Natural Resource Management An In Depth Overview

Natural resource management is the method by which communities manage the supply and access to the natural resources available. It is understood that natural resources are available for survival and development. Human beings are the most dependent on natural resources.

Natural resources refer to the material and substances available naturally and can be exploited for commercial uses. Conservation is vital for the sustainable management of natural resources to ensure ongoing access and steady provision. Uninterrupted availability of resources is central to the organization of civilizations. Let us learn more about natural resource management in this section.

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A natural resource is one that is offered by nature without any human involvement. The soil, minerals, forests, water, etc. are examples of a county’s natural resources. Forests are natural resources as it is renewable, whereas oil is not a renewable natural resource. Some definitions state that only those natural resources that can renew themselves and whose exploitation depends on their regenerative capacities necessitate management.

Let us study natural resource management and why it is so essential. Natural Resources Management and Conservation Natural Resource Management (NRM) is about the continued use of primary natural resources, such as land, water, air, minerals, forests, fisheries, and wild flora and fauna. All these resources together provide the ecosystem service that supplies better quality to human life. Conservation of resources is the regulated use of natural resources to provide optimum benefits to present generations while ensuring the capacity to meet the needs of future generations. Conservation involves both the protection and the rational use of natural resources. For a long time, the conservation of natural resources has been organized by way of many schemes to varying degrees.  The programs also involve the dedication and support of government and semi-government authorities.

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Principles of NRM 

NRM includes eight principles of legitimacy, transparency, accountability, involvement, fairness, integration, capability, and adaptability – these features provide normative guidance for the establishment of multilevel NRM governance.  The principles of NRM include the following practical methods:

1. Learn from experiences.

2. Establish and maintain an efficient project management process.

3. Ensure local participation in decision–making.

4. Build the project in the local context.

5. Determine communication and knowledge-sharing strategy

6. Develop a risk strategy

7. Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation

8. Consider reusing and recycling for future uses.

9. Follow the principle of bio-climatic and adaptable designs.

Parts of NRM 

Parts of NRM include the following studies: Renewable Resources: 

Forest Resources - Overuse and exploitation, deforestation, timber, mining, dams, and their effects on forests and tribal people.

Water Resources - Use and overutilization of surface and groundwater, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams- benefits, and problems. Mineral Resources - use and exploitation, environmental effects of mining, and using minerals.  

Food Resources - World food problems, changes in land-use by farming, grazing, effects of modern agriculture, use of pesticides, fertilizers, waterlogging, and salinity. 

Energy Resources - Increase in energy needs, renewable/non-renewable sources, and use of alternate energy sources.

Land Resources - Land, land degradation, human-induced landslides, soil erosion, and desertification. 

Non-renewable resources include fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

Benefits of NRM 

Natural resources issues mostly relate to deforestation, degradation, land deterioration, water-related issues, land-use changes, problems of protected areas and biodiversity losses, and conflicts over natural resources. With an effective NRM policy in place, it is possible to address these issues.

The management and conservation of renewable natural resources means to achieve a balance between the demands of exploitation with respect for regenerative capacities. For example, the cutting of trees and subsequent plantations, reducing pollution and release of contaminants in water, and proper land use. 

The four pillars of sustainability involve human, social, economic, and environmental benefits. In all these, environmental sustainability aims to improve human welfare through the protection of natural capital. Here, natural capital refers to air, land, water, minerals, forests, etc.

NRM programs and initiatives are environmentally sustainable as they ensure that the needs of the current population are met without the risk of compromising the needs of the future generation. NRM gives due importance to achieve positive outcomes without doing any short-term or long-term harm to the environment and the natural and free resources available for utilization.

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Natural Resources -A Boon to Human Existence

Food, water, air, minerals are different kinds of resources that are useful to man. The value of a resource is dependent on its utility and other factors. Natural resources include food, fuel, and other raw materials that are also used for producing other goods. The food that we eat comes from plants and animals. Natural resources such as coal, natural gas, and oil help to produce heat, light, and power. 

We should conserve resources because many resources are scarce and it takes millions of years to produce these resources. Overuse of resources will exhaust them. Therefore, we must conserve resources. Careful use of resources and giving them time to renew is known as conservation of resources.

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Different Types of Resources

1. Natural resources.

2. Human resources.

3. Environmental resources.

4. Mineral resources.

5. Water resources.

6. Vegetation resources.

Natural resources are important for everyone's existence. They are also important for the development and growth of a country. Resources such as iron, copper, bauxite are used for making everyday use items, and water, soil, and salt are necessary for sustaining life. Therefore, it is our duty to protect and conserve natural resources.

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Types of Natural Resources

There are two types of natural resources: renewable and non-renewable resources.

Renewable Resources: Renewable resources are the resources that can be renewed again, for example, water, sunlight, air, wood, soil, are all renewable resources. Some resources are very scarce like plant life, freshwater animals, and fresh air. These resources are depleting very fast and hence it is our responsibility to use these resources very wisely so that our future generations can prosper.

Non-renewable resources: Natural resources that cannot be reproduced and are available in fixed amounts on earth are referred to as non-renewable resources. They mainly occur below the earth’s surface such as minerals, coal, and petroleum. All these resources have limited stock and these are very important and useful for living beings.

Uses of Different Resources

• Air is used for breathing

• The wind is used for producing wind energy

• Water is used for bathing, agriculture, and many other purposes

• Plants are useful to us as they give us fruits, vegetables, cotton, wood, etc. 

• Animals also give us milk, fur, and other dairy products

• Sunlight is useful for plants as it helps them to make food

• Oil is used as fuel for transportation and other purposes

• Minerals and metals are used for producing various things such as steel and jewellry.

• Coal is also used for various purposes such as running trains, etc.