Chapter 1: Natural Resources and Their Use

A renewable resource becomes non-renewable when humans use it faster than Nature can restore or regenerate it. For example, if forests are cut down faster than they can grow back, or if groundwater is pumped out faster than rainfall can replenish it, these resources effectively become non-renewable.

Actions to prevent this:

• Regulate extraction rates: Harvest timber, fish, and groundwater only at rates that allow natural replenishment.
• Traditional practices: Revive practices like seasonal fishing bans, crop rotation, water harvesting, and use of natural fertilisers that support Nature's regenerative cycles.
• Policy and governance: Enforce laws against over-exploitation and incentivise sustainable alternatives, such as organic farming in Sikkim.
• Awareness and behaviour change: Reduce wasteful consumption of water, energy, and other resources in daily life.

Five ecosystem functions that serve humans are:

1. Oxygen production – Trees and plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which all living beings need to breathe.
2. Water filtration – Forests and wetlands naturally filter and purify water, providing clean water for communities.
3. Soil enrichment – Decomposers like bacteria, fungi, and earthworms break down dead matter and enrich the soil, making it fertile for farming.
4. Prevention of soil erosion – Tree roots and plant cover hold the soil together, preventing it from being washed away by rain or wind.
5. Pollination – Bees, butterflies, and other insects pollinate crops, enabling food production.

Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished or regenerated over time through Nature's natural cycles, as long as they are not over-exploited. Examples include solar energy, wind energy, river water, forests, and fish populations.

Non-renewable resources, on the other hand, take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished at the rate at which humans use them. Examples include coal, petroleum, and minerals like iron and gold.

Key difference: Renewable resources can last indefinitely if managed wisely, while non-renewable resources will eventually run out.

What people can do to protect renewable resources:

Example 1 – Forests: Avoid cutting trees faster than they can grow back. Practice afforestation (planting trees), and allow forests time to regenerate. Communities can follow traditional practices like protecting sacred groves.

Example 2 – Groundwater: Use water harvesting techniques to collect rainwater and replenish the water table. Avoid wasteful irrigation; use drip irrigation instead. Revive traditional ponds and tanks as done in many parts of India.

Many cultural practices in Indian homes and neighbourhoods reflect deep respect for natural resources:

• Tulasī puja (worship of the Tulasī plant): Keeping and worshipping the Tulasī plant reflects reverence for plants and Nature. It also has medicinal value.
• Not wasting food or water: Many families follow the practice of serving only as much as they can eat, and reusing water (e.g., water used to wash vegetables is used to water plants).
• Using cow dung as fertiliser and fuel: Traditional households use cow dung (gobar) as a natural fertiliser and as fuel (upale/dung cakes), reducing dependence on chemical inputs and fossil fuels.
• Fasting and seasonal eating: Eating seasonal and locally grown foods reduces the burden on long-distance transport and respects natural growing cycles.
• Sacred groves (Dev vans): Many communities protect certain forests as sacred, preventing their cutting — an effective way of conserving biodiversity.

These practices show that sustainable living is deeply embedded in Indian culture.

When producing goods for current use, we must consider the following:

1. Sustainability of raw materials: Use renewable or responsibly sourced materials so that future generations are not deprived.
2. Pollution and waste: Production processes should minimise air, water, and soil pollution. Industrial waste should be treated before being released into the environment.
3. Energy efficiency: Prefer renewable energy sources (solar, wind) over fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change.
4. Fair distribution of benefits and costs: Those living near resource extraction sites or factories often bear the environmental costs. Fairness demands that they also receive adequate benefits and are not displaced without proper rehabilitation.
5. Long-term thinking: Short-term economic gains should not come at the cost of long-term ecological damage, as seen in the case of Punjab's groundwater crisis.

In short, production should balance economic needs with ecological responsibility and social fairness.