Natural Resources

Mr. Lowe

Lesson Essential Questions1. How do humans use renewable and nonrenewable

natural resources and what waste results? 2. What are the characteristics of nonrenewable natural

resources?

3. How do recycling and waste management practices affect the availability of natural resources?

4. How can humans manage resources in the most

sustainable way? 5. How does technological advancement change our

use of natural resources? 6. How are natural resources used in agriculture?

7. How do environmental conditions affect agriculture systems?

Oh Beautiful for smoggy skies, insecticided grain,For strip-mined mountain's majesty above the asphalt plain.America, America, man sheds his waste on thee,And hides the pines with billboard signs, from sea to oily sea.

~George Carlin

We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.  ~Albert Einstein

Natural Resources = The parts of the environment that are necessary or useful for the survival of living organisms.

• Water

• Air

• Sunlight

• Plants

• Fossil Fuels

Necessary

Useful

Renewable Resources = Any natural resource that is constantly recycled or replaced by nature.• Examples: Water,

Air, Sunlight, and PlantsAlthough these are constantly renewed they can still be in short supply if the demand is high.

For Example: The average American uses 176 gallons of water per day compared to 5 gallons of water the average African family uses each day

Non-Renewable Resources = Any natural resource that is used up more quickly than it is replaced.

• Examples:Petroleum (oil)- source of plastics,

paints, and gasoline.

• Coal – Used to heat homes and produce electricity.

• Natural Gas – Used for heating and cooking.

Recycling = Changing or reprocessing a natural resource to be able to reuse it.

– The goal of recycling is to maintain a level of sustainability for natural resources that otherwise might run out.

Waste Management = practice of collecting and disposing of the waste produced by human activities.

• Waste management is vital to the healthy functioning of a society. Once waste is introduced into an environment, it can produce many harmful effects, such as the spread of disease.

POOR Waste Management

The 3 R’s = Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle• Reduce – Using less of a natural resource than

you currently use. (example: using less water to wash hands)

• Reuse – Using an item more than once. (example: using a canvas grocery bag instead of

throw-away plastic bags.)

• Recycle – Changing or reprocessing and item or natural resource..

(example: metals, glass, paper, and plastics.)

Although this may not replenish supplies of natural resources it can prolong their use by slowing down the rate of consumption.

Technological advancements impact our use of resources, through changes in transportation, energyproduction and agriculture.• Transportation – Trends in

auto research and manufacturing towards cars that are powered by sources other than petroleum. (Examples: electric, biofuels, solar…)

• Energy Production – A long term goal is to become less dependent on fossil fuels for energy production by using alternative energy sources. (Examples: wind, solar, nuclear power…)

• Agriculture – Using technology to increase the efficiency and production of crops and livestock.

(Examples: genetically modified organisms, more efficient farming machinery, disease, drought, and pest resistant plants.)

Natural Resources in Agriculture – The use of natural resources in agriculture is essential.

Efficient and sustainable use of these resources is an important goal of agricultural

research.

Agriculture and the Local Environment – Agriculture is directly affected by climate and

the local environment.

• Geography

• Climate