Natural Resources and Their Use
Class 8 | India and the World: Land and the People | Chapter 1
1. When Does Nature Become a Resource?
Everything around us — the air, water, soil, trees, minerals, and even sunlight — comes from Nature. Nature refers to all life and non-life forms that exist independently of humans. But when humans begin to use these elements for survival or to create things, they become natural resources.
However, not every element of Nature automatically qualifies as a resource. For something to be called a resource, three conditions must be met:
- It must be technologically accessible — we must have the tools and know-how to use it.
- Its use must be economically feasible — it should not cost more to extract than it is worth.
- It must be culturally acceptable — for example, cutting trees in sacred groves would be unacceptable even if feasible.
For instance, petroleum may exist deep under the ocean floor, but if we lack the technology to reach it or the cost is too high, it does not yet qualify as a resource. The word 'exploitation' in this context simply means the extraction, utilisation, and consumption of natural resources — not mistreatment.
Common examples of natural resources include obvious ones like water, air, and soil, and less obvious ones like coal, petroleum, precious stones, metal ores, and timber.
2. Categories of Natural Resources
Scientists and geographers use categories to organise and discuss ideas more efficiently. Natural resources can be categorised in more than one way. The two most useful systems are: classification by use and classification by renewability.
2.1 Resources Essential for Life
Some resources are so fundamental that life cannot exist without them. These include air, water, and food. We breathe air from the atmosphere, drink water from rivers and ponds, and grow food by cultivating soil. Unlike manufactured goods, we cannot create these ourselves — they must come from Nature.
2.2 Resources for Materials
Humans also draw from Nature to create physical objects — for utility or beauty. A piece of wood can become a chair or a carved sculpture. India's remarkable geographical diversity provides a wide variety of raw materials, from wood and marble to coal and gold.
2.3 Resources for Energy
Energy powers modern life — from electricity in our homes to fuel for transportation and industry. This energy comes from diverse natural sources: coal, water, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight, and wind. Managing these wisely is one of the defining challenges of our time.
2.4 Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
A second and very important way of classifying resources is by whether they can replenish themselves.
2.4.1 Nature's Principle of Restoration and Regeneration
Nature has a remarkable ability to heal and renew itself. Restoration is the process of returning something to its original healthy state — like a forest recovering after a wildfire, or a wound healing on your skin. Regeneration goes further — it is Nature's ability to create entirely new life and the conditions for thriving.
Consider a forest: a fallen tree decomposes through the action of bacteria, fungi, and insects. It enriches the soil. New trees grow from seeds, and the cycle begins again. Nature works in cycles where there is no waste.
2.4.2 Renewable Resources
Resources that renew themselves naturally over time are called renewable resources. Examples include solar energy, wind energy, energy from flowing water, and timber from sustainably managed forests.
However, there is an important condition: the natural rhythm of restoration and regeneration must not be disturbed. If we harvest timber faster than forests can regrow, depletion occurs. Similarly, fossil-fuel-driven industrialisation and deforestation have disrupted Nature's cycles — contributing to rising temperatures and glacial melt in the Himalayas, threatening the 'water tower' that millions of people in the plains depend on.
2.4.3 Non-Renewable Resources
Resources that form over millions of years and cannot be replenished at the rate we consume them are non-renewable resources. Examples include fossil fuels (coal and petroleum) and metals like iron, copper, and gold.
India has significant coal reserves, but estimates suggest they may last only about 50 more years at current consumption rates — even as demand for electricity keeps growing. This makes it vital that we use non-renewables judiciously while developing sustainable alternatives.
3. Distribution of Natural Resources and Its Implications
Natural resources are not evenly distributed — neither across the planet nor within individual countries. This uneven distribution has profound consequences for how human societies develop.
Resource distribution shapes human settlements, trade patterns, international relations, and even conflicts. Many wars — past and present — have been fought to control natural resources.
Where resources are found, industries grow, creating employment and economic opportunities. Townships develop, improving quality of life. But these benefits come with costs: communities may be displaced from their homes, and sacred places may come under threat, leading to conflict.
Resources combined with human knowledge can create unique and valuable products — like Wootz steel, which was famous globally and helped fuel the growth of large empires in India through trade.
Because Nature ignores political boundaries, resource sharing across states and countries requires careful negotiation. A powerful example is the Kaveri River water dispute involving Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry — resolved only through sustained negotiations and deft management.
3.1 The 'Natural Resource Curse'
Having abundant natural resources does not guarantee prosperity. Economists have identified a counterintuitive phenomenon called the 'natural resource curse' — also called the 'paradox of plenty'. This means that resource-rich regions sometimes experience slower economic growth because they fail to develop the industries and skills needed to convert raw resources into higher-value products.
India has generally avoided this trap by investing in industries and technology to process its resources domestically. Still, balancing extraction with sustainability remains an ongoing challenge that requires human knowledge, good governance, and strategic planning.
4. Responsible and Wise Use of Natural Resources: Stewardship
Scientists have warned that irresponsible resource use has already caused pollution, biodiversity loss, and accelerating climate change. The concept of stewardship — acting as responsible caretakers of Nature — is now more important than ever.
Note: Biodiversity loss refers to the decline in the variety of life on Earth.
4.1 Restoration and Regeneration of Renewable Resources
Two urgent examples show how humans are pushing renewable resources beyond their limits:
4.1.1 Groundwater Depletion
Across India, farmers extract groundwater for irrigation at rates far greater than the water table can be replenished. Over time, this creates a growing deficit, raising extraction costs and eventually making groundwater unavailable. Many Indian cities are predicted to run out of groundwater soon.
Strategies being attempted include traditional water harvesting, rejuvenation of ponds and tanks, reducing wasteful consumption, and water recycling.
4.1.2 Soil Degradation
Overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has led to serious soil degradation. Traditional farming practices — which viewed soil as part of Mother Earth — used cow dung, natural fertilisers, mulching, and multi-cropping to maintain soil health. These practices must be revived and adapted.
4.2 Overexploitation of Groundwater: A Caselet from Punjab
Punjab's fertile plains are at the centre of India's most serious groundwater crisis. Home to the Green Revolution of the 1960s, Punjab helped make India self-sufficient in food. But the revolution had a hidden cost.
Farmers shifted to high-yielding varieties of wheat and paddy, which required far more water than traditional seeds. Free power supply encouraged over-pumping of groundwater. Modern farming also brought heavy chemical pesticide and fertiliser use.
The result: groundwater in much of Punjab is now inaccessible until depths of 30 metres or more. Dissolved chemicals from pesticides and fertilisers have contaminated the remaining groundwater, creating serious health hazards. Almost 80% of Punjab's area is now classified as 'over-exploited'. Food security was achieved in the short term, but long-term consequences are severe and will take years to heal.
4.3 The Case of Cement
Cement is essential for buildings, bridges, roads, and airports. But its production is one of the most polluting industrial processes — releasing fine dust that damages lungs, reduces plant yields, and causes soil and water pollution.
The Central Pollution Control Board has issued guidelines to minimise this. Simultaneously, there is a growing move towards alternative sustainable materials — traditional stone and mud, new plant-based materials, and recycled waste plastic. These are less polluting, support local employment, and suit local climates.
4.4 Traditional Knowledge: Vṛikṣhāyurveda
India has an ancient traditional knowledge system called Vṛikṣhāyurveda — a Sanskrit term meaning the 'science of trees and plants' (from vṛikṣha = tree, ayurveda = science of life). Formalised in texts like Surapala's Vṛikṣhāyurveda (10th century CE), it covers:
- Which plants to grow on different soil types
- Methods of seed collection, preservation, and pre-planting treatments
- Detailed irrigation techniques suited to plant species, growth stage, and season
- Natural pest management using repellent plants
- Sustainable practices like crop rotation and mixed cropping
- Ploughing methods that retain soil moisture and support soil organisms like fungi, bacteria, and earthworms
This ancient wisdom aligns perfectly with modern sustainable agriculture goals.
4.5 A Caselet from Sikkim
Sikkim's transition to 100% organic farming is a remarkable global success story. When the state government promoted organic farming, families like Pema's initially faced declining yields as soil recovered from years of chemical use.
They switched to compost, natural pest repellents using neem and garlic, and grew multiple crops across the year. After about five years, productivity surged. By 2016, Sikkim became India's first fully organic state — with all farmland certified organic.
The results were transformational:
- Local biodiversity flourished — insects and birds returned
- Farmers' incomes grew by 20% on average
- Tourism increased as Sikkim became a global organic farming model
Sikkim now demonstrates that an entire region can transition to sustainable agriculture while improving both ecological and economic outcomes.
4.6 Responsible and Judicious Use of Non-Renewable Resources
For non-renewables, the goal is to use them wisely enough that they last until humanity can develop sustainable alternatives. The most urgent transition needed is from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
We must also remember that access to basic resources like clean water and air is often unfair — many city areas lack regular drinking water, and air pollution from industries and fossil fuels disproportionately harms those who cannot protect themselves.
4.7 The International Solar Alliance — India's Leadership in Renewable Energy
In 2015, India and France jointly launched the International Alliance for Solar Energy (IASE) — a coalition of sunshine-rich countries committed to harnessing solar power. India has helped channel billions of dollars into solar projects across developing nations, sharing technical expertise and affordable financing.
The Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan — one of the largest solar parks in the world — symbolises India's solar ambitions, generating enough electricity to power approximately 15% of Rajasthan's current energy needs. For India, this alliance represents both environmental responsibility and economic opportunity.
The Bhagavad Gītā's concept of lokasangraha — acting not for personal gain but for the wellbeing of all — captures the spirit of the stewardship we need today. As responsible users of natural resources, we must act as guardians of restoration, regeneration, and sustainability for future generations.
Chapter Summary: Key Takeaways
- Natural resources are materials from Nature that are technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable.
- Resources can be classified by use (life, materials, energy) or by renewability (renewable vs. non-renewable).
- Renewable resources need Nature's restoration and regeneration cycles to remain intact.
- The 'natural resource curse' shows that abundance alone does not guarantee prosperity — skills, governance, and planning matter.
- Overexploitation — as seen in Punjab's groundwater crisis — can cause long-term harm even when short-term gains are achieved.
- Traditional knowledge systems like Vṛikṣhāyurveda offer proven sustainable alternatives.
- Sikkim's 100% organic farming model proves that regions can successfully transition to sustainable practices.
- India's leadership through the International Solar Alliance and the Bhadla Solar Park reflects a commitment to renewable energy.
- True stewardship means acting with the spirit of lokasangraha — for the wellbeing of all.