Management Of Natural Resources

The term ‘Reduce’ is use to indicate minimum use of natural resources. Using solar energy in place of LPG is reducing the use of natural resources.

In our country the rate of cutting of trees (deforestation) is very high. The total area under the forest cover in our country is only 768436 sq. km. This area constitutes only 23.38 % of the total land area.

In Gujarat total 18999 sq. km. area is covered by the forest which constitutes 9.69 % of the total land area.

In the year 1731, Amrita Devi Bishnoi sacrificed her life along with 363 others for the protection of Khejri trees in Khejrali village near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. In her memory, the Government of India has recently instituted an Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for wild life conservation.

Most plants and animals which are on the verge of getting lost or destroyed are known as endangered wild species. Examples of some of the endangered species are bear, elephant, tiger, snow leopard, Kashmiri stag, etc. Endangered animal and plant species are published in the book called Red Data Book.

According to the survey of the year 2010, there are 88 national parks and 441 wild life sanctuaries in India. Whereas, in Gujrat there are 4 national parks and 21 wild life sanctuaries.

Dams are constructed to store huge amount of water. In Gujarat state on such dam is Sardar Sarovar dam which is constructed across the Narmada River in Kevadia village.

Petroleum is often called as liquid gold due to its importance in transportation. Petroleum is used as fuel in motor bikes, cars, trucks, and aeroplane.

Over Exploitation of natural resources without too much thinking creates serious danger for the existence of humans and their culture. It can be understood by this example, humans cut trees and clear forest for setting up factories causing environmental problems.

Reduce, Recycle and Reuse are the three R’s are to save the environment.

•Reduce refers to minimum use natural resources. Avoid wastage of natural resources such as water.

•Recycle refers to making new usable items from waste of Plastic, papers, glass, metals and scraps after recycling them.

•Reuse refers to the process of using used item for other purpose. The method of reuse is always considered better. For examples, the plastic bottles can be used for storing things like salt, sugar, tea leaves, pulses, etc.

Natural resources are materials such as air, land, water, natural gas, coal, oil, petroleum, minerals, soil, animals, plants and wildlife that are naturally present in the earth. Natural resources are very valuable and useful for living beings.

Wildlife are animals which are not domesticated and they live in the wild. Wildlife includes all mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, etc.

Reasons for depletion of forest are given below:
(i) Indiscriminate cutting of trees for setting up industries.
(ii) Agricultural expansion, development of railways, mining, commercial and social forestry.
(iii) Mining is another important factor for depletion of forest. It disturb the natural habitat of many species and migration of animals.

(iv) Setting up new urban settlement.

The greenhouse effect is caused by the trapping of the sun's energy by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Depletion of forests results in an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to greenhouse effect.

Planting fast-growing trees on the free land such as boundaries of fields, along roadside, railway tracks, canals etc. These fast growing trees yield fruits, wood, timber, fodder, firewood etc.

Endangered bird species are Pheasant, Great Indian Bustard, Florican, and Hornbill

Endangered reptiles species are Python, wall lizard, crocodile and some species of tortoise.

According to the survey of the year 2010, there are 88 national parks and 441 wild life sanctuaries in India.

Sources of fresh water are rain water, river streams, ground water.

Stored water in dams is useful for the society in many ways:

•Water stored in dam is used to irrigate crop fields through canals.

•Dam water can be used for domestic use after treating it.

•Stored water in dam is allowed to fall in a controlled to produce or generate electricity.

•Humans exploit natural resources to fulfil their needs such as food; fuel, clothes; houses, etc.

•Human population is increasing geometrically and the demand for the resource is also increasing with the increasing population.

•The natural resources are limited. Therefore, to fulfil the demand of increasing population and future human population; we need to manage our resources.

•The natural resources on Earth is limited.

•Many resources are non-renewable, once they are depleted are not renewed. Humans depend on the natural resources for their comfortable living.

•Human population is growing continuously and so is their need of natural resources.

•Due to the increasing human population, there is over exploitation of natural resources.

•If humans continue their indiscriminate and rampant use of natural resources then there will be a shortfall of these resources for future generations.

•Therefore, it should not believe that the natural resources are unlimited.

Recycle can save the environment in the ways listed below:

•Recycling of materials use less energy than manufacturing the new products from the raw materials. Thus, recycling helps to save energy.

•Recycling helps to conserve valuable natural resources like petroleum, water and metals.

•Recycling does not allow waste to accumulate and cause pollution.

We conserve the forest in the following ways:

•Harvesting of forest products should done in a way that it cannot damage forests.

•Adopt scientific methods to monitor forestation and deforestation.

•Measures should be taken to protect forest fire.

•Unauthorised cutting of trees should be strictly prevented.

•Plant fast-growing trees and adopt social forestry methods.

One such example indicating local people working traditionally for conservation of forest is mention below:

•In the year 1731, Amrita Devi Bishnoi sacrificed her life along with 363 others for the protection of Khejri trees in Khejrali village near Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

•In her memory, the Government of India has recently instituted an Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for wild life conservation.

There are many consequences of loss of forest cover. These are mentioned below:

•Loss of forest cover leads to loss of forest produce such as wood, fruits, gum, resins, etc.

•Loss of forest cover increases soil erosion. Strong wind blows topsoil causing erosion.

•Increase in the global temperature due to increase of concentration of carbon dioxide in the absence of trees.

•Increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to greenhouse effect.

•Loss of food and habitat of wildlife.

To conserve and preserve the wildlife of the country’s biodiversity wildlife sanctuaries and national park are established.

The stakeholders of forest are:

(a) The people who live in or around forest- they developed a practice to use forest resource in judicious way as to sustain growth.

(b) The government Forest Department get revenue from the forest products.

(c) The industrialists. They use various forest products as raw materials for their industry.

(d) The wild life and nature enthusiasts. They conserve nature in its original form.

•Chipko Andolan (Hug the trees movement) is a movement to save trees.

•The Andolan was originated in the remote village called 'Reni' in Garhwal in 1970s.

• There was dispute between local village and a logging contractor who had been allowed to fell trees in a forest near the village.

•The women from the village reached the forest and clasped the trunk of trees preventing the workers from felling the trees. In this way the trees were saved.

•About 40% of the world population lives in arid or semi-arid (place where temperature is high and rainfall is less) regions.

•The people residing in such areas spend lots of money in making availability of water which is to be used for drinking, in agriculture and in industries.

•Over-exploitation of water resources is resulting in lowering the water levels in the river; lakes and ponds.

•As a result of this, the surrounding wet land also dries up.

•Over-exploitation of ground water to meet the increasing demand has resulted in lowering of the ground water table level.

Some approaches to water management are given below:

•Distillation of sea water to remove salt content of water to make it suitable for drinking.

•Canals can be constructed in the desert area to irrigate crops and to supply water for the domestic use.

•Recycling of domestic used water to use them for irrigation of crops.

•Construct ponds or water reservoirs in flood prone and hilly areas for collection of water.

•This water can be directly used and will also help to recharge ground water.

•Wastage of water or excess use of water to be avoided.

Small and small steps can be taken to conserve energy.

•Switch off lights, fans and other electrical appliances when they not in use.

•Replace energy inefficient electrical appliances.

•Always use lights which consume less power.

•Use stairs instead of lift whenever and where possible.

•Cook food in the pressure cookers to save fuel.

•Use public transport instead of private vehicles for commuting.

•Use bicycles as far as possible to travel short distances.