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Conservation of Natural Resources
Anything which is useful to man or can be transformed into a useful product can be referred to as a resource. A natural resource is the resource obtained from nature, A natural resource can be of the following two typ
es : living (biotic) or non-living (abiotic),
1)Biotic resources : These resource are directly or indirectly derived from photosynthetic activity of green plants. Food, fruits, wood, fibre, milk, milk products, fish, meat and leather are termed as biotic resources. Coal, oil and natural gas are also biotic resources as they were produced by photosynthetic activity of plants which occured millions af years ago.
2) Abiotic resources : Mineral material, fresh water, rocks, salts and chemicals etc. are termed as abiotic resources as biological activity is not involved in their formation.
Types of natural resources : The natural resources can be classified into two categories
1)Inexhaustible resources : These are the natural resources which are unlimited, the quality of these natural resources may be degraded but not the quantity. These include air, clay, sand, solar energy etc.
(2) Exhaustible resources : They are natural resources with finite supply which if used indiscriminately are likely to diminish and then get exhausted. e.g., minerals, fossil fuels, forests, pastures, aquatic organisms. Exhaustible resources are of two types, renewable and nonrenewable.
(i) Renewable resourcesR
enewable resources are those resources which can be regenerated.These are mostly biological in nature and include forestry, agriculture, animals (biomass-based) etc.
(ii) Non-renewable resources
These can be reproduce itself in nature and we may harvest them continuously through a sustained proper planning and management. Solar energy, wind energy, water energy (tides) and geothermal energy belong tu this categoryt since these are available in an inexhaustible form in nature.
They are physical resources like coal, oil
deposits, natural gas, minerals, soil, metals, etc. These are available in
nature only in limited amounts and cannot be reproduced,
Coal, petroleum and natural gas are the common sources
of energy. They, being of organic origin, are also called fossil fuels.
These account for 90% of the worlds production of commercial, energy, hydroelectric and nuclear power accounting for only 10%.
a Natural resources are also classified on the basis of their presence in different countries.
- National resources : They are confined to national boundries, e.g., minerals, lands,
- Multinational resources : They are shared by more than one country, e.g., some rivers, lakes, migratory animals.
- International resources They are shared by all inhabitants of the earth, e.g., sunlight, air.
Conservation
It may be
defined as the most efficient and most beneficial utilization of the natural
resources. Conservation is also defined as the rational use of the environment
to provide a high quality of living for the mankind,
Aim of
conservation : The true aim of conservation, thus, includes.
To ensure the preservation of a quality environment that 
considers aesthetic, recreational
as well as product needs.
To ensure a
continuous yield of useful plants, animals and materials by establishing a
balanced cycle of harvest and renewal.
Living resource conservation has three specific objectives
To maintain the essential ecological processes and the life
support system : This system has five elements (air, water, land, flora and
fauna) which are interconnected, interrelated and interdependent; deterioration
in one inevitably affects the other four elements.
To preserve the biological diversity ; It includes two
related concepts genetic diversity and ecological diversity, The genetic diversity
is the amount of the genetic variability among individuals of a single species
(intraspecific genetic variability) as also between species (interspecific
genetic variability). The ecological diversity means the species richness. It
is the number of species of the flora and fauna found in a region (for example,
India has
about 45,000 species of plants and about 65,000 species of animals)
To ensure
that any utilization of the species and ecosystems is sustainable : Infact,
natural resources may be conserved by efficient utilization which requires a
proper balance between the supply and demand. Sustainable utilization means 
planned utilization so that a
continuous yield of the useful plants, animals and materials may be obtained.
The
conservation of the following resources is necessary
(1) Minerals ; Minerals are largely nonrenewable inorganic resources that are presently mined from lithosphere.
Availability/distribution is quite unequal Malayasia
and Indonesia are rich in tin, tungsten and manganese but deficient in 
molybdenum.
North America has abundant molybdenum but little tin, tungsten and manganese.
South Africa has rich deposits of gold, platinum and uranium but little iron and silver.
India has abundant iron, manganese, dolomite, chromite and mica but is deficient in lead, potassium, phosphorus, nickel, copper, silver and gold. Phosphate rocks have recently been discovered in Jawar Kota in Rajasthan.
Mineral resources of
scarce elements (e.g. silver, copper, mercury, tungsten) are liable to be exhausted
within next 20-100 years. With continued use even plentiful minerals will
become scarce and hence expensive, e.g., iron, aluminium.
(i) Degradation of environment :
1)Every step of mineral extraction, processing, refinement and disposal causes degradation of environment.
2)Mineral
processing releases a number of pollutants into air It also produces a number
of wastes which bring about water and soil pollution.
3)Mining not
only damages the land, it also pollutes soil water and air.
4)Mine dust
destroys nearby vegetation and makes the soil barren, It is called mine spoil.
(ii) Conservation of minerals
1)Reuse : An article can be reused several times, e.g., 16-17 times a glass bottle. Life of a machine/article can be prolonged with small care, However, all products cannot be reused.
2)Low waste :
Use and throw tendency should be checked where a durable and repairable article
is concerned. Other points of wastage should be checked and wastage controlled.
3)Manufacturing waste : It should not be thrown but
reprocessed to be used in other industries.
4)Substitution
: Scarce metals which can be replaced by 
more abundant metals, e.g., copper
in electric wires with aluminium, metallic pipes with plastic pipes. Plastics,
ceramics and high strength glass fibres are being used in place of steel, tin
and copper in many industries.
5)Recycling : A number of metals can be recyded through reprocessing. e.g., gold, lead, nickel. steel, copper, aluminium, zinc.
Recycling and reuse reduce pressure on mining and processing industries besides
energy consumption and pollution. However, some minerals are lost during use,
e.g, zinc, lead and chromium in paints,.
(2) Forests
: Forests are extensive self-sustained wooded tracts of land with abiotic
community predominated by woody vegetation consisting of trees and shrubs with
a close canopy.
Woodland is
closer to human habitation, possesses open canopy and is managed and maintained
by human beings.
Forests
contain 
90% of the terrestrial biomass.
Forestry is a branch of science which is connected with establishment,
protection, management and exploitation of fdrests.
Silviculture sylviculture) is a branch of forestry connected with cultivation
and breeding of forest plants
(i) Forest functions : Forests have three types of function
:
Productive
functions (Economic uses) : Forests provide a number of articles of economic
use, e.g., wood, fruit, resins, alkaloids, essential oil, latex,
pharmaceuticals.
Regulative functions : They regulate global biogeochemical
cydes, particularly carbon and water, check floods and drought by absorption,
storage and release of water etc.
Protective
functions (Ecological functions) They provide protection from excessive cold,
excessive heat, drought, noise, radiations and smells besides providing shelter
and conserving water and soil.
(ii)
Economic uses
Wood
consumption is estimated at 3-2 billion ma . 46% of wood is used in
industry while 54% is consumed as fuel wood. Consumption of fuelwood is low in
advanced countries (16%) while it is high in other countries (75-80%). Larger
pieces of wood are used in timber, After timbers the major industrial consumer
of wood is paper industry which consumes the maximum amount of bamboo.
(iii) Ecological uses
Protection
of land : Plant cover protects soil from drastic changes in temperature, action
of wind, action of rain drops, holding soil, preventing landslides and making
the soil spongy as well as fertile,
Climate : Moderating and moistening effects.
Frequency of
rainfall : Increases. Atmospheric humidity becomes high.
Pollution Forests reduce atmospheric pollution absorbing
gases and collecting SPM.
Shelter : To
wild animals. Over 40 million tribals and villagers live in forests. The number
of cattle grazing in forests is 200 million.
Retention of
subsoil water : Plant litter and humus prevent run-off, hold water like a
sponge and allow percolation resulting in perennial fresh water through
springs.
Deforestation
: It is removal, decrease or deterioration of forest cover of an area. In 1900,
forests occurred in 7000 million hectares which were reduced to 2890 million ha in
1985 and about 2400 million ha in 2000, Tropical forests have come down from
1600 million ha to 938 million ha. In India, one third of the land was covered
by forests in late nineteen thirties. In 1951 it was only 23%.
Causes : (a) Jhuming (b) Hydroelectric projects (c) Forest
fires 
(d) Human establishments (e)
Overgrazing (f) Requirement of wood (g) Quarrying and mining.
(vi) Effects
Shrinking
fuelwood : In Himalayas a woman spends half day on collecting fuel, In India,
availability of fuel-wood is 58 million m3/yr against requirement of
300 million m 3,
Reduced
timber : There is decreased availability of timber and other farm products,
Change in
climate : Deforestation results in reduced rainfall, increased drought, hotter
summers and colder winters.
Global
warming Deforestation increases atmospheric C02 content by releasing carbon
stored in organic matter and reduced primary productivity,
Rainfall
Amount and periodicity of rainfall decreases. In drier areas deforestation,
therefore, leads to desertification or formation of desert.
Drought :
There is very little water in rivers during dry season causing drought.
Loss of
biodiversity and germplasm etc.
(vii) Conservation and management of forests :
Forests cover has to be increased to
reverse the effect of past deforestation.
of forests in such a way as to
maintain them at optimum form and derive optimum sustainable benefit for
present as well as future generations. TWO major strategies are adopted.Production
or Commercial forestry It is plantation of useful trees and shrubs for meeting
the commercial requirements without causing any undue demand on the natural
forests. It is of three types — social forestry, agroforestry and production
plantation.
Protection or Conservation forestry :
Degraded forests are
mended through sylviculture practices. The forests are allowed to recoup before
allowing its exploitation.
Certain forests
included under sanctuaries and national parks are not allowed to be exploited.
Well stocked and
mature forests are exploited scientifically.
Prevention
of scraping and Litter removal.
- Advanced silviculture.
- Pesticides.
- Fire fighting equipment,
-
Census.
Economy in extraction
and use of timber.
Sustained yield block
cutting : Cutting is allowed only in nonvulnerable forests at a rate which is
equal to their regeneration capacity.
Chipko movement Chipko
movement was born in 
March 1973 in Gopeshwar in Chamoli
when trees were not allowed to be cut by village Folk. The movement has two
leaders Chandi Prasad Bhatt of Gopeshwar and Sunderal Bahuguna of Silyara in
Tehri. It is a movement initially meant for protecting trees but now meant for
preservation of environment including habitat and wildlife.
A similar movement was undertaken by pandurang hegde in the
south. It is known as appiko movement. It aims at uliso 
(conservation), belesu (growth —
plantation) and balasu (rational use),
Conservation of Natural Resources 1629
Bishnoi
Community : In 1731, the king of Jodhpur (Rajasthan) asked his ministers to arrange wood
for constructing a new palace. The ministers and workers went to forest for
cutting down the trees. A Bishnoi woman Amrita Devi showed exemplary courage by
protecting trees from the men cutting them. She sacrified her life along with
her three daughters, while hugging the trees to protect them from the workers
of king. The Government of India has recently instituted The Amrita Devi
Bishnoi Wild Life Protection Award for the individuals or communities from
rural areas that have shown extraordinary courage and dedication in protecting wild life.
(viii) Other
forms of forestry
Social forestry
(Started in 1976 by NCA) : Raising quick growing multipurpose plants in common
village lands fdr meeting requirement of fodder, firewood and small timber.
Urban
forestry : It is plantation of fruit, flower and shade bearing plants in urban
areas to reduce pollution and ultimate yield of wood.
Production
plantation It is growing of industry required trees on specific, either fallow
or free grazing lands. Production plantation decreases pressure on real
forests.
Reserve
forests : They are forests grown over ecologically fragile areas where our
water regimes are not located, Felling of trees and grazing are not allowed.
Agroforestry
: It is plantation of multipurpose trees/shrubs/horticulture plants/grasses
alongwith crops for stabilising soil, meeting the need
of fodder, fruit and timber of the community. It is of three types —
agri-silvicultural, agri-pastoral and agri-silvi-pastoral.
(3)
Grasslands (Rangeland) : They are biomes dominated by grasses and herbs
(especially leguminous). Grasslands provide forage to cattle and support
wildlife based on grazing food chain. Tall grasses are used in thatching and as
fuel. Grasslands ate quite stable because highly branched fibrous root systems
hold the soil particles firmly and prevent soil erosion. They are, however,
prone to invasion by trees and shrubs as well as desertification, The total
area under grass cover is about 18% of total land in India. Therefore, the area
available for grazing in India is roughly 37% (19% forested + 18% grassland).
(i)
Grassland degradation : Grasslands have been put to three types of pressures.
Overgrazing
: At one time in the history of human civilization, cattle were reared in large
number. The number continues to be high. For example in arid and semiarid areas
of India, the number of grazing animals is 2-10 times higher than their
grasslands can support.
Erosion :
Overgrazing denudes the soil of plant cover. Trampling by cattle decreases soil
porocity. The exposed hardened soil undergoes erosion by wind and water. Wind
erosion is more common where drought conditions prevail for long periods.
(ii) Grassland management
It causes
desertification or conversion of once fertile land into desert.
Conversion :
Overpopulation and pressure to raise 
agriculture yield for feeding it.
As a result several grasslands with fertile soils have been converted into
agricultural landst e.g., North American prairies. The pressure on remaining
less fertile grasslands
 |
-increases for feeding cattle,
Grazing
should be limited to only that number of animals 
which can be comfortably supported
by a piece of grassland.
- Removal of tree seedlings, bushes, shrubs and weeds which tend to reduce productivity of grasslands.
- Occasional seeding with high yielding leguminous herbs for maintaining soil fertility.
- Grasslands should be closed to grazing when new plant growth is to take place, like rainy season,
- A grassland should be divided into blocks with each block allowed to be grazed on rotational basis. This allows other blocks to recover.
- Reducing loss of soil and water from the grassland by contour bunding.
- Occasional controlled burning of dried mulch to promote release of nutrients and prevent growth of tree and shrubs.
(4) Soil
erosion and Soil conservation : Top soil is the vital part of the soil and
serves as the chief source of nutrition for plants (feeding zone). Loss or
disturbance of top soil by natural agents like water, wind, gravity or ice is
called soil erosion.
Soil erosion
has been called 'creeping death of the soil' by Rama Rao.
Soil erosion
is of two types :
Geological or Natural erosion : It is caused
by nature.
Q
Accelerated or Artificial erosion : It is caused by man and animals.
(i) Types of
soil erosion
Water
erosion : It is caused by fast running water or by continuous heavy rain. It
may be
Sheet erosion Due to heavy rain, top fertile
soil is removed in the form of thin sheet.
Rill erosion : Fast
running water cut stream or groove like structure in soil.
Gully erosion : On
steep slopes, fast running water cuts the soil deep and form channel like
structure called gullies.
Rparian erosion : During floods fast running
water cut off the margins of river,
Due to heavy
rains the minerals are also lost from top soil and soil becomes less fertile.
Wind erosion
: Soil erosion by wind is common in dry places and most severe in arid regions
where soil is chiefly sandy and the vegetation is poor or even absent.
The wind throws away smallest soil particles into air where
they get suspended giving a dusty appearance to the air- It is called suspension. By this method the
soil particles are transported to
longer
distance,
Land slide
or Slip erosion : The hydraulic pressure caused by heavy rains and
gravitational force cause the fall off the rocks in hilly areas.
Overfelling (Deforestation) and Overgrazing erosion : These
process reduce vegetation thus make the soil surface open for erosion (sheet
erosion).
(ii) Soil
conservation : Prevention of soil erosion is called as soil conservation.
Methods of
soil conservation
Strip
cropping : Crops are arranged in bands or strips to check the flow of water.
Crop rotation Crop rotation is the method of alternative
sowing of leguminous and cereal crops (wheat , maize). The rotation of crops
can be planned depending upon the climatic conditions, type, slope and
properties of soils,
Such crops which check soil erosion should be sown during
the rainy season. Legumes are useful in rotation of crops because of having
nodulated roots. Soil fertility is usually maintained in the field
(4) Soil
erosion and Soil conservation : Top soil is the vital part of the soil and
serves as the chief source of nutrition for plants (feeding zone). Loss or
disturbance of top soil by natural agents like water, wind, gravity or ice is
called soil erosion.
Soil erosion
has been called 'creeping death of the soil' by Rama Rao.
Soil erosion
is of two types :
Geological or Natural erosion : It is caused
by nature.- Q Accelerated or Artificial erosion : It is caused by man and animals.
(i) Types of soil erosion
Water
erosion : It is caused by fast running water or by continuous heavy rain. It
may be
- Sheet erosion Due to heavy rain, top fertile soil
is removed in the form of thin sheet.
- Rill erosion : Fast
running water cut stream or groove like structure in soil.
- Gully erosion : On
steep slopes, fast running water cuts the soil deep and form channel like
structure called gullies.
Rparian erosion : During floods fast running
water cut off the margins of river,
Due to heavy
rains the minerals are also lost from top soil and soil becomes less fertile.
- Wind erosion : Soil erosion by wind is common in dry places and most severe in arid regions where soil is chiefly sandy and the vegetation is poor or even absent.
- The wind throws away smallest soil particles into air where
they get suspended giving a dusty appearance to the air- It is called suspension. By this method the
soil particles are transported to longer
distance,
- Land slide
or Slip erosion : The hydraulic pressure caused by heavy rains and
gravitational force cause the fall off the rocks in hilly areas.
- Overfelling (Deforestation) and Overgrazing erosion : These process reduce vegetation thus make the soil surface open for erosion (sheet erosion).
(ii) Soil conservation : Prevention of soil erosion is called as soil conservation.
- Strip cropping : Crops are arranged in bands or strips to check the flow of water.
- Crop rotation Crop rotation is the method of alternative sowing of leguminous and cereal crops (wheat , maize). The rotation of crops can be planned depending upon the climatic conditions, type, slope and properties of soils,
- Such crops which check soil erosion should be sown during the rainy season. Legumes are useful in rotation of crops because of having nodulated roots. Soil fertility is usually maintained in the field
(ii) Conservation of water resources
Rainwater harvesting
: Surface storage and recharging of groundwater should be carried
out.
Afforestation
: It helps in preventing soil erosion, reduces surface run off, retains water
and protects water sheds for continued water supply.
Industry :
Wastage should be reduced. Waste water can be recycled.
Domestic
water supply Wastage should be reduced. Waste water should be treated and used
in irrigation and other purposes.
Irrigation :
Assured irrigation is available to only 40% area as compared to over 90% in
advanced countries. There is a lot of wastage of agriculture water because only
50% of water supplied to soil is useful, the rest goes waste. Bricklining of
irrigation channels and sprinkling technique of irrigation are recommended to
save water.
Oil) Management of water resources
Dams and Reservoirs : They can be constructed to control
floods and ensure round the year supply of water besides generation of
electricity.
(b)
Mangroves Swamps These are coastal wet lands of tropical seas which contain a
number of trees and shrubs in the intertidal region, These allows the sediments
to settle. They build up soil along the shoreline which is colonised by other
plants. Slowly mangrove expands into ocean. They provide habitat to crabs.
oysters and other marine animals.
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the last few year fish fauna of our
inland waters has greatly |
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deplected on account of
overexploitation and pollution of natural |
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waters due to sewage and industrial wastes. It is therefore, |
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necessary
that these colourful creatures of our aquatic environment |
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should be preserved. Fishery
managers have developed many |
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techniques
to improve fish habitats. Some are : |
|
(a)
Large, artificial fielding reefs in the offshore waters of the |
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oceans and freshwater lakes to
provide hiding places and |
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additional food which attracts the
fish. |
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(b) Spawning channels to replace
vital spawning areas |
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destroyed
or no longer accessible. |
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(c)
Fix toxicants to destroy undesirable fish populations and |
|
restore
the balance in favour of the game or commercial fish. |
|
(d) Fertilization and artificial enrichment Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources Conservation of Natural Resources |
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