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Natural Resources and Their Use

NCERT Class 8 · Social Science Based on NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter explains what natural resources are, how they are categorised, and why their distribution and use matter. It introduces the concepts of renewable and non-renewable resources, the 'natural resource curse', and the importance of responsible stewardship. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that our relationship with nature must be one of respect and sustainable use, ensuring resources are available for future generations.
Key Concepts (13)
Natural Resources
Materials and substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans.
e.g. Trees are part of the environment; when we cut them and convert their wood into furniture, we see the trees as a resource.
Regenerative Economy
An economy that operates in harmony with nature, repurposing used resources, minimizing waste, and replenishing depleted resources.
e.g. Using cow dung and other natural fertilisers instead of chemical ones to keep soil healthy.
Restoration
The process of returning something to its original healthy state if it has been degraded or damaged.
e.g. A cut on your skin will normally heal; a forest recovers after a wildfire.
Regeneration
Nature's ability to create new life and the conditions for thriving, going beyond restoration.
e.g. Planting the types of trees that were originally growing there restores the ecosystem, enabling life to return.
Renewable Resources
Resources that can be replenished over time through natural processes, as long as the natural rhythm of restoration and regeneration is not disturbed.
e.g. Solar energy, wind energy, energy from flowing water, timber from forests.
Non-renewable Resources
Resources that are created over long periods and cannot be replenished at the rate we use them.
e.g. Fossil fuels (coal and petroleum), and minerals and metals like iron, copper and gold.
Ecosystem Functions
Nature's inherent ways of working, such as trees naturally producing oxygen.
e.g. A forest naturally filters water, prevents soil erosion, and provides habitat for animals.
Ecosystem Services
The benefits humans receive from natural processes (ecosystem functions).
e.g. Clean water, protected farmland, and pollinated crops because of a forest.
Natural Resource Curse
A phenomenon where regions rich in natural resources experience slower economic growth and development, also called the 'paradox of plenty'.
e.g. Some regions with abundant oil or minerals remain poor because they cannot develop industries to convert resources into higher-value products.
Stewardship
The responsible and wise use of natural resources, acting as caretakers for the well-being of all, including future generations.
e.g. Using water carefully, switching to renewable energy, and avoiding over-fishing.
Biodiversity Loss
The decline in the variety of life on Earth.
e.g. The rapid decline in tuna fish population due to over-fishing.
Vrikshayurveda
An ancient Indian botanical science focusing on the study and care of plants and trees, with recommendations on soil types, seed collection, irrigation, and pest management.
e.g. It specifies pest management strategies through natural repellents and plants that should be grown together.
Lokasangraha
The idea from the Bhagavad Gita that everyone must transcend personal desires and act for the wellbeing of all.
e.g. Using resources responsibly so that everyone, not just the rich, has access to clean water and air.
How It Works
How Nature becomes a Resource
  1. Nature exists independently of humans (e.g., trees, water, air).
  2. Humans use these elements for their sustenance or to create new things for consumption.
  3. For an entity to be called a resource, it must be technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable to exploit.
💡 Students often forget the three conditions (technologically accessible, economically feasible, culturally acceptable). All three are required.
Nature's Cycle of Restoration and Regeneration
  1. A tree falls in the forest.
  2. It decomposes with bacteria, fungi, and insects feeding on it.
  3. The tree becomes part of the soil, enriching it.
  4. New trees and plants grow from seeds.
  5. Eventually some will fall, and the cycle starts again.
💡 This cycle shows that in nature there is no waste. Students must understand that human actions (like pollution) can disturb this cycle.
How Renewable Resources Become Non-renewable
  1. A renewable resource (e.g., timber, groundwater) is used at a rate faster than nature can restore or regenerate it.
  2. The natural rhythm of restoration and regeneration is disturbed.
  3. The resource becomes depleted and effectively non-renewable in the short term.
💡 The key condition: 'as long as we manage them in a sustainable manner.' Overexploitation is the main cause.
The Natural Resource Curse
  1. A region has abundant natural resources.
  2. The economy fails to develop industries that convert the resources into products of higher value.
  3. The region experiences slower economic growth and development despite its wealth.
💡 India has generally avoided this curse by investing in industries. Students often think 'curse' means resources are bad — it means poor management leads to poor outcomes.
Overexploitation of Groundwater in Punjab (Caselet)
  1. In the 1960s, farmers shifted to high-yielding varieties of wheat and paddy that required more water.
  2. Farmers began to extract groundwater to meet this need.
  3. Free power led to over-pumping of groundwater.
  4. Chemical pesticides and fertilisers were used extensively.
  5. Groundwater level dropped to inaccessible depths (about 30 metres in many areas).
  6. Chemicals from pesticides and fertilisers dissolved in groundwater, causing health hazards.
  7. Almost 80% of Punjab's area is now classified as 'over-exploited'.
💡 The Green Revolution ensured short-term food security but created long-term sustainability problems. Students must link cause (high-yield varieties + free power) and effect (groundwater depletion + health hazards).
Transition to Organic Farming in Sikkim (Caselet)
  1. Pema's family faced declining yields and mounting debts from expensive chemical inputs.
  2. The state government announced a policy to promote organic farming.
  3. The family switched to compost, natural pest repellents (neem, garlic), and multiple crops.
  4. Initially yields dropped as soil recovered from years of chemical use.
  5. After about five years, the farm thrived.
  6. In 2016, Sikkim became a 100% organic state.
  7. Local biodiversity flourished, tourism increased, and farmers' incomes grew by 20% on average.
💡 The transition was not easy — yields dropped initially. Students must note that organic farming requires patience and time for soil recovery.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing 'Restoration' with 'Regeneration'
✗ Restoration and regeneration mean the same thing — nature healing itself.
→ Restoration is returning something to its original healthy state (e.g., healing a cut). Regeneration goes beyond — it creates new life and conditions for thriving (e.g., planting trees to bring back an entire ecosystem).
✓ Restoration is returning something to its original healthy state, while regeneration is nature's ability to create new life and conditions for thriving.
⚠ Thinking All Natural Resources Are Renewable
✗ All natural resources like coal and petroleum are renewable because they come from nature.
→ Coal and petroleum are non-renewable because they are created over millions of years and cannot be replenished at the rate we use them.
✓ Non-renewable resources like coal and petroleum are created over long periods and cannot be replenished at the rate we use them.
⚠ Misunderstanding the 'Natural Resource Curse'
✗ The natural resource curse means that having natural resources is bad for a country.
→ The curse is not that resources are bad, but that poor management and lack of industrial development can prevent a resource-rich region from achieving economic prosperity.
✓ The natural resource curse means that regions rich in natural resources can experience slower economic growth if they fail to develop industries to convert resources into higher-value products.
⚠ Forgetting the Three Conditions for a Resource
✗ Anything found in nature is a natural resource.
→ For an entity to be called a resource, it must be technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable to exploit. Petroleum deep under the ocean is not a resource if we cannot access it.
✓ For an entity to be called a resource, it must be technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable to exploit.
⚠ Confusing 'Ecosystem Functions' with 'Ecosystem Services'
✗ Ecosystem functions and ecosystem services are the same thing.
→ Ecosystem functions are nature's inherent processes (e.g., trees producing oxygen). Ecosystem services are the benefits humans receive from those functions (e.g., clean air to breathe).
✓ Ecosystem functions are nature's inherent processes, while ecosystem services are the benefits humans receive from those processes.
Compare & Contrast
Ability to be replenished
Renewable Resources
Non-renewable Resources
Renewable resources can be replenished over time through natural processes if managed sustainably (e.g., solar energy, timber). Non-renewable resources are created over millions of years and cannot be replenished at the rate we use them (e.g., coal, petroleum).
Scope of recovery
Restoration
Regeneration
Restoration returns something to its original healthy state (e.g., a forest recovering after a wildfire). Regeneration goes beyond restoration by creating new life and conditions for thriving (e.g., planting trees to bring back an entire ecosystem).
Beneficiary
Ecosystem Functions
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem functions are nature's inherent processes that happen regardless of humans (e.g., trees producing oxygen). Ecosystem services are the benefits humans receive from those functions (e.g., clean air to breathe).
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer (3 marks), 1 Long Answer (5 marks)
Most asked: Definition and examples of renewable and non-renewable resources · Conditions for something to be called a resource · The natural resource curse and how India avoided it · Overexploitation of groundwater (Punjab caselet) · Sikkim organic farming caselet · Difference between restoration and regeneration
Don't skip: Explain the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources with examples (5 marks); Describe the overexploitation of groundwater in Punjab and its consequences (5 marks); What is the natural resource curse? How has India avoided it? (3 marks)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Natural resources are materials and substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans.
  2. For an entity to be called a resource, it must be technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable to exploit.
  3. Renewable resources can be replenished over time if managed sustainably; non-renewable resources cannot.
  4. Restoration returns something to its original healthy state; regeneration creates new life and conditions for thriving.
  5. Ecosystem functions are nature's inherent processes; ecosystem services are the benefits humans receive from them.
  6. The natural resource curse means resource-rich regions can experience slower growth if they fail to develop industries.
  7. India has generally avoided the resource curse by investing in industries to convert resources into higher-value products.
  8. Overexploitation of groundwater in Punjab was caused by high-yield crops, free power, and chemical fertilisers.
  9. Almost 80% of Punjab's area is classified as 'over-exploited' for groundwater.
  10. Sikkim became a 100% organic state in 2016, improving biodiversity and farmers' incomes.
  11. Traditional practices like water harvesting and natural fertilisers help maintain nature's cycles.
  12. Stewardship means using natural resources responsibly for the well-being of all, including future generations.
  13. The International Solar Alliance, launched by India and France, promotes solar energy in sunshine-rich countries.
  14. Lokasangraha from the Bhagavad Gita means acting for the wellbeing of all, not just personal desires.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. Which of the following is NOT a condition for Nature to be considered a resource?

  • A. Technologically accessible
  • B. Culturally acceptable
  • C. Historically discovered ✓
  • D. Economically feasible

Answer: C — A resource must be technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable; historical discovery is not a defining condition.

Q2. Which category includes air, water, and soil?

  • A. Resources for materials
  • B. Resources for energy
  • C. Resources essential for life ✓
  • D. Non-renewable resources

Answer: C — Air to breathe, water to drink, and soil for food are fundamental to human survival and are categorized as resources essential for life.

Q3. What does 'restoration' mean in the context of Nature's processes?

  • A. Creating new resources from scratch
  • B. Returning something to its original healthy state after degradation ✓
  • C. Preventing all human use of resources
  • D. Increasing the speed of resource extraction

Answer: B — Restoration is Nature's ability to heal and return to its original condition, like a forest recovering after a wildfire or a cut on skin healing.

Q4. Which of the following is a renewable resource?

  • A. Coal
  • B. Petroleum
  • C. Wind energy ✓
  • D. Iron ore

Answer: C — Wind energy is renewable because wind continuously regenerates; coal, petroleum, and iron ore are non-renewable and take millions of years to form.

Q5. According to the chapter, why are Himalayan glaciers melting at an accelerated rate?

  • A. Natural seasonal variation in temperature
  • B. Rising temperatures due to fossil fuel industrialisation and forest cutting ✓
  • C. Increased water extraction by dams
  • D. Over-fishing in mountain streams

Answer: B — The chapter states that fossil fuel-driven industrialisation and forest clearing have disrupted Nature's cycles, causing rising temperatures and faster glacier melt than precipitation can replace.

Q6. In your region, a river has become polluted with industrial waste that cannot decompose. Which principle of Nature is being violated?

  • A. Nature's principle of continuous extraction
  • B. Nature's principle of restoration and regeneration with no waste ✓
  • C. Nature's principle of rapid resource depletion
  • D. Nature's principle of human dominance over ecosystems

Answer: B — Nature works in cycles where there is no waste and decomposition enriches soil; non-biodegradable industrial waste breaks this cycle and disrupts restoration.

Q7. How many litres of oxygen does a mature tree produce per day, and what is the daily requirement for a human?

  • A. Tree: 350 litres, Human: 275 litres
  • B. Tree: 275 litres, Human: 350 litres ✓
  • C. Tree: 200 litres, Human: 400 litres
  • D. Tree: 300 litres, Human: 300 litres

Answer: B — The chapter states a mature tree produces about 275 litres of oxygen daily, while a human needs about 350 litres daily, showing the importance of multiple trees.

Q8. A fishing community traditionally stops catching fish during spawning season. What is the purpose of this practice in the context of natural resources?

  • A. To increase the price of fish in the market
  • B. To maintain the fish population and ensure sustainability of the resource ✓
  • C. To reduce the work of fishermen during certain months
  • D. To follow religious customs without any ecological benefit

Answer: B — This traditional practice regulates resource use to allow fish populations to regenerate, maintaining sustainability—though commercialisation has disrupted such practices, leading to over-fishing.

Q9. Why is the decline of tuna populations concerning for ocean ecosystems according to the chapter?

  • A. Tuna are more valuable to humans than other fish
  • B. Tuna consume smaller fish and shrimps, maintaining ocean ecosystem balance ✓
  • C. Tuna migration patterns affect global climate
  • D. Tuna farming is more expensive than other aquaculture

Answer: B — The chapter explains that tuna are important because they keep the ocean ecosystem in balance by consuming smaller fish and shrimps; their decline disrupts this balance.

Q10. What does the chapter suggest is necessary for renewable resources like timber from forests to remain renewable?

  • A. Cutting should be done only by government agencies
  • B. The natural rhythm of restoration and regeneration must not be disturbed ✓
  • C. All forests should be declared protected areas with no human use
  • D. Resources should be extracted as quickly as possible for economic growth

Answer: B — The chapter emphasizes that for renewable resources to remain renewable, harvest rates must match the forest's natural regeneration rate; otherwise, resources become depleted.

Flashcards

Define natural resources in your own words.

Materials and substances from Nature that are valuable to humans, technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable to use.

Give three examples of resources essential for life.

Air (breathe), water (drink), and soil/food (sustenance).

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources?

Renewable resources can be replenished through Nature's restoration and regeneration cycles; non-renewable resources take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced at the rate we use them.

Name three renewable resources found in India.

Solar energy (abundant sunshine), river water (from rain and glaciers), and timber from forests.

Give two examples of non-renewable resources.

Coal and petroleum are fossil fuels; iron, copper, and gold are mineral examples.

What is ecosystem restoration?

Restoration is the process of returning Nature to its original healthy state after degradation, like planting native trees to recover lost forest ecosystems.

How long are India's coal reserves estimated to last?

About 50 years, which is why judicious use and shift to renewable energy sources are essential.

Name one traditional practice that regulates resource use sustainably.

Communities historically avoided fishing during spawning season to maintain fish populations and ecosystem balance.

What is an ecosystem service?

A natural process (ecosystem function) that benefits humans, like a forest filtering water, preventing soil erosion, and providing habitat for animals.

State one human action that disturbs Nature's restoration cycle.

Industrial waste disposal into rivers creates non-biodegradable pollutants that poison water and prevent life from thriving.

Important Board Questions

What is a natural resource? State one condition that must be met for Nature to be called a resource. [1 mark]

Define resource as something from Nature used by humans. Include one of: technologically accessible, economically feasible, or culturally acceptable.

Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources. Give one example of each type found in India. [2 marks]

Renewable = can regenerate naturally (solar, water, timber); Non-renewable = finite, formed over millions of years (coal, petroleum). Mention India's context.

Explain why over-fishing of tuna is a concern for ocean ecosystems. What traditional practice helped prevent this problem? [3 marks]

Tuna maintain ecosystem balance by controlling smaller species. Traditional communities restricted fishing during spawning season to allow population regeneration before commercialisation disrupted this.

How have human actions disrupted Nature's restoration and regeneration cycles? Discuss the case of Himalayan glaciers and suggest what needs to be done to restore balance. [5 marks]

Fossil fuel industrialisation and forest cutting → rising temperatures → glaciers melt faster than precipitation replaces them → water security threatened. Solution: shift to renewable energy, reforest, regulate extraction rates to match Nature's regeneration rhythm.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Natural Resources and Their Use

Q1. Assertion (A):

Water from rivers is a renewable natural resource.

Reason (R):

Rivers are naturally replenished by rain and melting glaciers, allowing them to regenerate if natural cycles are not disturbed.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why water is renewable. The continuous replenishment by natural processes is exactly what makes it renewable.

Q2. Assertion (A):

All elements of nature automatically become natural resources for human use.

Reason (R):

For something to be a natural resource, it must be technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — The assertion is false because not all elements of nature become resources—some may be inaccessible or unacceptable. The reason is true but supports why the assertion is wrong. Therefore, both are false.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Regeneration goes beyond restoration in terms of what nature can achieve.

Reason (R):

Restoration only returns something to its original state, while regeneration creates new life and conditions for thriving.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true, and the reason correctly explains the difference between the two concepts, supporting the assertion. The chapter clearly distinguishes these two processes.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Natural Resources and Their Use

Case Study:

A coastal fishing village in Kerala has traditionally harvested fish from nearby mangrove forests and shallow waters. The mangroves provide shelter for fish to breed and grow. Recently, a corporation proposed clearing the mangroves to build a shrimp farm, claiming it would provide more economic returns. The village elders are concerned about losing their traditional fishing grounds and disrupting the ecosystem. Government officials must decide whether the mangroves should be classified as natural resources and how they should be used, considering technological accessibility, economic feasibility, and cultural values.

Q1. According to the chapter's framework, what is the main concern with clearing mangroves for shrimp farming?

  • A. The mangroves are not technologically accessible for farming
  • B. The mangrove ecosystem's natural cycle and regeneration would be disturbed, affecting the renewable resource base ✓
  • C. Shrimp farming is always more expensive than traditional fishing
  • D. The government cannot regulate industrial activities in coastal areas

Answer: B

Q2. How does the chapter's concept of restoration and regeneration apply to this situation?

  • A. The corporation could cut mangroves and then replant the same types to restore the ecosystem
  • B. Once mangroves are cleared for farming, they can never be regenerated
  • C. Mangroves naturally restore themselves without any human intervention
  • D. The village elders' traditional knowledge represents understanding of the ecosystem's natural cycles ✓

Answer: D

Q3. Which criterion for natural resource classification is primarily at stake in the village elders' concerns?

  • A. Technological accessibility of the mangroves
  • B. Economic feasibility of traditional fishing
  • C. Cultural acceptability of destroying traditional fishing grounds ✓
  • D. The global market price of fish and shrimp

Answer: C

Q4. What would be a sustainable solution that aligns with the chapter's emphasis on regenerative economy?

  • A. Allow unrestricted shrimp farming to maximize profits
  • B. Prohibit all fishing and farming activities in the area
  • C. Preserve mangroves while supporting sustainable fishing and eco-tourism that maintains ecosystem balance ✓
  • D. Import all seafood from other countries instead of local harvesting

Answer: C

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