Chapter 1 — Natural Resources and Their Use

Natural resources are materials and substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans. An element of Nature becomes a resource when humans use it for sustenance or create new things from it for consumption—for example, trees become a resource when their wood is converted into furniture.

For an entity to be called a resource it must be technologically accessible, its exploitation must be economically feasible, and it must be culturally acceptable. For example, petroleum deep under the ocean may not qualify if the technology to extract it is unavailable or the cost is too high.

Resources essential for life (air, water, and food obtained from soil), resources for materials (wood, marble, coal, gold, etc.), and resources for energy (coal, water, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight, wind, etc.).

Renewable resources—solar energy, wind energy, energy from flowing water, and timber from forests—can regenerate over time if managed sustainably. Non-renewable resources such as coal, petroleum, iron, copper, and gold are formed over long periods and cannot be replenished at the rate we use them.

It has been estimated that India's coal reserves may last another 50 years, even as demand for electricity continues to increase with population growth and development.

It is the phenomenon where regions or countries rich in natural resources can experience slower economic growth because they are unable to develop industries that convert resources into higher-value products. India has generally avoided this curse by investing in the development of such industries.

In the 1960s, Punjab's farmers shifted to high-yielding varieties of wheat and paddy that needed more water than traditional seeds. The supply of free power led to over-pumping of groundwater. Almost 80% of Punjab's area is now classified as 'over-exploited', with groundwater inaccessible to depths of about 30 metres, and chemicals from pesticides and fertilisers have dissolved in the groundwater causing health hazards.

In 2016, Sikkim became a 100% organic state with all its farmland certified organic. Local biodiversity flourished with beneficial insects and birds returning, tourism increased, and farmers' incomes grew by 20% on average.

India and France launched the International Alliance for Solar Energy (IASE) in 2015, a coalition of sunshine-rich countries committed to harnessing solar power. India has helped channel billions of dollars into solar projects across developing nations, and the Bhadla Solar Park is cited as a symbol of India's solar ambitions.

Vrikshayurveda is an ancient Indian botanical science focusing on the study and care of plants and trees. It was formalised in texts such as Surapala's Vrikshayurveda around the 10th century CE. It includes elaborate recommendations on soil-specific plant selection, seed collection and preservation, irrigation techniques, natural pest management, crop rotation, and mixed cropping to maintain soil health.

When Nature's inherent processes benefit humans, they are called ecosystem services. For example, a forest naturally filters water, prevents soil erosion, and provides habitat for animals (ecosystem functions); when humans receive clean water, protected farmland, and pollinated crops because of that forest, they are receiving ecosystem services.

A mature tree produces about 275 litres of oxygen per day (varying slightly by tree type). A human being needs about 350 litres of oxygen every day, though this can change based on activity, height, and weight.

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