Natural Resources and Their Utilisation

Status of modern man (Homo sapiens sapiens) in the animals world is far beyond reach for the other creatures of the planet. He has emerged as the most dominant animal of the biosphere today. But once he had also to complete for resources and had undergone struggle for survival like any other animals.
His surprising supremacy over the living world is attributed to a larger brain, skilled hands, power of abstract thinking, foresight and strong memory. He has developed that power of articulated speech and writing which ables him to communicate and pass his experiences over generations.

Passing through gradual developmental stages of evolution and food-gathering, hunting and fishing stages human civilization has finely evolved. Each stage has increased his power and ability to manipulate the environment. This changed the biosphere into a human-dominated environment called noosphere.

Natural Resources
Source of supply held in reserve is called resource including wealth, goods, raw materials etc. which can be used by organisms. Natural resources are components of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere. These include energy, air, water, soil, minerals, plants and animals. The nature of resources varies from society. Natural resources are classified in different ways.
1. On the basis of nature :

3. On the basis of boundaries :
(a) National.
Confined to national boundaries e.g. Lands, Minerals.
(b)Multinational.
Shared by more than one country e.g. rivers, migratory birds etc.
(c) International.
Shared by all inhabitants of the earth.
Resources like underground water, forests and wild life are renewable but can become non-renewable if not used properly.