Natural resources are materials and sources of energy that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. They are part of humanitys natural heritage or protected in nature reserves. Natural resources can be classified in different ways, but they generally include:
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Renewable resources: These are natural resources that can be replenished at about the same rate at which they are used. Examples include trees, water, sun, and wind.
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Nonrenewable resources: These are natural resources that cannot be replenished at the same rate at which they are used. Examples include oil, coal, natural gas, metals, stone, and sand.
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Living resources: These are natural resources that are living, such as animals, birds, fish, and plants.
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Nonliving resources: These are natural resources that are nonliving, such as soil, stone, oil, and gases.
Natural resources are used to make food, fuel, and raw materials for the production of goods. All of the food that people eat comes from plants or animals, and natural resources such as coal, natural gas, and oil provide heat, light, and power. Natural resources also provide the raw materials for making products that people use every day, from toothbrushes and lunch boxes to clothes, cars, televisions, computers, and refrigerators. The practice of natural resource management considers the ways in which societies manage the supply of or access to the natural resources upon which they rely for their survival and development.
