Unit 2 Sem 2 Natural Resources for BSc EMT BBM HM.pptx

PPT

1. Module /Unit 2 Natural Resources Dr S V Vageesha Campus Director, CHAMPS

2. Presentation Components Natural Resources Resource- Concept of Stock, Source, resource and resistance Natural Resources- classification’s criteria Renewable and Non-renewable Resources: (a) Natural Resources and associated problems (b) Uses and overexploitation of: (i) Forest Resources (ii) Water Resources (iii) Mineral Resources: (iv) Food Resources: (v) Energy Resources: (vi) Land Resources: (c) Role of individual in conservation of natural resources. (d) Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles. (e) Discussion of specific case studies

3. Natural Resources A natural resource may be defined as any material given to us by nature which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more valuable and useful. variety of goods and services necessary for our day to day lives. natural resources include, air, water, soil, minerals, along with the climate and solar energy, which form the non-living or ‘abiotic’ part of nature. The ‘biotic’ or living parts of nature consists of plants and animals Any material may be called, as a resource provided and appropriate technology is available to transform that into more valuable goods.

4. Classification of resources Renewable and Non-renewable Resources on the basis of continuity : Renewable Resources Non-renewable Resources. Renewable Resources Resources, which can be renewed along with their exploitation, are always available for use. For instance, forests are renewable. If trees are felled for wood, original forest covers may be maintained through planning new trees i.e. a forestation. Likewise, solar energy and wind energy are examples of renewable resources. Non-renewable Resources The formation of some resources like iron ore, coal, mineral oil etc. has taken several thousand years. Once they are used in unlimited way, they cannot be easily replaced. Thus, their exploitation at large scale will result in their fast depletion. Cyclic Resources For resources there is no final use as they can be used continuously. For example, water used in industry and domestic ways can be cleaned and used again for similar or other purpose.

5. Renewable resources Water and biological living resources are considered renewable. ………. in fact renewable only within certain limits. They are linked to natural cycles such as the water cycle. Fresh water (even after being used) is evaporated by the sun’s energy, forms water vapor and is reformed in clouds and falls to earth as rain. However, water sources can be overused or wasted to such an extent that they locally run dry. Water sources can be so heavily polluted by sewage and toxic substances that it becomes impossible to use the water.  Forests, once destroyed take thousands of years to regrow into fully developed natural ecosystems with their full complement of species. Forests thus can be said to behave like non-renewable resources if over- used.  Fish are today being over-harvested until the catch has become a fraction of the original resource and the fish are incapable of breeding successfully to replenish the population.  The output of agricultural land if mismanaged drops drastically.

6. FOREST RESOURCES Ecological Balance: Forests and wildlife are essential to maintain ecological balance of an area. Renewable Natural Resources: Forests are an important renewable natural resources. Eco-system: Trees dominate forest ecosystem; their species content varieties in different parts of the world. Economic Development: Forest contributes to the economic development of the country because they provide goods and services to the people and industry. Environment Quality: The forest enhance the quality of environment by influencing the life supporting system. Safeguard against Pollution: Forest check air pollution and soil erosion. Thus, they exercise safety and against pollution. Soil Conservation: Forest save the hill-slopes from landslides. Wind Erosion: In deserts, trees reduce wind erosion by checking wind velocity. Check the Extension Balance: The forest checks strong gales and keeps the soil intact beneath the roots of trees and thus checks extension of desert. Maintains Ecological Balance: The forest check pollution of air through increasing oxygen content of the air. Attract Rainfall: By causing condensation of water vapour in clouds, forests attract rains. Control Floods: The floods are controlled because forests dry up rainwater like sponge. Linked with Cultural and Civilization: Forests are linked with our cultural and civilization. Supply of Raw Material: Forest supply wood, which is used as under: Fuel, Raw material for various industries as pulp, paper, newsprint, board; Timber for furniture items; To be used in packing articles like fruits, tea etc. For preparing matches, sport goods etc.

7. FOREST RESOURCES Minor forest products: Some examples of minor forest products, are canes, gums, resins, dyes, flocks, medicines, tannins, lac, fibres , katha etc. Employment opportunities: About eight crore people are employed in wood based industries like paper and match and small and cottage industries. Besides, those who are employed in the forest department in various states. Revenue Receipts: The forest provide Rs . 400 crores per year as revenue to the government. Fodder for Cattle: Forest provide fodder to cattle. Foreign Exchange Earners: Forest produce a great number of articles like essential oils, resins and dyes. Which find market in foreign countries. Nearly Rs . 50 crores are earned in foreign exchange through selling lac, terpentine oil and sandal wood oil to abroad.

8. Forest Functions : Classification

9. Forest Cover in India

10. Forest Cover in Figures

11. DISTRIBUTION OF FORESTS The Western Himalayan region Kashmir Kumaon . forest of pine, confers and broad-leaved temperate trees. Higher up, forests of blue pine spruce and silver fir occur. The Eastern Himalayan region Darjeeling, Kureseong and the adjacent tract. The temperate zone has forests of oaks, laurels, rhodendrons , maples, alder and brich .   The Assam region Brahamputra and the Surma valleys and the intervening hill ranges. region has evergreen forests, occasional thick clumps of bamboos and tall grasses. The Ganga plain region region covers the area from the Aravali rangers to Bengal and Orissa. Widely different types are found only in small areas in the forests. The Deccan region region has various kinds from scrub jungles to mixed decidous forests. The Malabar region This region is rich in forest vegetation. Besides, it produces important commercial crops, such as cocount pepper, coffee, tea. Besides, rubber, cashewnut and eucalyptus trees. The Andaman region rich in evergreen, semi-evergreen, mangrove, beach and diluvial forests. SUMMARY : Nearly 45,000 species of plants including shrubs in the country. vascular flora, which forms the conspicuous vegetation cover itself comprises 15,000 species.

12. OVERCONSUMPTION OF FOREST RESOURCES Fuel wood, Timber and Pulpwood The data show that (FAO, 1981) consumption of wood in developing countries is exactly the reverse of the developed ones. In the former, wood is used 82% for firewood and 18% respectively, In India, firewood demand is mostly in rural areas because the alternative source of energy, are yet to reach there. Wood for Packing Purposes Wood is needed, on a large scale, for our fruit industry, tea etc. It is estimated that for wooden crates nearly 0.5 Mm 3 of wood is need. Paper Board and Newsprint With the rapidly increasing population growth our per capita consumption of paper is increasing from 2 kg to 4.5 kg per year. Bamboos and hardwood are the chief sources (70%) of raw materials for paper and board. Growing demand for 2.45 Mt will enhance dependence on bamboo and hardwood.

13. Deforestation Deforestation is the process of felling trees indiscriminately resulting in nude or semi- nude surface of the hill hitherto covered by thick forests. India’s serious environmental problems is forest degradation due to timber extraction and our dependence on fuel wood. poor rural people are still highly dependent on wood to cook their meals and heat their homes. The National Forest Policy of 1988 now gives an added importance to JFM. Another resolution in 1990 provided a formal structure for com- munity participation though the formation of Village Forest Committees

14. CAUSES OF DEFORESTAION Felling of trees to meet the ever increasing demand of the cities. Grazing by the local cattle, goats, sheep etc. Meeting out the growing hunger for land. It has hit the ecology of the country badly very soon India is likely to have more of wasteland than productive land. Large scale deforestation has badly affected the weather facing almost each year more of bleak than the normal weather. The increase in shifting ( jhum ) cultivation in North east and Orissa has also laid large in forest tracts bare. As the jhum cycle is shortened to six years only (in some districts, even 2-3 years only), too short period does not provide enough time for natural repair of damaged ecosystem. A major cause of deforestation has been the construction of hill roads. About a decade back, they were about 30, 000 km long. Most of these roads are in state and most fragile belt of Himalayas. Road construction damaged the protective vegetation cover both above and below roads. It blocked natural and pollution streams.

15. CONSEQUANCES OF DEFORESTATION : India Adverse Effect on Productivity The deforestation increase the soil erosion increase manifold. The soil so washed leads to an accentuated cycle of floods and drought. Deforestation creates to use cowdung and crop wastes as fuel mainly for cooking. As a result no part of the plant goes back to loss in soil fertility. Land/Erosion and Landslides Deforestation has been causing tremendous land erosion and landslides. Data reflect that about 6,000 million ton of topsoil is lost annually due to water erosion in the absence of trees. Low Per Capita Forestland As far as per capita forestland is concerned, India today is the poorest in the world. The per capita forestland in India is 0.10 hectare compared to the world average of 1 hectare.

16. Timber extraction, mining and dams are in- variably parts of the needs of a developing country. If timber is overharvested the ecological functions of the forest are lost. Unfortunately forests are located in areas where there are rich mineral resources. Forests also cover the steep embankments of river valleys, which are ideally suited to develop hydel and irrigation projects. Thus there is a constant conflict of interests between the conservation interests of environmental scientists and the Mining and Irrigation Departments. What needs to be understood is that long-term ecological gains cannot be sacrificed for short-term economic gains that unfortunately lead to deforestation. These forests where development projects are planned, can displace thousands of tribal people who lose their homes when these plans are executed. This leads to high levels of suffering for which there is rarely a satisfactory answer.

17. Water Resources It is revealed by the history of human civilization that water supply and civilization are most synonymous. Several cities and civilizations have disappeared due to water shortages originating from climatic changes. Millions of people all over the world, particularly in the developing countries, are losing their lives every year from water-borne disease. An understanding of water chemistry is the basis of knowledge of the multi- dimensional aspects of aquatic environment chemistry, which involve the sources, composition, reactions, and transport of the water. About 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the ocean, which is unfit of the remaining 3%, 2% is locked in the polar ice-caps and only 1% is available as fresh water in rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs and ground water which is suitable for human consumption.