 

Similarly, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ( UNDRIP ) and International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169 ( ILO 169 ) protect the individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples. UNDRIP Article 8(2b) stipulates that states shall prevent and provide redress for “any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources.” Both texts also speak to the importance of ensuring the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples in relation to the use of their lands, with UNDRIP Articles 11(2) and 28 underscoring Indigenous Peoples’ right to redress for past FPIC infringements.

There is also the right to a healthy environment, enshrined in regional treaties, including procedural rights on access to information and decision-making processes, as well as the right to clean air, a safe climate, healthy food, safe water, a safe environment for work and play, and healthy ecosystems (UN Human Rights Council, 2019). Ultimately, the effectiveness of these advances in international law depends upon national governments’ readiness to implement them. To date, only 23 countries have ratified ILO 169, and many countries around the world have yet to adopt appropriate legislation to protect the rights enshrined in UNDRIP. To do so, and to protect associated rights under UNDROP and the right to a healthy environment, governments must adopt robust reforms across national policies, laws, programmes, and institutions that prompt shifts in country priorities and ensure the mainstreaming of environmental and social concerns across sectors, focusing especially on empowering marginalized groups. To ensure that decisions across society better address ecological and social wellbeing, prominent actors, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, are calling for human rights-based approaches to natural resource governance.

Overall, this constitutes a complex architecture, one that is dynamic in nature, often builds on customary practices, and requires balancing “competing” rights and interests through law and policy. Structures are seldom straightforward: there are often overlapping or even conflicting systems in place, and this influences the sustainability of resource governance.

States play a central role in balancing rights and interests. Regulations addressing the extractive sector determine how a corporation’s exclusive user rights may impact the general population’s right to a safe and healthy environment. Approaches to this balancing act, and the distribution, recognition, and safeguarding of rights, and the implementation of associated responsibilities, vary across states and change over time.

At times, this balance of interests favors more powerful actors. Stemming from historical legacies and trajectories in decision-making, structural inequalities exist across resource access, ownership, and tenure security (Oxfam, 2014). These issues disproportionately impact women , rural communities, and Indigenous Peoples, who are often cast as passive recipients to policy change, as opposed to rights holders and key actors in the sustainable management of natural resources. 

Women have faced historical exclusion from decision-making processes related to land and resources (UN Women, 2020). Due to enduring patriarchal gender norms across the world, they hold less control than men over the lands and resources they traditionally use and rely on for their livelihoods and wellbeing. Based on an analysis of 180 countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that out of the 164 countries that explicitly recognize women’s rights to own, use, and make decisions regarding land on par with men, only 52 countries guarantee these rights in both law and practice (OECD, 2019). As such, it is important that states ensure that women’s rights over natural resources are realized and protected through appropriate mechanisms. 

Indigenous Peoples also struggle to have their rights recognized. For instance, in Finland, Sweden, and Canada, legal disputes have arisen over the challenge of balancing between states’ sovereign right to govern and exploit natural resources, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights to self-determination over traditional territories and customary resource use. Globally, conflicts have also emerged over specific policy approaches, such as conservation methods relying on models of strictly protected areas, or the expansion of large infrastructure, such as the installation of hydraulic dams, which contribute to the displacement of Indigenous and rural peoples. 

The expansion of international investment treaties further aggravates existing power differentials. In fostering the commercialization and privatization of land and resources, and by often prioritizing investors’ rights and interests over those held by local peoples, they risk restricting public-interest policies and undermine the public’s access to remedial action (Cotula, 2015, 2016).

The Need for Inclusive Governance 

Activists and practitioners working to safeguard rights linked to natural resources and secure tenure have been lobbying for strengthened empowerment and participation of local groups, arguing that this fosters more sustainable and equitable resource governance. Alliances between women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local community groups have emerged, connecting local-to-global efforts, and bringing international attention to injustices. This includes grassroots alliances such as La Vía Campesina , which has lobbied to protect farmers’ and peasants’ rights since the 1990s and was instrumental in the creation and adoption of UNDROP. 

Inclusive decision making is key for sustainable resource governance. Just as gender norms have influenced structures for access and use, they have also shaped our behaviors and the knowledge we acquire, with women holding unique agroecological expertise linked to crop resilience and nutrition (UN Women, 2018). So, unless decision-making processes are gender-responsive and inclusive, they risk overlooking women’s specific needs and roles, and will fail to ensure the inclusion of ecological knowledge important for enabling sustainable practices. 

The same can be said for including Indigenous Peoples and local communities in resource governance. The second edition of the CBD’s Local Biodiversity Outlooks illustrates their significant contributions to the safeguarding and sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity. Important benefits come with inclusive and community-led governance structures and decision-making processes, which, in addition to protecting and enabling sustainable use of resources, can strengthen community support systems and local economies, as well as revitalize Indigenous and local knowledges and languages.

The Need for Transformative Change

Despite efforts since the 1970s, current trends in natural resource use are unsustainable, with potentially devastating results. The 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report underscored that transformative change is necessary to protect the resources upon which human life and wellbeing depends. The Report also acknowledges that, by its very nature, transformative change is often opposed by those with interests vested in the status quo. Civil society actors therefore underscore the importance for governments to address vested interests and foster inclusive decision making, along with a re-balancing of priorities with regards to rights and interests in order to ensure ecological integrity and social justice (Allan, et.al., 2019). The Local Biodiversity Outlooks mentioned earlier offer important examples of bottom-up approaches to resource governance that can foster sustainability while also addressing historical inequalities.

Bearing in mind global and local inequalities in the distribution of resource use and benefits, achieving transformative change requires bold governmental action, both domestically and in international fora. We need fundamental shifts in production and consumptions patterns, careful attention to value and supply chains, and the fostering of circular resource use and circular economies. Resource circularity breaks with the linear model of “extract-use-discard” towards a “waste-as-a-resource” model that fosters a reduced need for resource extraction, as well as encourages increased reuse, repair and recycling. These objectives are already enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , with governments aiming to achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by 2030 . While implementation has been too slow (IPBES, 2019), there is increased attention to fostering resource circularity, hand in hand with efforts to promote secure labor standards and reduce environmental impacts of resource exploitation. Most notable in this regard are legislative initiatives that increase producers’ responsibility for the impacts of their products throughout their lifecycle. Placing responsibility for post-use disposal on manufacturers significantly increases the material recovery rate and incentivizes less wasteful product design (OECD, 2016).

To better balance the three dimensions of sustainable resources governance—social justice, environmental health, and economic development—we must rethink our economic, social, political, and technological systems that currently enable damaging production practices and wasteful resource consumption. Other ways of living are possible, from the ways we structure our societies and economies, the relationships we form with each other and with our ecosystems, to ensuring that the priorities of our leaders align with the interests of the many rather than the few. To realize these shifts, governments should develop extended producer responsibilities and supply chain legislation to enhance fairer distribution of benefits and harms stemming from resource use and promote the protection of human rights in ways that ensure ecological wellbeing and social justice. 

Decision making must be inclusive and account for the needs, rights, and knowledges of historically marginalized communities and groups. Governance structures must recognize and support pre-existing sustainable practices at local and regional levels, as well as nourish the emergence of more sustainable patterns of resource use and management. This will require strengthening tenure rights and re-distributing power across all stages of decision-making. 

Works Consulted

Aggarwal, S. & Elbow, K. (2016). The role of property rights in natural resource management, good governance and empowerment of the rural poor. USAID. https://www.land-links.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/USAID_Land_Tenure_Property_Rights_and_NRM_Report.pdf

Allan, J.I., Antonich, B., Bansard, J.S., Luomi, M., & Soubry, B. (2019). Summary of the Chile/Madrid Climate Change Conference: 2-15 December 2019. Earth Negotiations Bulletin , 12(775). https://enb.iisd.org/download/pdf/enb12775e.pdf

Cotula, L. (2015). Land rights and investment treaties. IIED. https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/12578IIED.pdf

Cotula, L. (2016). Rethinking investment treaties to advance human rights. IIED Briefing. https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/17376IIED.pdf

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2018). Sustainable food systems: Concept and framework. http://www.fao.org/3/ca2079en/CA2079EN.pdf

Forest Peoples Programme, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network, Centres of Distinction on Indigenous and Local Knowledge, & Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. (2020). Local biodiversity outlooks 2 . https://www.cbd.int/gbo/gbo5/publication/lbo-2-en.pdf

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. (2019). Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services. https://www.ipbes.net/global-assessment

International Resource Panel. (2019). Global resources outlook 2019: Natural resources for the future we want. UN Environment Programme. https://www.resourcepanel.org/reports/global-resources-outlook

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2016). Extended producer responsibility: Updated guidance for efficient waste management. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264256385-en

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2019). Social institutions and gender index 2019 global report: Transforming challenges into opportunities. https://doi.org/10.1787/bc56d212-en

Oxfam. (2014). Even it up: Time to end extreme inequality. https://www-cdn.oxfam.org/s3fs-public/file_attachments/cr-even-it-up-extreme-inequality-291014-en.pdf

UN Human Rights Council. (2019). Report by the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. A/HRC/43/53. https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/53

UN Women (2018). Towards a gender-responsive implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2018/11/towards-a-gender-responsive-implementation-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity

UN Women (2020). Realizing women’s rights to land and other productive resources. 2nd ed. https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/10/realizing-womens-rights-to-land-and-other-productive-resources-2nd-edition  

Additional downloads

Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada

Government of Norway, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Government of Sweden, Ministry of Environment

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Experts widely agree that human activities are harming the global environment. Since the Industrial Revolution, the world economy has grown dramatically. Overall this is a success story, since rising incomes have lifted millions of people out of poverty. But it has been fueled by population growth and increasing consumption of natural resources.

Rising demand to meet the needs of more than 7 billion people has transformed land use and generated unprecedented levels of pollution, affecting biodiversity, forests, wetlands, water bodies, soils and air quality.

On Aug. 1, humans will have consumed more natural resources in 2018 than the Earth can regenerate this year, according to the California-based Global Footprint Network . This environmental nonprofit calculates the annual arrival of Earth Overshoot Day – the date when humanity’s demands on nature exceed what the network’s analysts estimate the Earth can regenerate over the entire year. Aug. 1 is the earliest date since ecological overshoot began in the early 1970s.

As an ecological economist and scholar of sustainability, I am particularly interested in metrics and indicators that can help us understand human uses of Earth’s ecosystems. Better measurements of the impacts of human activities can help identify ways to sustain both human well-being and natural resources.

Earth Overshoot Day is a compelling concept and has raised awareness of the growing impact of human activities on the planet. Unfortunately, the methodology used to calculate it and the ecological footprint on which it is based is conceptually flawed and practically unusable in any science or policy context. In my view, the ecological footprint ultimately does not measure overuse of natural resources – and it may very well underestimate it.

Rising demands, finite resources

The Global Footprint Network estimates when Earth Overshoot Day will arrive based on its National Footprint Accounts . These include extensive data sets that the organization uses to calculate two overarching indicators:

The ecological footprint, perhaps the most commonly used metric of the environmental impacts of human resource use. Each country’s ecological footprint is an estimate of the biological resources required to meet its population’s consumption demands and absorb its carbon emissions.

National biocapacity, which is an estimate of how well each country’s ecosystems can produce the natural resources consumed by humans and absorb the waste and pollution that humans generate.

Both of these measures are expressed in global hectares. One hectare is equal to 10,000 square meters, or about 2.47 acres.

Going into overshoot

To estimate when Earth Overshoot Day will arrive, the Global Footprint Network calculates the number of days in a given year for which Earth has enough biocapacity to provide for humans’ total ecological footprint. The rest of the year represents “global overshoot.”

When the footprint of consumption worldwide exceeds biocapacity, the authors assert that humans are exceeding the regenerative capacity of Earth’s ecosystems. This year, they estimate that humans are using natural resources 1.7 times faster than ecosystems can regenerate – or, put another way, consuming 1.7 Earths.

As an example, the ecological footprint for France is 4.7 global hectares per person, and global biocapacity is 1.7 hectares per person. Therefore, it would take (4.7/ 1.7 =) 2.8 Earths if everyone lived like the French.

France’s Overshoot Day would be estimated as (365 x (1.7/ 4.7)) = 130, or the 130th day of the year, which is May 5 based on 2014 data . The United States reached overshoot even earlier, on March 15.

What to count?

However, there are some fundamental and misleading shortcomings in these calculations. In a 2013 paper , six authors from academia, The Nature Conservancy and the California-based Breakthrough Institute analyzed how the Ecological Footprint falls short. In their view, it primarily measures humans’ carbon footprint but does not address other key impacts.

To calculate ecological footprints, the Global Footprint Network estimates the supply and demand of renewable biological resources across six land use types: forests, fishing grounds, croplands, grazing lands, developed lands and the area of forest required to offset human carbon emissions – that is, the carbon footprint. According to the network’s own analysis, each of these land use types is nearly in balance or in surplus, except for the carbon footprint.

The two key categories for producing food – cropland and grazing land – are defined in such a way that they can never be in deficit. And the analysis does not reflect environmental consequences of human use of these lands, such as soil erosion, nutrient runoff or overuse of water. It measures only land area.

For example, the ecological footprint for Indonesia is 1.61 global hectares per person, which is among the lowest 30 percent of all countries. But according to a 2014 study , Indonesia has the highest deforestation rate in the world.

Furthermore, the footprint calculation does not consider whether stocks of natural resources are decreasing or increasing as a result of human consumption. This question is critical for understanding ecological impacts.

These national ecological footprint calculations also conflate sustainability with self-sufficiency. They assume that every nation should produce all of the resources it consumes, even though it might be less expensive for countries to import some goods than to produce them at home.

As an example, the network lists Canada as an “ecological creditor” whose biocapacity exceeds its population’s ecological footprint. However, Canada is among the top 10 oil-producing countries in the world , and exports much of that oil for foreign consumption. Most of it goes to the United States, an “ecological debtor” that consumes more resources than it produces.

Thinking purely in terms of generic “resources,” everyone is better off when debtor countries can import resources from nations with supplies to spare. There are real and important environmental impacts associated with producing and consuming oil, but the network’s calculations do not address them. Nor do they reflect the decline in natural capital from extracting a nonrenewable resource.

Measuring sustainability

The Global Footprint Network asserts that “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” but it may be impossible to create a single metric that can capture all human impacts on the environment. Earth Overshoot Day highlights unsustainable uses of natural resources, but we need scientifically robust ecological indicators to inform environmental policy, and a broader understanding of ecological risks.

Better measurements of sustainability should reflect changes in our supplies of natural capital, include estimates of uncertainty and incorporate multiple pathways to reducing carbon footprints. The best tool for measuring human impacts on the planet may be a dashboard of environmental indicators, not a footprint.

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Paragraph on Depletion Of Natural Resources

Students are often asked to write a paragraph on Depletion Of Natural Resources in their schools. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 200-word, and 250-word paragraphs on the topic.

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Paragraph on Depletion Of Natural Resources in 100 Words

Natural resources are gifts from the Earth that we use every day. Like trees for paper, coal for electricity, and water to drink. But, these resources are not unlimited. This means, if we use too much too fast, one day they may be all gone. Think of it like a big box of crayons. If we use them all at once, soon there will be none left to color with. So, we must be careful and use our Earth’s gifts wisely. This way, they will last longer and we can enjoy them for many, many years.

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Paragraph on Depletion Of Natural Resources in 250 Words

Natural resources are things that we get from our Earth, like water, air, minerals, forests, and wildlife. They are very important for our survival and well-being. But the problem is, we are using up these resources faster than the Earth can replace them, and this is called depletion of natural resources. It’s like having a box of cookies and eating them so fast that there are none left for later. The big causes of this issue are overpopulation, industrialization, and pollution. More people means more need for food, water, and homes, leading to cutting down trees and overusing water. Industries, like factories, use a lot of resources to make things and often don’t replace what they use. Pollution, like throwing trash in the ocean, damages resources so we can’t use them anymore. This depletion is a big problem because if we run out of resources, we won’t be able to survive. It can also lead to other problems like climate change and loss of animal species. That’s why it’s so important to use resources wisely and carefully, recycle as much as we can, and keep our environment clean. This way, we make sure that our Earth can continue to provide us with the resources we need to live.

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Conserving Earth

Earth’s natural resources include air, water, soil, minerals, plants, and animals. Conservation is the practice of caring for these resources so all living things can benefit from them now and in the future.

Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geography, Geology, Conservation

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Earth ’s natural resources include air , water , soil , minerals , fuels , plants, and animals. Conservation is the practice of caring for these resources so all living things can benefit from them now and in the future. All the things we need to survive , such as food , water, air, and shelter , come from natural resources. Some of these resources, like small plants, can be replaced quickly after they are used. Others, like large trees, take a long time to replace. These are renewable resources . Other resources, such as fossil fuels , cannot be replaced at all. Once they are used up, they are gone f orever . These are nonrenewable resources . People often waste natural resources. Animals are overhunted . Forests are cleared, exposing land to wind and water damage. Fertile soil is exhausted and lost to erosion because of poor farming practices. Fuel supplies are depleted . Water and air are polluted . If resources are carelessly managed, many will be used up. If used wisely and efficiently , however, renewable resources will last much longer. Through conservation, people can reduce waste and manage natural resources wisely. The population of human beings has grown enormously in the past two centuries. Billions of people use up resources quickly as they eat food, build houses, produce goods, and burn fuel for transportation and electricity . The continuation of life as we know it depends on the careful use of natural resources. The need to conserve resources often conflicts with other needs. For some people, a wooded area may be a good place to put a farm. A timber company may want to harvest the area’s trees for construction materials. A business may want to build a factory or shopping mall on the land. All these needs are valid, but sometimes the plants and animals that live in the area are forgotten. The benefits of development need to be weighed against the harm to animals that may be forced to find new habitats , the depletion of resources we may want in the future (such as water or timber), or damage to resources we use today. Development and conservation can coexist in harmony. When we use the environment in ways that ensure we have resources for the future, it is called sustainable development . There are many different resources we need to conserve in order to live sustainably. Forests A forest is a large area covered with trees grouped so their foliage shades the ground. Every continent except Antarctica has forests, from the evergreen -filled boreal forests of the north to mangrove forests in tropical wetlands . Forests are home to more than two-thirds of all known land species . Tropical rainforests are especially rich in biodiversity . Forests provide habitats for animals and plants. They store carbon , helping reduce global warming . They protect soil by reducing runoff . They add nutrients to the soil through leaf litter . They provide people with lumber and firewood. Deforestation is the process of clearing away forests by cutting them down or burning them. People clear forests to use the wood, or to make way for farming or development. Each year, Earth loses about 14.6 million hectares (36 million acres) of forest to deforestation—an area about the size of the U.S. state of New York. Deforestation destroys wildlife habitats and increases soil erosion. It also releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere , contributing to global warming. Deforestation accounts for 15 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation also harms the people who rely on forests for their survival, hunting and gathering, harvesting forest products, or using the timber for firewood. About half of all the forests on Earth are in the tropics —an area that circles the globe near the Equator . Although tropical forests cover fewer than 6 percent of the world’s land area, they are home to about 80 percent of the world’s documented species. For example, more than 500 different species of trees live in the forests on the small U.S. island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. Tropical forests give us many valuable products, including woods like mahogany and teak , rubber , fruits, nuts, and flowers. Many of the medicines we use today come from plants found only in tropical rainforests. These include quinine , a malaria drug; curare , an anesthetic used in surgery; and rosy periwinkle , which is used to treat certain types of cancer . Sustainable forestry practices are critical for ensuring we have these resources well into the future. One of these practices is leaving some trees to die and decay naturally in the forest. This “ deadwood ” builds up soil. Other sustainable forestry methods include using low-impact logging practices, harvesting with natural regeneration in mind, and avoiding certain logging techniques , such as removing all the high-value trees or all the largest trees from a forest. Trees can also be conserved if consumers recycle . People in China and Mexico, for example, reuse much of their wastepaper, including writing paper, wrapping paper, and cardboard. If half the world’s paper were recycled, much of the worldwide demand for new paper would be fulfilled, saving many of Earth’s trees. We can also replace some wood products with alternatives like bamboo , which is actually a type of grass. Soil Soil is vital to food production. We need high-quality soil to grow the crops that we eat and feed to livestock . Soil is also important to plants that grow in the wild. Many other types of conservation efforts, such as plant conservation and animal conservation, depend on soil conservation. Poor farming methods, such as repeatedly planting the same crop in the same place, called monoculture , deplete nutrients in the soil. Soil erosion by water and wind increases when farmers plow up and down hills. One soil conservation method is called contour strip cropping . Several crops, such as corn, wheat, and clover , are planted in alternating strips across a slope or across the path of the prevailing wind . Different crops, with different root systems and leaves, help slow erosion.

Harvesting all the trees from a large area, a practice called clearcutting , increases the chances of losing productive topsoil to wind and water erosion. Selective harvesting —the practice of removing individual trees or small groups of trees—leaves other trees standing to anchor the soil. Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of living things that populate Earth. The products and benefits we get from nature rely on biodiversity. We need a rich mixture of living things to provide foods, building materials, and medicines, as well as to maintain a clean and healthy landscape . When a species becomes extinct , it is lost to the world forever. Scientists estimate that the current rate of extinction is 1,000 times the natural rate. Through hunting, pollution , habitat destruction, and contribution to global warming, people are speeding up the loss of biodiversity at an alarming rate. It’s hard to know how many species are going extinct because the total number of species is unknown. Scientists discover thousands of new species every year. For example, after looking at just 19 trees in Panama, scientists found 1,200 different species of beetles—80 percent of them unknown to science at the time. Based on various estimates of the number of species on Earth, we could be losing anywhere from 200 to 100,000 species each year. We need to protect biodiversity to ensure we have plentiful and varied food sources. This is true even if we don’t eat a species threatened with extinction because something we do eat may depend on that species for survival. Some predators are useful for keeping the populations of other animals at manageable levels. The extinction of a major predator might mean there are more herbivores looking for food in people’s gardens and farms. Biodiversity is important for more than just food. For instance, we use between 50,000 to 70,000 plant species for medicines worldwide. The Great Barrier Reef , a coral reef off the coast of northeastern Australia, contributes about $6 billion to the nation’s economy through commercial fishing , tourism , and other recreational activities. If the coral reef dies, many of the fish, shellfish , marine mammals , and plants will die, too. Some governments have established parks and preserves to protect wildlife and their habitats. They are also working to abolish hunting and fishing practices that may cause the extinction of some species. Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels are fuels produced from the remains of ancient plants and animals. They include coal , petroleum (oil), and natural gas . People rely on fossil fuels to power vehicles like cars and airplanes, to produce electricity, and to cook and provide heat. In addition, many of the products we use today are made from petroleum. These include plastics , synthetic rubber, fabrics like nylon , medicines, cosmetics , waxes, cleaning products, medical devices, and even bubblegum.

Fossil fuels formed over millions of years. Once we use them up, we cannot replace them. Fossil fuels are a nonrenewable resource. We need to conserve fossil fuels so we don’t run out. However, there are other good reasons to limit our fossil fuel use. These fuels pollute the air when they are burned. Burning fossil fuels also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Global warming is changing ecosystems . The oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic , which threatens sea life. Sea levels are rising, posing risks to coastal communities. Many areas are experiencing more droughts , while others suffer from flooding . Scientists are exploring alternatives to fossil fuels. They are trying to produce renewable biofuels to power cars and trucks. They are looking to produce electricity using the sun, wind, water, and geothermal energy — Earth’s natural heat. Everyone can help conserve fossil fuels by using them carefully. Turn off lights and other electronics when you are not using them. Purchase energy-efficient appliances and weatherproof your home. Walk, ride a bike, carpool , and use public transportation whenever possible. Minerals Earth’s supply of raw mineral resources is in danger. Many mineral deposits that have been located and mapped have been depleted. As the ores for minerals like aluminum and iron become harder to find and extract , their prices skyrocket . This makes tools and machinery more expensive to purchase and operate. Many mining methods, such as mountaintop removal mining (MTR) , devastate the environment. They destroy soil, plants, and animal habitats. Many mining methods also pollute water and air, as toxic chemicals leak into the surrounding ecosystem. Conservation efforts in areas like Chile and the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States often promote more sustainable mining methods. Less wasteful mining methods and the recycling of materials will help conserve mineral resources. In Japan, for example, car manufacturers recycle many raw materials used in making automobiles. In the United States, nearly one-third of the iron produced comes from recycled automobiles. Electronic devices present a big problem for conservation because technology changes so quickly. For example, consumers typically replace their cell phones every 18 months. Computers, televisions, and mp3 players are other products contributing to “ e-waste .” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Americans generated more than three million tons of e-waste in 2007. Electronic products contain minerals as well as petroleum-based plastics. Many of them also contain hazardous materials that can leach out of landfills into the soil and water supply. Many governments are passing laws requiring manufacturers to recycle used electronics. Recycling not only keeps materials out of landfills, but it also reduces the energy used to produce new products. For instance, recycling aluminum saves 90 percent of the energy that would be required to mine new aluminum.

Water Water is a renewable resource. We will not run out of water the way we might run out of fossil fuels. The amount of water on Earth always remains the same. However, most of the planet’s water is unavailable for human use. While more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 2.5 percent of it is freshwater . Out of that freshwater, almost 70 percent is permanently frozen in the ice caps covering Antarctica and Greenland. Only about 1 percent of the freshwater on Earth is available for people to use for drinking, bathing, and irrigating crops. People in many regions of the world suffer water shortages . These are caused by depletion of underground water sources known as aquifers , a lack of rainfall due to drought, or pollution of water supplies. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2.6 billion people lack adequate water sanitation . More than five million people die each year from diseases caused by using polluted water for drinking, cooking, or washing. About one-third of Earth’s population lives in areas that are experiencing water stress . Most of these areas are in developing countries. Polluted water hurts the environment as well as people. For instance, agricultural runoff—the water that runs off of farmland—can contain fertilizers and pesticides . When this water gets into streams , rivers , and oceans, it can harm the organisms that live in or drink from those water sources. People can conserve and protect water supplies in many ways. Individuals can limit water use by fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, planting drought-resistant plants, and buying low-water-use appliances. Governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations can help developing countries build sanitation facilities. Farmers can change some of their practices to reduce polluted runoff. This includes limiting overgrazing , avoiding over-irrigation, and using alternatives to chemical pesticides whenever possible. Conservation Groups Businesses, international organizations , and some governments are involved in conservation efforts. The United Nations (UN) encourages the creation of national parks around the world. The UN also established World Water Day, an event to raise awareness and promote water conservation. Governments enact laws defining how land should be used and which areas should be set aside as parks and wildlife preserves. Governments also enforce laws designed to protect the environment from pollution, such as requiring factories to install pollution-control devices. Finally, governments often provide incentives for conserving resources, using clean technologies, and recycling used goods. Many international organizations are dedicated to conservation. Members support causes such as saving rain forests, protecting threatened animals, and cleaning up the air. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an alliance of governments and private groups founded in 1948. The IUCN works to protect wildlife and habitats. In 1980, the group proposed a world conservation strategy . Many governments have used the IUCN model to develop their own conservation plans. In addition, the IUCN monitors the status of endangered wildlife, threatened national parks and preserves, and other environments around the world. Zoos and botanical gardens also work to protect wildlife. Many zoos raise and breed endangered animals to increase their populations. They conduct research and help educate the public about endangered species . For instance, the San Diego Zoo in the U.S. state of California runs a variety of research programs on topics ranging from disease control in amphibians to heart-healthy diets for gorillas. Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, England, work to protect plant life around the world. Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank , for example, works with partners in 54 countries to protect biodiversity through seed collection. Kew researchers are also exploring how DNA technology can help restore damaged habitats. Individuals can do many things to help conserve resources. Turning off lights, repairing leaky faucets, and recycling paper, aluminum cans, glass, and plastic are just a few examples. Riding bikes, walking, carpooling, and using public transportation all help conserve fuel and reduce the amount of pollutants released into the environment. Individuals can plant trees to create homes for birds and squirrels. At grocery stores, people can bring their own reusable bags. And people can carry reusable water bottles and coffee mugs rather than using disposable containers. If each of us would conserve in small ways, the result would be a major conservation effort.

Tree Huggers The Chipko Movement, which is dedicated to saving trees, was started by villagers in Uttar Pradesh, India. Chipko means hold fast or embrace. The villagers flung their arms around trees to keep loggers from cutting them down. The villagers won, and Uttar Pradesh banned the felling of trees in the Himalayan foothills. The movement has since expanded to other parts of India.

Thirsty Food People require about 2 to 4 liters of drinking water each day. However, a day's worth of food requires 2,000 to 5,000 liters of water to produce. It takes more water to produce meat than to produce plant-based foods.

Tiger, Tiger Tigers are dangerous animals, but they have more to fear from us than we have to fear from them. Today there are only about 3,200 tigers living in the wild. Three tiger subspecies the Bali, Caspian, and Javan tigers have gone extinct in the past century. Many organizations are working hard to protect the remaining tigers from illegal hunting and habitat loss.

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Home / Essay Samples / Environment / Natural Resources / Depletion of Natural Resources: Navigating the Path to Sustainability

Depletion of Natural Resources: Navigating the Path to Sustainability

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Essay on Conservation of Natural Resources for Students and Children

500+ words essay on conservation of natural resources.

Natural resources are something that is occurring naturally on Earth. It forms an indispensable part of our lives. It comprises of air, water, sunlight, coal , petroleum, natural gas, fossil fuels, oil, etc. However, they are exploited by humans for economic gain. Natural resources are at depletion because of the overuse. Some of these resources are available in abundance with the capability to renew. On the other hand, some are non-renewable . Thus, it demands a responsible behavior for the conservation so as to ensure their sustainability.

Why Conserve Natural Resources?

Human beings depend upon the natural resources for their development activities. If the resources are not used wisely, it would create an imbalance in the environment. Thus would head us in opposition to an eco-friendly atmosphere. The need for conservation arises from the significance of natural resources. It is as follows-

• Water is a renewable natural resource . We use it for drinking, producing electricity, irrigation, in various industries and for a number of activities. Its scarcity would cause loss of vegetation, adverse effect on flora and fauna, erosion of soil, etc.
• Plants and animals provide a wide range of industrial and biological materials. Also, it assists in the manufacturing of medicine and for various other uses.
• It takes millions of years for the formation of natural resources.
• Fossil fuels are of great importance. A lot of energy is produced from coal, oil and natural gas all of which are fossil fuels.
• Forest is the most important natural resource which helps in economic development . Forest provides paper, furniture, timber, medicine, gum, etc. Also, it maintains a balance in the ecosystem. Moreover, it prevents soil erosion and protects wildlife.
• Land resources support natural vegetation, wildlife, transport. The land also provides us food, cloth, shelter, and other basic needs.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Ways to Conserve Natural Resources

Different ministries of the Government, national and international agencies have been working for the purpose of conserving the natural resources .

• Environment education must be imparted by including the same in the curricula of the schools.
• National Parks are making an effort for the safety of the natural resources.
• By reducing, reusing and recycling of non-renewable resources.
• Non-human species must be disturbed only to meet the basic needs.
• Planting of more and more trees to save our forest resources.
• Seeking alternatives to non-renewable resources.
• By increased use of bio-gas and bio-fuels.
• By preventing the dumping of industrial wastes into the river bodies. This is a measure to protect the rich marine life.
• Overgrazing must be prevented. Also, poaching of animals must be controlled.
• Practicing crop rotation techniques helps in maintaining the fertility of the soil.
• Burning of fossil fuels emits carbon-di-oxide which is a major greenhouse gas. It is responsible for the greenhouse effect. Thus, the burning of fossil fuels must be controlled.

These are some of the measures which we can undertake for the conservation of natural resources. As Human- beings, we have a social responsibility to fulfill towards nature. Thus, while using resources, we shall follow the principle of sustainable development.

Natural resources are a present for the creation. These help in satisfying the human needs to its fullest. Furthermore, the rational use of natural resources maintains the earth’s atmosphere. Also, the wise use leads to protection of bio-diversity. Humans cannot imagine their lives without natural resources. Thus, the conservation of the same is essential.

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Spatial characteristics of brownfield clusters and “city-brown” patterns: case studies of resource-exhausted cities in china.

1. Introduction

2. materials and methods, 2.1. study areas, 2.2. data collection, 2.3. research framework, 2.4. brownfield site identification, 2.5. kernel density analysis, 3.1. spatial patterns of “city-brown”, 3.2. spatial patterns of brownfield clusters, 3.3. factors affecting the spatial characteristics of brownfield clusters, 4. discussion, 4.1. challenges or opportunities, 4.2. spatial regeneration strategies for brownfield clusters, 4.3. limitations, 5. conclusions, author contributions, data availability statement, conflicts of interest, appendix a. basic information of 67 resource-exhausted cities in china.

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Fu, Q.; Han, Y.; Xiang, S.; Zhu, J.; Zhang, L.; Zheng, X. Spatial Characteristics of Brownfield Clusters and “City-Brown” Patterns: Case Studies of Resource-Exhausted Cities in China. Land 2024 , 13 , 1251. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081251

Fu Q, Han Y, Xiang S, Zhu J, Zhang L, Zheng X. Spatial Characteristics of Brownfield Clusters and “City-Brown” Patterns: Case Studies of Resource-Exhausted Cities in China. Land . 2024; 13(8):1251. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081251

Fu, Quanchuan, Yawen Han, Shuangbin Xiang, Jingyuan Zhu, Linlin Zhang, and Xiaodi Zheng. 2024. "Spatial Characteristics of Brownfield Clusters and “City-Brown” Patterns: Case Studies of Resource-Exhausted Cities in China" Land 13, no. 8: 1251. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081251

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