Natural resource management is the method by which communities manage the supply and access to the natural resources available. It is understood that natural resources are available for survival and development. Human beings are the most dependent on natural resources.

Natural resources refer to the material and substances available naturally and can be exploited for commercial uses. Conservation is vital for the sustainable management of natural resources to ensure ongoing access and steady provision. Uninterrupted availability of resources is central to the organization of civilizations. Let us learn more about natural resource management in this section.

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A natural resource is one that is offered by nature without any human involvement. The soil, minerals, forests, water, etc. are examples of a county’s natural resources. Forests are natural resources as it is renewable, whereas oil is not a renewable natural resource. Some definitions state that only those natural resources that can renew themselves and whose exploitation depends on their regenerative capacities necessitate management.

Let us study natural resource management and why it is so essential. Natural Resources Management and Conservation Natural Resource Management (NRM) is about the continued use of primary natural resources, such as land, water, air, minerals, forests, fisheries, and wild flora and fauna. All these resources together provide the ecosystem service that supplies better quality to human life. Conservation of resources is the regulated use of natural resources to provide optimum benefits to present generations while ensuring the capacity to meet the needs of future generations. Conservation involves both the protection and the rational use of natural resources. For a long time, the conservation of natural resources has been organized by way of many schemes to varying degrees. The programs also involve the dedication and support of government and semi-government authorities.

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Principles of NRM

NRM includes eight principles of legitimacy, transparency, accountability, involvement, fairness, integration, capability, and adaptability – these features provide normative guidance for the establishment of multilevel NRM governance. The principles of NRM include the following practical methods:

Learn from experiences.
Establish and maintain an efficient project management process.
Ensure local participation in decision–making.
Build the project in the local context.
Determine communication and knowledge-sharing strategy
Develop a risk strategy
Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation
Consider reusing and recycling for future uses.
Follow the principle of bio-climatic and adaptable designs.

Parts of NRM

Parts of NRM include the following studies: Renewable Resources:

Forest Resources - Overuse and exploitation, deforestation, timber, mining, dams, and their effects on forests and tribal people.

Water Resources - Use and overutilization of surface and groundwater, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams- benefits, and problems. Mineral Resources - use and exploitation, environmental effects of mining, and using minerals.

Food Resources - World food problems, changes in land-use by farming, grazing, effects of modern agriculture, use of pesticides, fertilizers, waterlogging, and salinity.

Energy Resources - Increase in energy needs, renewable/non-renewable sources, and use of alternate energy sources.

Land Resources - Land, land degradation, human-induced landslides, soil erosion, and desertification.

Non-renewable resources include fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

Benefits of NRM

Natural resources issues mostly relate to deforestation, degradation, land deterioration, water-related issues, land-use changes, problems of protected areas and biodiversity losses, and conflicts over natural resources. With an effective NRM policy in place, it is possible to address these issues.

The management and conservation of renewable natural resources means to achieve a balance between the demands of exploitation with respect for regenerative capacities. For example, the cutting of trees and subsequent plantations, reducing pollution and release of contaminants in water, and proper land use.

The four pillars of sustainability involve human, social, economic, and environmental benefits. In all these, environmental sustainability aims to improve human welfare through the protection of natural capital. Here, natural capital refers to air, land, water, minerals, forests, etc.

NRM programs and initiatives are environmentally sustainable as they ensure that the needs of the current population are met without the risk of compromising the needs of the future generation. NRM gives due importance to achieve positive outcomes without doing any short-term or long-term harm to the environment and the natural and free resources available for utilization.

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Natural Resources -A Boon to Human Existence

Food, water, air, minerals are different kinds of resources that are useful to man. The value of a resource is dependent on its utility and other factors. Natural resources include food, fuel, and other raw materials that are also used for producing other goods. The food that we eat comes from plants and animals. Natural resources such as coal, natural gas, and oil help to produce heat, light, and power.

We should conserve resources because many resources are scarce and it takes millions of years to produce these resources. Overuse of resources will exhaust them. Therefore, we must conserve resources. Careful use of resources and giving them time to renew is known as conservation of resources.

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Different Types of Resources

Natural resources.
Human resources.
Environmental resources.
Mineral resources.
Water resources.
Vegetation resources.

Natural resources are important for everyone's existence. They are also important for the development and growth of a country. Resources such as iron, copper, bauxite are used for making everyday use items, and water, soil, and salt are necessary for sustaining life. Therefore, it is our duty to protect and conserve natural resources.

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Types of Natural Resources

There are two types of natural resources: renewable and non-renewable resources.

Renewable Resources: Renewable resources are the resources that can be renewed again, for example, water, sunlight, air, wood, soil, are all renewable resources. Some resources are very scarce like plant life, freshwater animals, and fresh air. These resources are depleting very fast and hence it is our responsibility to use these resources very wisely so that our future generations can prosper.

Non-renewable resources: Natural resources that cannot be reproduced and are available in fixed amounts on earth are referred to as non-renewable resources. They mainly occur below the earth’s surface such as minerals, coal, and petroleum. All these resources have limited stock and these are very important and useful for living beings.

Uses of Different Resources

Air is used for breathing
The wind is used for producing wind energy
Water is used for bathing, agriculture, and many other purposes
Plants are useful to us as they give us fruits, vegetables, cotton, wood, etc.
Animals also give us milk, fur, and other dairy products
Sunlight is useful for plants as it helps them to make food
Oil is used as fuel for transportation and other purposes
Minerals and metals are used for producing various things such as steel and jewellry.
Coal is also used for various purposes such as running trains, etc.

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FAQs on Overview of Natural Resource Management

1. What is meant by natural resource management?

Natural resource management is the responsible and sustainable planning and utilisation of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants, and animals. Its main goal is to manage these resources in a way that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, ensuring a balance between conservation and human use.

2. What are the two main types of natural resources? Please provide examples.

Natural resources are broadly classified into two main types based on their availability and ability to regenerate:

Renewable Resources: These are resources that can be replenished or reproduced relatively quickly. Examples include sunlight, wind, water, forests, and soil. However, even these can be depleted if overused.
Non-renewable Resources: These are resources that exist in finite quantities and cannot be replenished within a human lifespan. They are formed over millions of years. Examples include fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas, as well as minerals like iron and copper.

3. Why is the management of natural resources essential for us?

The management of natural resources is essential for several critical reasons:

To Prevent Over-exploitation: Many resources are limited, and an increasing population puts immense pressure on them. Management prevents their rapid depletion.
For Sustainable Development: It ensures that resources are available for future generations, supporting long-term economic and social growth.
To Maintain Ecological Balance: Proper management helps protect ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, and prevent environmental degradation like pollution and soil erosion.
To Ensure Equitable Distribution: It aims to ensure that the benefits of natural resources are shared fairly among all sections of society, not just a few powerful individuals or groups.

4. What is the '3 R's Strategy' and how does it help in conserving resources?

The '3 R's Strategy' is a fundamental principle of conservation that helps minimise environmental impact and resource wastage. It stands for:

Reduce: This means using fewer resources. For example, switching off lights when not in use to save electricity or buying products with less packaging.
Reuse: This involves using items multiple times instead of throwing them away. For instance, using glass jars for storage or refilling water bottles.
Recycle: This is the process of converting waste materials into new products. For example, recycling paper, plastic, and metal to reduce the need for raw materials.

This strategy effectively conserves natural resources by lowering demand for new materials, reducing pollution, and saving energy.

5. Who are considered 'stakeholders' in the management of a forest?

Stakeholders in forest management are individuals or groups who have a direct interest in or are affected by the use of the forest. The four main types of stakeholders are:

Local People: People living in or around the forest who depend on its resources for their livelihood, such as for firewood, fodder, and food.
The Forest Department: The government body responsible for managing and protecting the forests and their resources.
Industrialists: Those who use forest products as raw materials for their industries, such as timber for furniture or leaves for paper production.
Wildlife and Nature Enthusiasts: Conservationists who want to protect forests in their pristine form to preserve biodiversity and ecological balance.

6. How does the concept of 'sustainable development' relate to managing natural resources?

Sustainable development is development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. This concept is the core principle of natural resource management. It means we should use resources like water, minerals, and forests wisely and efficiently, ensuring they are not exhausted. It promotes practices that allow resources to regenerate and minimises long-term environmental damage, creating a balance between economic growth and ecological preservation.

7. Why is simply replanting trees (afforestation) not always enough to compensate for the loss of a natural forest (deforestation)?

While afforestation is crucial, it often cannot fully replace a natural forest. A natural forest is a complex, mature ecosystem with immense biodiversity, including various species of plants, animals, fungi, and microbes. It has intricate food webs and a stable soil structure developed over centuries. In contrast, a plantation or monoculture (planting a single tree species) lacks this diversity and ecological complexity, making it more vulnerable to pests and diseases and less effective at supporting a wide range of wildlife.

8. How can building large dams have both positive and negative impacts?

Large dams have significant benefits but also create major problems. The impacts are:

Positive Impacts: Dams are crucial for generating hydroelectric power (a clean energy source), storing large amounts of water for irrigation, and controlling floods in downstream areas.
Negative Impacts: They lead to the submergence of vast areas of forests and agricultural land, displacing local communities. They also disrupt the natural flow of rivers, harming aquatic ecosystems and preventing the downstream movement of sediment, which can affect soil fertility.

9. What are some examples of traditional water harvesting systems used in India?

India has a long history of traditional, community-based water harvesting systems designed to conserve rainwater. Some examples include: