Managing our Natural Resources: The Balancing Act
Natural Resources Around The World
MINDS ON
We humans have become dependent on a number of natural resources to live the life we are accustomed to. From the moment we get up in the morning to the time we go to sleep, our days are filled with actions that use natural resources. Since we use resources continuously, it’s important that we understand the impact human resource consumption is having on the natural world.
Think, Wonder, Feel
Complete the following interactive and save your work to your Portfolio.
ThinkWonderFeel
ACTION
Natural resources are raw materials that come from the Earth that humans have deemed as valuable and have grown to depend on for their way of life. We modify these raw materials to make them useful to us and our needs. Examples can include water, vegetation, animals, fossil fuels and minerals. They are all natural and exist in nature, however humans have tapped into their supply to survive and create the quality of life which exists today. Globally, natural resources play a key role in maintaining strong economic growth rates for countries, and also in promoting international trade between countries.
Classification of Natural Resources
Click on each type of resource to learn more.
RenewNonRenewDef
What are the alternatives?
We have come to rely on many of our non-renewable resources as our conventional choices, but alternatives do exist. Take for example sugarcane; it is a fast growing crop which can be turned into ethanol. Ethanol can be used to fuel automobiles and in some countries such as Brazil, this is already happening. Another example is palm oil; it can be used to create biodiesel.
Alternative Renewable Resources
Using the Internet as a tool, do some research and find an alternative renewable resource that you think could replace a conventional non-renewable resource in your lifetime. Include a description of the alternative.
What conventional resource use can it replace? Explain why you think it’s a good choice and should be used. Be sure to include a photo.
Save it to your Portfolio.
Oil and Gas Reserves
Click on the map below, and take some time to explore this interactive map of oil and gas reserves around the world. Be sure to look at the map with various base layers and overlays. What patterns and trends do you notice about global gas and oil deposits?
Choose one area of the map that has rich reserves to focus on and consider ONE of the following questions:
How might a decline in availability of the oil/gas in that region affect the region?
OR
What might happen to the region if people started using alternative sources other than oil/gas?
As you answer your chosen question you will need to do some additional research, keeping the following perspectives in mind:
- Social/Cultural - health, living conditions, traditional practices, income, etc.
- Political - government, laws, military, sovereignty, international relations, etc.
- Economic - taxes, trade, business, economic growth, tourism, employment, etc.
- Environmental - climate, wildlife, ecological health, pollution, etc.
Are all natural resources equally important?
We know that natural resources are raw materials from the Earth that humans deem to be valuable, but what criteria is used to rank this value?
Criteria for Ranking Natural Resources
What criteria would you use when ranking the importance of a natural resource to humans? You may wish to consider the social/cultural, political, economic, and environmental implications of your resource when creating criteria for ranking its importance to humans.
Create three criteria that you will use to rank your top three most important natural resources to humans.
Explain the significance of your criteria and ranking order.
Learning Goals and Success Criteria
Learning Skills and Work Habits