Natural Resources

Natura Resources are raw materials or substances occurring in nature that can be used for economic gain or to support life.

Types:

1. Renewable Resources: Replenish naturally within a human timescale (e.g., sunlight, wind, water, forests).
2. Non-Renewable Resources: Finite and depleted with use (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals).

Factors Affecting the Use of Natural Resources

1. Population Growth: Increased demand for food, water, and energy.
2. Technological Advancements: Enables access to previously inaccessible resources but may also accelerate depletion.
3. Economic Development: Industrialization increases resource extraction and consumption.
4. Political and Legal Frameworks: Regulations and policies influence sustainable resource use.
5. Cultural Values: Societies with high-consumption lifestyles exert more pressure on resources.

Natural Capital and Natural Income

• Natural Capital:
  • The world’s stock of natural resources that provide ecosystem services and economic benefits (e.g., forests, oceans, clean air).
• Natural Income:
  • The annual yield of natural capital, such as timber from forests or fish from oceans.

Value of natural capital

Natural capital has aesthetic, cultural, economic, environmental, health, intrinsic, social, spiritual and technological value. The value of natural capital is dynamic in that it can change over time.

Case study - Cork

The value of cork has changed continuously. Historically, cork was highly valued for its natural properties - Lightweight, buoyant, insulating, elastic, and water-resistant. It was used in bottle stoppers, insulation, footwear, and fishing equipment. The cork industry thrived, particularly in countries like Portugal, Spain, and Italy, where cork oak forests are prevalent. Due to the invention of alternatives like plastic and rubber, cork’s value started declining. However, due to sustainability trends value for cork has increased in recent years. Cork is now seen as an eco-friendly material due to its renewable and biodegradable nature. Consumers and industries are shifting back to cork as a sustainable alternative to plastics.

Intervention Strategies for Sustainable Use of Natural Capital

Natural capital needs to be used and managed sustainably. The long-term well-being of ecosystems and humans depends on resources not being used more rapidly than they can be regenerated, and on waste products not being released more rapidly than they can be transformed.

• Regulation and Legislation:
  • Enforcing quotas, bans on over-extraction, and pollution controls.
• Technology and Innovation:
  • Developing resource-efficient technologies (e.g., water recycling, renewable energy).
• Market-Based Approaches:
  • Carbon pricing and incentivizing sustainable practices.
• Education and Awareness:
  • Promoting conservation and sustainable lifestyles.
• Restoration Projects:
  • Reforestation, wetland recovery, and soil conservation programs.

Resource security

Resource security refers to the availability, accessibility, and sustainability of natural resources (e.g., water, energy, minerals, and food) required to support human well-being, economic development, and ecological health. Natural resources insecurity hinders socio-economic development and can lead to environmental degradation and geopolitical tensions and conflicts.

Case study: The Aral Sea

The Aral Sea conflict is a good example of resource insecurity leading to geopolitical tension and conflicts. The two main rivers feeding the Aral Sea flow through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan downstream to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are reliant on the river for hydropower while the other three are reliant on it for irrigation use. The upstream countries have the incentive to release the water during winter when they need more energy, however, the downstream countries need the water during summer. Under the USSR, a deal was created that ensured upstream countries released water in the summer in exchange for gas deliveries by downstream countries. After the collapse of the USSR, the deal broke. The upstream countries stopped the water and downstream countries increased the prices of gas. In 1998, a water-energy exchange was agreed upon between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with Kyrgyzstan. However, conflict arose when these obligations were not met. When Kazakhstan failed to meet the energy requirements of the agreement, Kyrgyzstan cut water flows from its reservoir as a result. In 1999, Uzbekistan deployed 130,000 troops on the Kyrgyz border to guard the reservoirs which were threatened by Taliban and Islamist militants in the area. This conflict continues.

Strategies for Resource Security

• Lowering Demand:
  • Encouraging energy efficiency and waste reduction.
  • Promoting sustainable consumption patterns.
• Resource Diversification:
  • Investing in renewable energy and alternative materials.
• Circular Economy:
  • Reusing and recycling to reduce the need for raw materials.