WHAT ARE

RENEWABLE RESOURCES?

Renewable resources are resources that will grow back or reproduce themselves if they are managed properly. Even if we use some now, they will still be available for our use later as long as we do not overuse them. We use renewable resources to meet our wants and needs for food, medicine, shelter, and material things such as clothes and furniture.

Some examples of renewable resources are soil to produce agricultural crops, fish from the oceans for food, and trees cut from forests to produce firewood and material goods.

SOIL, AGRICULTURE, AND FOODIn North America, if you ask someone where their food comes from, most people would probably answer “from the store.” Obviously, this is true in the simplest sense. However, most of the food that all 7 billion of us on the planet eat is from the soil. Without soil, farmers would not be able to grow crops (Figure 6.1) or raise livestock. Without soil, trees would not grow. Without soil, all life on Earth would be affected.

renewable resource a resource that can regrow or reproduce as long as it is not overused

FIGURE 6.1 Soil is needed to produce agricultural crops, such as this one in Mexico.

In what other ways does soil affect my life?

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Soil is considered a renewable resource because it is able to renew itself. Soil’s ability to renew itself is known as soil health. The health of soil affects the types of crops that can be grown. The type of soil also influences which crops are grown. There are different types of soils around the world that can grow a wide variety of crops. This affects what people eat.

FISHFish populations reproduce themselves and are considered a renewable resource. Fish are a valuable source of food for more than 1 billion people. They provide an important source of protein for many people’s diets. Fish are also used as a source of food for pets and livestock. The demand for fish is increasing around the world as people in many developed countries have begun to replace red meats with fish in their diets. Many researchers have suggested that eating fish and fish oils provides health benefits.

FORESTSForests are considered a renewable resource because they can regrow (Figure 6.2). Seeds fall or are planted, rain falls, the Sun shines, and in 30 years or so, a fully grown tree can be chopped down, used for firewood, processed for lumber, or manufactured into material goods. It can also be left alone to provide a home to a wide variety of species.

Forests are important to local ecosystems. Trees store water that can be released into the atmosphere, keeping moisture in the air, which is an important part of the water cycle. The roots of trees hold the soil together, stopping erosion, so more trees and other plant life can grow. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat from the Sun and contribute to global warming. Trees also produce oxygen, which all life needs to breathe.

FIGURE 6.2 A forest of pines regrowing in Switzerland

I wonder how long it took for these trees to grow?

How do you think soil health

affects animals that live in an area?

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FOCUS ON

Kenya is a country in Africa with a population of

45 million. The capital city is Nairobi. It has a

population of 3 million. The climate of Kenya varies

from tropical to temperate throughout the year.

Tourism is the main economic activity in Kenya, and

many people visit to go on safaris. The government

wants to develop more industry, but there is no money

for large-scale industrial development.

Many small farming communities are located in the

northern part of Kenya. This area has only a thin, dry

layer of soil for farmland. There are some grassy areas for

animals to graze. The region gets little rainfall. In a good

year, people are able to grow food for their families.

Drought years result in food shortages and hunger.

People have begun to remove more and more trees.

They hope that the soil beneath the trees will be able

to grow more food. But over time, the soil dries and

cracks and blows away with the wind. The grasses for

grazing are drying up. Conflict can occur among people

as their need for food grows. Over time, the forests are

disappearing and the people still have little to eat.

Some organizations are working to help farmers by

improving their farming practices and replanting trees.

The Drylands Natural Resources Center works with the

community to replant drought-resistant tree saplings.

Knowledge about where to plant trees and how to take

care of them has resulted in the creation of a tree farm.

The tree farm can provide income to further build this

small business. The economic situation of the people has

improved and the forests are being regenerated. Other

organizations have assisted with introducing drought-

resistant crops for increasing the food supply.

This stage in the inquiry process happens after

research questions have been asked, evidence

gathered, and data organized. You now have

to look critically at your evidence and draw

conclusions based on your findings. Evaluate

and draw conclusions by asking yourself the

following questions:

EVALUATING EVIDENCE• Is the information related to my research

questions? Delete any material that does not fit

this criterion.

• Is the information current? Be critical of the

timeliness of your material.

• Do I have enough evidence to answer my

question? If necessary, brainstorm ideas on

where to find more recent information.

EVALUATE AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS

DRAWING CONCLUSIONS• How does the evidence fit together? Make sure

that your arguments follow a logical order.

• What judgment(s) or conclusion(s) can I make

based on this information?

• Does my conclusion answer my research

question? Does the evidence support my

conclusion?

The inquiry process can help you better

understand geography. Considering how a

problem can be solved is another important key to

geographic learning.

TRY ITRead the text below on deforestation in Kenya

and consider the following research questions:

Why have trees been removed in Kenya? What

are some impacts of their removal? Evaluate the

information presented and then write a conclusion

to answer the questions. Make sure you present

your ideas in a logical order.

Deforestation in Kenya

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OVERUSE OF RENEWABLE RESOURCESEarth is home to a huge variety of species. There are an estimated 8.7 million known species on the planet. However, many species have vanished. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that at least 10 000 species become extinct every year. And we know why. We have removed their habitats and overharvested plants and animals for food, medicine, and material wants (Figure 6.3). We have also overharvested plants and animals to make money. We have focused more on the economic benefits and less on the environmental impacts.

The WWF says that it takes Earth 12 months to produce what we use in 9 months. This means we are using resources faster than Earth can produce them. This is an important fact because our health and our livelihoods depend on the health of the planet. The good news is that we can change the way we use Earth’s resources in order to sustain the balance of life on Earth.

1. GATHER AND ORGANIZE Create a flow chart to show

how we use a renewable resource. Use images

to illustrate your ideas. In your flow chart, you

should include

• your chosen renewable resource in its

natural state

• the products we make from your chosen

resource

• what happens to these products when we are

done with them

2. GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE Renewable resources

can regrow or reproduce over time. Do you think

this means that we can use as much as we want,

whenever we want? Explain your thinking.

CHECK-IN

FIGURE 6.3 A logger cuts down a mahogany tree in a rainforest in Costa Rica. Mahogany wood is valued for its beauty and strength. In some countries, mahogany is an endangered species due to overharvesting.

I wonder how mahogany is valuable to the environment?

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