EntranceWhy the planet's natural resources are not allowed. Natural resources of our planet and their use
Natural resources and their use
What are natural resources and what is their role in human life and activity?
Give examples of exhaustible and inexhaustible, renewable and non-renewable resources.
What is the resource cycle?
Give examples of resource cycles (according to the concept of I.V. Komar).
Natural resources - these are objects and forces of nature used by man to maintain his existence. These include sunlight, water, soil, air, minerals, tidal energy, wind power, flora and fauna, intraterrestrial heat, etc.
Man uses natural resources as sources of energy, consumer goods, means and objects of labor, etc.
Against the backdrop of an increase in the scale of production, the question of the limited natural resources necessary to meet the needs of civilization and the ways of their rational use comes to the fore.
Humanity cannot exist without using natural resources, without influencing their quantity and quality, and, consequently, without making changes to its natural environment.
Iguazu Falls. Latin America
Natural resources are classified according to a number of criteria:
on their use- for production (agricultural and industrial), healthcare (recreational), aesthetic, scientific, etc.;
by affiliation to certain components of nature - land, water, mineral, as well as flora and fauna, etc.;
by replaceability- into replaceable (for example, fuel and mineral energy resources can be replaced by wind, solar energy) and irreplaceable (there is nothing to replace oxygen in the air for breathing or fresh water for drinking);
by exhaustibility- into exhaustible and inexhaustible.
To the inexhaustible natural resources primarily include processes and phenomena external to our planet and inherent to it as a cosmic body. First of all, these are resources of cosmic origin, for example, the energy of solar radiation and its derivatives - the energy of moving air, falling water, sea waves, ebbs and flows, sea currents, intraterrestrial heat.
Towards exhaustible resources include all natural bodies located within the globe as a physical body having a specific mass and volume. Exhaustible resources include flora and fauna, mineral and organic compounds contained in the bowels of the Earth (minerals).
Based on their ability to self-regenerate, all exhaustible resources can be conditionally classified into renewable, relatively renewable and non-renewable (see diagram).
Renewable resources - these are resources that can be restored through various natural processes
For a time commensurate with the timing of their consumption. These include vegetation, fauna and some mineral resources deposited on the bottom of modern lakes and marine lagoons.
Non-renewable resources - these are resources that are not restored at all or the rate of their recovery is so low that their practical use by humans becomes impossible.
These include, first of all, metal and non-metal ores, groundwater, solid building materials (granite, sand, marble, etc.), as well as energy resources (oil, gas, coal).
A special group consists of land resources . The soil is a bio-inert body that arose as a result of various forms of weathering (physical, chemical, biological) of rocks in different climates, topography and under conditions of earth gravity.
The soil-forming process is long and complex. It is known that a layer of chernozem horizon 1 cm thick is formed
for about a century. Thus, being in principle a renewable resource, soil is restored over a very long period of time (many decades and even centuries), which gives grounds to evaluate it as a relatively renewable resource.
A special position has two most important natural bodies, which are not only natural resources , but also at the same time the main components of the habitat of living organisms (natural conditions): atmospheric air and water. While inexhaustible quantitatively, they are exhaustible qualitatively (at least in certain regions). There is enough water on Earth, however, fresh water reserves suitable for use account for 0.3% of the total volume.
A similar situation is typical for atmospheric air, which in a number of large cities and industrial centers
so heavily contaminated that the impurities it contains have harmful effects on humans and other living organisms.
In 1957, P. Dansereau formulated the law of irreversibility of the interaction “Man - Biosphere”, according to which part of renewable natural resources (animal, plant) can become exhaustible, non-renewable, if a person makes their life and reproduction impossible through irrational agricultural, hydraulic, industrial and other measures.
Thus, uncontrolled hunting of the Steller's cow led to its extinction as a biological species. The same thing happened with some other animal species.
In general, over the past 400 years, more than 160 species of mammals and birds have disappeared from the face of the Earth. Currently, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one species of animal and plant disappears every year as a result of human activity.
The division of resources according to some criteria is very arbitrary, since the same resource, for example, water in a lake, can be used for industrial, agricultural and fish farming needs, as well as for recreational purposes, or simply has great aesthetic value. In this case, it often comes into play material resource rule , according to which the use of a resource for some purposes makes it difficult or precludes use for others. If waste from an industrial enterprise, even largely purified, is dumped into a lake, the use of water for fish farming and public health becomes difficult or impossible.
In this regard, in each specific case it is necessary to consider the whole network of natural relationships and determine the optimal option that is acceptable both for nature and for society.
The process of exploiting natural resources in order to satisfy the material and cultural needs of society is called environmental management.
Humanity is intensively changing the processes of circulation of all chemical substances not only at the local, but also at the biosphere (global) level.
In order to create the necessary products, obtain energy, raw materials, a person finds and extracts natural resources, transports them to processing sites, and produces the necessary items from them. Thus, man involves natural resources in resource cycle.
Under the resource cycle understand the totality of transformations and spatial movements of a certain substance (or group of substances) at all stages of its use by humans (including its identification, preparation for use, extraction from the natural environment, processing, transformation and return to nature).
The word "cycle" implies a closed process. It is known that in nature all chemical substances (water, gases, metals) move in a closed cycle. The resource cycle as a cycle is actually not closed.
The concept of resource cycles was proposed by I.V. Komar. He identified the following resource cycles: the cycle of energy resources and energy with hydropower and energy-chemical subcycles; cycle of metal ore resources and metals with a coke-chemical subcycle; cycle of non-metallic fossil raw materials with subcycles of mining chemical and mineral building materials; cycle of soil-climatic resources and agricultural raw materials; cycle of forest resources and timber products; cycle of wild fauna and flora resources.
As is easy to see, the first three cycles are associated with non-renewable resources, and the rest - with renewable natural resources.
As for non-renewable resources, their depletion over time is inevitable, and the task is not so much to stretch these resources over a longer period, but rather to find a substitute for it of natural or artificial origin before the depletion of one or another natural resource, or to find the possibility of its regeneration through the use of recycled materials.
Inexhaustible natural resources are those resources whose quantity does not noticeably decrease during the process of even prolonged consumption or use.
These resources are divided into the following groups:
- Conditionally inexhaustible resources.
- The planet's inexhaustible resources.
Conditionally inexhaustible resources
- 1. Climatic. The term “climate” refers to the combination of light and thermal radiation and energy that provides living organisms on the planet with optimal conditions for existence and have a certain territorial location. The resource is important for humanity because weather directly affects the maturation of plants and determines the number of their species. The destruction or exhaustion of climatic conditions cannot occur, but a deterioration in their quality indicators may occur. This occurs as a result of atomic explosions, environmental disasters, improper conduct of recreational activities, and pollution of territories.
- 2. Water. include fresh waters and ocean waters. The situation with this resource is the same as with the climate: it cannot be destroyed, but its quality can be significantly reduced through thoughtless use. The result may be a significant reduction in the non-saline volume of technical water and clean drinking water, taking into account the fact that the volume of fresh water on Earth accounts for only 4% of the total volume of moisture (including ice).
The planet's inexhaustible resources
- 1. Sun (solar energy). This resource is a huge accumulation of energy, daily emitted into outer space in the form of radiation exceeding the needs of people by several tens of thousands of times. Human use of this resource occurs through the creation of solar and photovoltaic installations.
- 2. Wind (wind force). Wind is a derivative of the solar resource, as it is formed as a result of uneven heating of the earth's surface. The creation of wind pumps and power plants is a promising industry.
- 3. Tides (energy of ebb and flow). This type of resource includes the power of the waves of the oceans and seas. Used by humans in the operation of tidal power plants and dams.
- 4. Soil and intraterrestrial heat. The inexhaustibility of this resource is relative. Today people are sufficiently provided with it, but due to the deterioration of the ecological state of the planet, the renewability of the soil cover may cease. The results of human activity negatively change the qualitative and structural properties of soils: erosion occurs, acidity and salt content increase.
All living organisms on the planet, for normal existence and functioning, require certain natural resources, including: water (sea and fresh), territory, soil, mountains, forests (vegetation), animals (including fish), fossil fuels and minerals.
All the above mentioned resources are natural and they exist in nature. No man created them, but humanity uses them for its own benefit. It must be taken into account that all the natural resources of the world are interconnected, for example, if water disappears in a certain area, this will negatively affect the local flora, fauna, soil and even climate.
The Earth's natural resources can be used directly or indirectly. For example, people directly depend on forests for food and biomass, improved health, recreation, and increased living standards and comfort. Indirectly, forests act as climate controls, provide protection from floods and storms, and provide nutrient cycling.
Forest resources
Forest resources are extremely important natural resources that are used by people to meet the needs of life (food, shelter and building materials). Forests occupy about 1/3 of the land area or 4 billion hectares and are considered dominant, because they are distributed throughout the world. Forest resources contain about 80% of the Earth's plant biomass.
Land resources
Land resources include areas that are located on land and can be used for human needs. Their total area is about 14.9 billion hectares. This resource is limited in space and subject to anthropogenic influence. Land resources are an integral part of the planet, necessary for the existence and functioning of most living organisms.
Mineral resources
Mineral resources are non-renewable and include all minerals intended for further use; there are more than 200 types of them. All species are distributed unevenly and in different quantities across our planet. In this regard, the availability of mineral resources depends on the availability of certain species in a particular region of the world and their use.
Climate and space resources
Climate and space resources are inexhaustible and include: solar energy, wind energy, the energy of the earth's interior, the energy of sea tides and waves, water and air energy. When used, such resources do not decrease in quantity, but their quality characteristics may change due to anthropogenic impact.
Biological resources
Biological resources include all living organisms (, etc.). This resource is renewable if organisms are able to reproduce. A biological resource can be considered a natural source of obtaining necessary benefits (food, raw materials for industry, farm animals, etc.).
Importance of natural resources
The world's natural resources are essential to maintaining the highly complex interactions between living things and non-living things. All over the world, people consume resources directly and indirectly, gaining enormous benefits from these interactions. More developed countries consume resources in greater quantities than less developed countries.
The global economy uses about 60 billion tons of natural resources every year to produce the goods and services we consume. On average, one person in Europe uses about 36 kg of resources per day; in North America - 90 kg; in Asia - 14 kg and in Africa - 10 kg.
In what form do people consume natural resources? The three main forms include: food and drink, housing and infrastructure, and mobility. They account for more than 60% of the use of all natural resources.
Food and drink
This form includes agricultural products, natural products (such as meat, freshwater and saltwater fish), seeds, nuts, medicines, herbs and plants. This includes drinking water, as well as water for sanitary and domestic use. Just think, ceramics, silverware (spoons, forks and knives), jars, milk cartons, paper and plastic cups are all made from raw materials that come from the earth's natural resources.
Mobility
Mobility includes all types of transportation such as cars, trains, watercraft, and fueled aircraft. Where do you think the raw materials used in the production and operation of vehicles come from?
Housing and infrastructure
Imagine all the houses, public places, roads and other objects that are located in your locality. Think about where all the energy that heats and cools spaces comes from, as well as the origins of the metal, plastic, stone and other materials needed for construction.
Beyond these three main areas of consumption, we use many more resources from our environment on a daily basis. The role of natural resources in supporting life on Earth is extremely important, and we must ensure that the environment is protected and that it is easier to regenerate naturally.
Distribution of natural resources
Natural resources are distributed unevenly around the world. Some countries are richer in them than others (for example, some regions have many water resources and access to oceans and seas). Others have lots of minerals and forests, and still others have metal rocks, wildlife, fossil fuels, etc.
For example, the United States ranks first in the world in coal reserves, and Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal. China remains the largest gold producer.
The United States, Russia, and Canada are the leading producers of wood and pulp. Annual exports of primary and secondary wood products from tropical forests have exceeded $20 billion in recent years, and are seeing further growth.
Many countries have developed their economies using existing natural resources. Some of them also receive a lot of income from tourism and recreation (for example, Brazil and Peru, make money from tourism in the Amazon forest, where there is a very diverse flora and fauna).
Crude oil is another important natural resource. From it we get many petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel and gas, which are used to power transport and provide comfortable conditions in our homes. But crude oil is not distributed evenly across the planet.
Regions where oil is available in sufficient quantities extract it and then sell it to regions where it is absent, and also buy natural resources from other regions, such as timber and precious metals (gold, diamonds and silver), which they have in their abundance.
Uneven distribution is also the root of power and greed in many countries. Some states use their resource wealth to control and manipulate regions with fewer resources, and even engage in military conflicts.
Threats of natural resource depletion
Overpopulation
This is probably the most significant threat facing natural resources. The world population is growing at a very fast pace. According to statistics, 365 thousand children are born every day in the world, which means that the planet’s large population negatively affects almost all natural resources. How?
Land use
With more people, more land must be cultivated for food and areas must be allocated for housing. Many forests and lands with rich vegetation will be converted into human settlements, roads and farms. This will lead to negative consequences for natural resources.
Deforestation
There will be greater demand for wood (timber), food and wood products. Therefore, people will use more forest resources than they can recover naturally.
Fishing
Fresh water and seafood, on which people directly depend, also face threats. Larger fishing companies go to the depths of the seas and catch fish in huge quantities. Some of the fishing methods they use are not sustainable and thus deplete fish resources.
Need more
A more comfortable human life means greater needs (for example, communication, transportation, education, entertainment and recreation). This means that more industrial processes need to be used and the demand for raw materials and natural resources increases.
Climate change
Climate change, resulting from excess carbon dioxide, is harming biodiversity and many of the world's other abiotic natural resources. Species that have become acclimated to their environment may die, while others will have to move to more suitable areas to survive.
Environmental pollution
Water, soil and air pollution have a negative impact on the environment. This affects the chemistry of soils, rocks, land, ocean waters, fresh groundwater and other natural resources.
Restoration of used natural resources
In recent years, waste has begun to be seen as a potential resource rather than something that should be in landfills. According to experts, something very useful can be made from paper, plastic, wood, metals and even waste water.
Natural resource recovery (waste recovery)- the use of sorted waste to extract secondary raw materials and use them again or transform them into new raw materials for the production of something.
It involves composting and recycling waste that is sent to landfill (for example, wet organic waste such as waste from food consumption or agricultural activities). Traditionally, we collect them and send them to landfill, but when recovering used resources, they need to be composted or processed through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas.
This concept can be applied at home. In many localities there are places where residents can throw out garbage that they have previously sorted at home. This simplifies the organization of waste disposal before further processing.
Waste recovery is not an easy task, it involves careful planning, people's culture, community participation as well as the use of technology. Despite these challenges, waste recovery has enormous environmental and economic benefits and should therefore be seriously considered.
Restoring the planet's natural resources benefits humanity because it reduces our need for new raw materials, thereby saving the environment (for example, by recycling used paper products, we can obtain new cellulose, which is found in wood. Plus, for recycling requires less energy than producing new raw materials).
Wastewater and stormwater can be used as another example. There is a way to significantly reduce the demand for fresh water if we start recycling all wastewater for reuse. This water can be used for gardening, agriculture, domestic needs and heating.
In Victoria, Australia, purified water is used to irrigate vineyards, tomatoes, potatoes and other crops.
In Mexico City, about 174 million liters per day of treated wastewater is used to irrigate green areas, fill recreational lakes, and also in agriculture.
Ways to protect natural resources
In order to have a sustainable future where we can continue to use the Earth's natural resources, we urgently need to change the way we produce and consume goods and services.
High levels of natural resource consumption are observed mainly in large cities around the world.
Globally, cities are responsible for 60-80% of energy consumption and 75% of carbon dioxide emissions, consuming more than 75% of natural resources.
In order to change your current lifestyle, you need to use:
Public
All stakeholders should strive to provide information and raise public awareness of existing resources and the need to ensure their protection. Although there is a lot of information freely available, campaigners should try to use less scientific and complex terms. Once people realize how useful our natural resources are, they will be more concerned about protecting them.
Individuals and organizations
People and organizations in developed countries with high levels of resource consumption need to be aware of resource protection issues. It is necessary to understand that using all the necessary resources for your own benefit is acceptable, but it is necessary to reduce the amount of waste and take care of proper disposal. We can achieve this in our homes and workplaces by reducing and recycling the waste we create.
Government
The government must enforce policies to protect natural resources. It is necessary to monitor the operation of enterprises and provide incentives to those who use recycled materials and introduce hefty fines for those who refuse to do so. Enterprises must return part of their profits to activities that are aimed at restoring previously used resources.
Today you can find many scientific articles, abstracts and other literature on the topic of natural resources and their use. It’s worth trying to cover this topic as simply and specifically as possible. What is meant by this concept? Why are they needed, how are natural resources, ecology and people connected? Let's try to understand these issues.
basic information
Some natural resources are used directly by humans - air, drinking water. The other part serves as raw material for industry or is part of the agricultural or livestock production cycle. For example, oil is not only an energy carrier and a source of fuels and lubricants, but also a valuable raw material for the chemical industry. The components of this resource are used to make plastic, varnishes, and rubber. Petroleum products are widely used not only in industry, but also in medicine, and even in cosmetology.
Natural resources are chemicals, as well as their combinations, such as gas, oil, coal, ore. It also includes fresh and sea water, atmospheric air, flora and fauna (forests, animals, fish, cultivable and cultivable lands (soils)). This concept also refers to physical phenomena - wind energy, solar radiation, geothermal energy, tides. Everything that is somehow used by humanity for life and progress.
Assessment and analysis of the condition of the elements described above is carried out on the basis of geographical and geological data through economic calculations. Control over the rationality and safety of the use of federal natural resources is exercised by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Classification by origin
Biological resources are living organisms of the oceans and land, animals, plants, microorganisms (including the microflora of the seas and oceans). Closed ecosystems of individual regions, nature reserves, recreational areas.
. Resources of mineral origin - rock ore, granites, quartz deposits, clays. Everything that the lithosphere contains and that is available for human use as a raw material or source of energy.
. Natural energy resources are physical processes such as tidal energy, sunlight, wind energy, thermal energy from the earth's interior, as well as nuclear and mineral energy sources.
Classification by human use
Land fund - lands that are cultivated or suitable for cultivation in the future. Land for non-agricultural purposes, namely the territory of cities, transport connections, industrial purposes (quarries, etc.).
. Forestry Fund - forests or areas planned for planting forests. Forestry is both a source of wood for human needs and a way to maintain the ecological balance of the biosphere. It is controlled by a service such as the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.
. Water resources - water in surface reservoirs and groundwater. This includes both fresh water suitable for human biological needs and water from seas and oceans. World water resources are inextricably linked with federal ones.
. Resources of the animal world are fish and land inhabitants, the rational harvest of which should not disturb the ecological balance of the biosphere.
. Minerals - these include ore and other resources of the earth's crust available for raw materials or energy use. The Department of Natural Resources oversees the sustainable use of this class of natural resources.
Classification by renewability
Inexhaustible - solar radiation energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy and river energy as the driving force of hydroelectric power plants. This also includes wind energy.
. Exhaustible, but renewable and conditionally renewable. These natural resources are flora and fauna, soil fertility, fresh water and clean air.
. Exhaustible and non-renewable resources. All minerals - oil, gas, mineral ores, etc. Most important for the survival of humanity, the shortage or disappearance of certain resources can threaten the existence of civilization as we know it and lead to the death of most of humanity. Therefore, the protection of natural resources and environmental safety is controlled at such a high level as the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.
Does human activity affect the state of natural resources?
The use of natural resources by humans leads to the depletion of not only mineral reserves, but also the Earth's biosphere, and the loss of biological diversity. Biosphere natural resources are renewable and can be restored both naturally and with human participation (planting forests, restoring fertile soil layers, purifying water and air). Is it possible to avoid irreparable damage to nature? To do this, one should take into account the characteristics of natural resources and the conditions for maintaining ecological balance. Create and preserve national parks, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, maintain biological diversity of species and preserve the gene pool in research centers, botanical gardens, etc.
Why is security necessary?
Changes in geological eras and evolutionary processes have always influenced the species diversity of both flora and fauna on the planet (for example, the extinction of dinosaurs). But due to active human activity over the past 400 years, more than 300 species of animals and plants have disappeared from the face of the earth. Today, more than a thousand species are threatened with extinction. It is obvious that the protection of natural resources is not just the protection of rare species of animals and plants, but also the most important task for the life of humanity itself. Indeed, as a result of an environmental disaster, not only the number of species of living beings can change, but the climate will also suffer. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve the habitat of wild species as much as possible during the construction of cities and the development of farmland, to limit commercial fishing and hunting until populations are restored. Protection of the environment and its inherent elements is one of the most important tasks carried out by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
State of the land and forest fund, global and federal
People get over 85% of their food from agriculture. Land used as meadows and pastures provides about another 10% of food. The rest comes from the world's oceans. In our country, about 90% of food is obtained from cultivated lands, and this is taking into account that cultivated lands (fields, gardens, plantations) account for a little more than 11% of the land fund.
Forests play an important role in the cycles of evaporation and precipitation, the carbon dioxide cycle, preserve soil from erosion, regulate groundwater levels and much more. Therefore, wasteful use of natural resources, namely forests, will lead to a reduction in the forestry fund. Despite this, forests are being lost at a faster rate than they are being restored by planting young trees. Forests are cut down for the development of agricultural land, for construction, and for obtaining wood as raw materials and as fuel. In addition, fires cause significant losses to forestry.
It is obvious that modern methods of soil cultivation lead to almost constant degradation and depletion of the fertile layer. Not to mention the contamination of soil and groundwater with pesticides and toxic chemicals. Although fertile soil layers are considered a “renewable” natural resource, it is still a long process. In fact, it takes 200 to 800 years for the natural restoration of one inch of soil (2.54 cm) in warm and temperate climates. Protection of fertile lands from degradation and restoration of the fertile layer are the most important directions in the development of modern agricultural technologies.
State of the planet's water component
Rivers are the basis of the country's water resources. They are used as a source of drinking and agricultural water. They are also actively used for the construction of hydroelectric power stations and for shipping transport. Despite the huge reserves of water in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and in the form of groundwater, there is a gradual deterioration in its quality, destruction of the banks of reservoirs and hydraulic structures. This issue, among other organizations, is supervised by the Department of Natural Resources.
State of exhaustible resources
Modern mineral resources available to us, such as oil, gas, ore, accumulated in the lithosphere of the planet over millions of years. Given the continuous and accelerating growth in the consumption of fossil resources over the past 200 years, the issue of protecting the subsoil and reusing products made from raw materials from fossil resources is quite pressing.
In addition, subsoil development itself has an extremely negative impact on the ecology of the region. These include changes in relief (soil subsidence, sinkholes), and contamination of soils, groundwater, drainage of swamps and small rivers.
Ways to solve problems of destruction of the natural environment and prospects for introducing innovations
The natural environment and natural resources must be used wisely to preserve life. Therefore, it is necessary to highlight what is necessary so as not to complicate the environmental situation.
1. Protection of the fertile layer from wind and water erosion. These are forest plantations, correct crop rotations, etc.
2. Protection of soils and groundwater from contamination by chemicals. This is the use of environmental technologies for plant protection: breeding beneficial insects (ladybugs, certain types of ants).
3. Using water from the oceans as sources of raw materials. One of the methods is the extraction of dissolved elements, the second is the extraction of minerals on the sea shelf (there is no pollution and destruction of lands suitable for farmland). Today, methods are being developed for the intensive use of ocean resources, while the number of components that are commercially feasible to extract from water is severely limited.
4. An integrated approach to the extraction of fossil natural resources with an emphasis on environmental safety. Starting from a complete study of the subsoil and ending with the maximum possible use of associated substances and components.
5. Development of low-waste technologies and recycling of natural resources. This includes the continuity of technological processes, which will maximize energy efficiency, and maximum automation of technological processes, and optimal use of production by-products (for example, generated heat).
Conclusion
Other innovative technologies can be highlighted, such as the transition to the maximum use of inexhaustible energy sources. They will help preserve life and the ecology of our planet. This article described how important it is to respect the environment and its gifts. Otherwise, quite serious problems may arise.
Biological, including food, resources of the planet determine the possibilities of human life on Earth, and mineral and energy resources serve as the basis for the material production of human society. Among the natural resources of the planet there are exhaustible And inexhaustible resources.
Inexhaustible resources.
Inexhaustible resources are divided into space, climate and water. This is the energy of solar radiation, sea waves, and wind. Taking into account the huge mass of air and water on the planet, atmospheric air and water are considered inexhaustible. Selection is relative. For example, fresh water can already be considered a finite resource. since many regions of the globe are experiencing acute water shortages. We can talk about the unevenness of its distribution and the impossibility of using it due to pollution. Atmospheric oxygen is also conventionally considered an inexhaustible resource.
Modern environmental scientists believe that with the current level of technology for using atmospheric air and water, these resources can be considered inexhaustible only when developing and implementing large-scale programs aimed at restoring their quality.
Exhaustible resources.
Exhaustible resources are divided into renewable and non-renewable.
Renewable resources include flora and fauna and soil fertility. Among the renewable natural resources, forests play a major role in human life. The forest is of no small importance as a geographical and environmental factor. Forests prevent soil erosion and retain surface water, i.e. serve as moisture accumulators and help maintain groundwater levels. Forests are home to animals of material and aesthetic value to humans: ungulates, fur-bearing animals and game. The biosphere includes everything that lives, breathes, grows and eats (except for humans, who separated from the animal world). Therefore, let us consider problems directly related to the world of wildlife.
Wildlife resources provide all kinds of economic benefits to humans, they serve as sources of food, fuel, paper, fabric, leather, medicines and everything else that people use in their activities. In addition, many wild species also have aesthetic value and create conditions for recreation. However, their greatest contribution is maintaining the “health” and integrity of the world’s ecosystems.
Many people believe that nature should be protected only because of its actual or potential benefits to people, an approach called an anthropocentric (human-centered) view of the world. Some people adhere to a biocentric worldview and are convinced that it is unworthy of man to hasten the extinction of any species, since man is no more important than other species on earth. “Man has no superiority over other species, for everything is vanity of vanities,” they believe. Others take an ecocentric (center-ecosystem) view and believe that only those actions that are aimed at maintaining the earth's life support systems are justified.
At least 94% of the approximately half a billion different species that lived on earth have disappeared or evolved into new species. Mass extinctions in the distant past occurred as a result of unknown natural causes. However, since the beginning of agriculture 10,000 years ago, as a result of human activity, the rate of extinction of species has increased millions of times and this trend is expected to continue in the coming decades. In our country, forests occupy about 30% of its total landmass and are one of the natural wealth
Non-renewable resources include minerals. Their use by humans began in the Neolithic era. The first metals to find use were native gold and copper. They were able to extract ores containing copper, tin, silver, and lead already 4000 BC. At present, man has brought into the sphere of his industrial activity the predominant part of known mineral resources. If at the dawn of civilization a person used only about 20 chemical elements for his needs, at the beginning of the 20th century - about 60, but now more than 100 - almost the entire periodic table. About 100 billion tons of ore, fuel, and mineral fertilizers are mined (extracted from the geosphere) annually, which leads to the depletion of these resources. More and more various ores, coal, oil and gas are being extracted from the bowels of the earth. In modern conditions, a significant part of the Earth's surface is plowed or represents fully or partially cultivated pastures for domestic animals. The development of industry and agriculture required large areas for the construction of cities, industrial enterprises, the development of mineral resources, and the construction of communications. Thus, to date, about 20% of the land has been transformed by humans.
Significant areas of the land surface are excluded from human economic activity due to the accumulation of industrial waste on it and the impossibility of using areas where mining and mineral resources are being mined.
Man has always used the environment mainly as a source of resources, however, for a very long time, his activities did not have a noticeable impact on the biosphere. Only at the end of the last century, changes in the biosphere under the influence of economic activity attracted the attention of scientists. These changes have been increasing and are currently affecting human civilization. In an effort to improve their living conditions, humanity is constantly increasing the pace of material production, without thinking about the consequences. With this approach, most of the resources taken from nature are returned to it in the form of waste, often toxic or not suitable for disposal. This poses a threat to both the existence of the biosphere and man himself.