Natural Resources: AHSEC Class 11 Environmental Education

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Get summay, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF, competency-based questions of chapter- 4/unit I, Natural Resources: AHSEC Class 11 Environmental Education, which is part of the present syllabus. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed. 

Summary

The world around us is filled with many resources that we get from nature. These are called natural resources. Things like land, water, air, minerals, and forests are all natural resources. Human life and progress depend on them. There are two main kinds of natural resources. The first kind is renewable resources. These are resources that do not run out or can be replaced over time. Examples include solar energy, forests, and wildlife. However, some renewable resources, like forests and groundwater, can be used up if we consume them too quickly. The second kind is non-renewable resources. These exist in limited amounts. Once we use them all, they are gone forever. Fossil fuels like coal and petroleum are examples of non-renewable resources.

Forests are a very valuable resource, covering about one-third of the world’s land. They provide us with useful things like timber, food, and medicine. Forests also perform important services for the planet. They produce the oxygen we need to breathe through photosynthesis. During this process, they absorb carbon dioxide, which helps reduce global warming. Forests are also home to countless animals, they prevent soil from washing away, and they help regulate the climate. In North East India, forests are being lost due to the timber industry, clearing land for farming, and building roads and industries.

Water is another essential resource, as no life can exist without it. Most of the Earth’s water is salty ocean water. Only a small amount is fresh water, and most of that is frozen in ice caps. A very tiny fraction is available for us to use from rivers, lakes, and the ground. North East India has plenty of fresh water from heavy rainfall and large rivers like the Brahmaputra. The region also has many wetlands, including Loktak Lake in Manipur, which is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India. Land is also a finite resource that gives us food and other necessities. It takes hundreds of years for just one inch of soil to form. Soil can be damaged by erosion, which is the loss of the top layer, or by contamination from industrial waste and chemicals.

Minerals are naturally occurring substances like iron, coal, and limestone. We use them to build things, generate energy, and make products. Minerals can be metallic, like iron ore, or non-metallic, like diamond. Some are used to generate energy, such as coal and uranium. The North Eastern region of India is rich in minerals. Assam is known for petroleum and natural gas, while Meghalaya has uranium and limestone. Because our population is growing, the demand for all these resources is increasing. This means we must practice conservation, which is the careful and wise use of resources. Conservation involves avoiding overuse and wastage. We can conserve water by harvesting rainwater and preventing pollution. We can conserve land by planting trees to stop soil erosion. Using our natural resources prudently ensures they will be available for a long time.

Textual/Exercise

1. What do you mean by natural resources ?

Answer: Since resources like land, water, air, minerals, coal, forest, and wildlife are obtained from nature, they are called natural resources. The welfare and development of human civilization largely depend upon these resources, and it is possible to obtain valuable goods from any resource.

2. What are the different types of natural resources ?

Answer: The different types of natural resources are:

• Forest resources
• Water resources
• Land resources
• Mineral resources
• Food resources
• Energy resources

3. What are renewable and non-renewable natural resources ? Give examples.

Answer: Renewable resources are resources that are in-exhaustive and can be regenerated within a given span of time, for example, solar energy, forest, and wildlife. Though many renewable resources do not have a rapid recovery rate, these resources are susceptible to depletion by over-use, for example, forest and groundwater.

Non-renewable resources are resources that are available only in finite quantities, for example, fossil fuel like coal, petroleum, and minerals. Once we exhaust these resources, the same cannot be replenished.

4. Mention the ecological services of the green plants.

Answer: The ecological services of the green plants are:

• The green forests produce oxygen by photosynthesis which is very vital for life on earth.
• During photosynthesis, green plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus reduce the global warming problem.
• The forests give shelter to millions of life forms starting from the insects to the huge wild animals.
• It retards soil erosion.
• It regulates local climatic condition and hydrological cycle.
• There are certain plants which can absorb many toxic gases and act as pollution indicators.

5. Name the national parks of Assam.

Answer: The national parks of Assam are:

• Kaziranga National Park
• Manas National Park
• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
• Nameri National Park
• Orang National Park
• Raimona National Park
• Dehing Patkai National Park

6. Give 5 names of wildlife sanctuaries of Assam.

Answer: The names of wildlife sanctuaries of Assam are:

• Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
• Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
• Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary

7. Name the great wetland of Manipur.

Answer: The great wetland of Manipur is Loktak Lake, which is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India.

8. Mention two conservation measures for land resources.

Answer: Two conservation measures for land resources are:

• Soil erosion can be minimized by afforestation in the hilly slopes.
• Use of pesticides and fertilizers should be banned and organic fertilizers should be encouraged.

9. Mention the mineral resources of NE India.

Answer: The North eastern region of India is a treasure home of valuable mineral resources. Meghalaya is famous for uranium, coal and limestone. Assam is widely known for its mineral resources which include petroleum (crude), natural gas, coal, and limestone. Assam is also endowed with other minerals such as sillimanite, base-metals, beryl, building and road metals, asbestos, fire clay, kaolin, fuller’s earth, mica, quartz, and dolomite.

10. Mention a few water conservation measures.

Answer: A few water conservation measures are:

• Rainwater harvesting
• Decreasing runoff losses
• Reducing evaporation losses
• Reuse of water
• Preventing wastage of water
• Controlling water pollution
• Implementation of strict laws
• Organization of awareness programmes

Extra/additional questions and answers

1. What are the two main kinds of natural resources?

Answer: The two main kinds of natural resources are renewable resources and non-renewable resources. This classification is based on their ability to be regenerated or replenished.

2. What are renewable resources?

Answer: Renewable resources are resources that are considered in-exhaustive and can be regenerated within a given span of time. Examples of such resources include solar energy, forests, and wildlife.

3. What are non-renewable resources?

Answer: Non-renewable resources are resources that are available only in finite quantities. Examples of non-renewable resources include fossil fuels like coal and petroleum, as well as various minerals.

4. List the six different types of natural resources mentioned.

Answer: The six different types of natural resources mentioned in the text are:

• Forest resources
• Water resources
• Land resources
• Mineral resources
• Food resources
• Energy resources

5. From where do the perennial rivers of NE India originate?

Answer: All the perennial rivers of North-East India, including the mighty Brahmaputra, originate from the Himalayan glaciers.

6. How long does it take for one inch of soil to form?

Answer: It takes about 200 to 1000 years for one inch, or 2.5 cm, of soil to form, which makes it a very valuable and finite resource.

7. What is soil erosion?

Answer: Soil erosion is defined as the loss of topsoil. It is a significant cause of soil degradation because the topsoil is the most fertile layer.

8. For which minerals is Meghalaya famous?

Answer: The state of Meghalaya is famous for its valuable mineral resources, which include uranium, coal, and limestone.

9. Define natural resources. Why are they important for human civilization?

Answer: Resources that are obtained from nature are called natural resources. Examples of natural resources include land, water, air, minerals, coal, forest, and wildlife. It is possible to obtain valuable goods from any of these resources.

These resources are very important because the welfare and development of human civilization largely depend upon them.

10. Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources with examples.

Answer: Renewable resources are those resources that are in-exhaustive and can be regenerated within a given span of time. Examples of renewable resources include solar energy, forest, and wildlife.

Non-renewable resources are resources that are available only in finite quantities. Once these resources are exhausted, they cannot be replenished. Examples of non-renewable resources are fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and minerals.

11. List any four major causes of deforestation in North East India.

Answer: Four major causes of deforestation in North East India are:

• The timber industry, which involves cutting down trees for wood.
• The conversion of forest land into agricultural land to grow crops.
• Infrastructure development, which includes the construction of roads, bridges, and industries.
• Encroachment on forest lands by illegal immigrants.

12. Why do people in North-East India suffer from water shortages despite heavy rainfall?

Answer: Despite receiving heavy monsoon rainfall, people in North-East India often suffer from acute water shortages during the dry season. This happens because the geological formations in the region often do not retain water well. Consequently, the runoff of rainwater is rapid, and water sources like springs and small streams soon dry up when there is no rain.

13. What is a land resource? Why is it considered a valuable resource?

Answer: Land is a finite and valuable resource. It is considered valuable because we depend on it for our food, fibre, fuel wood, and the basic amenities of life. Its value is also highlighted by the fact that it takes about 200 to 1000 years for just one inch, or 2.5 cm, of soil to form naturally.

14. What is salinization? How does it affect soil fertility?

Answer: Salinization is the process of accumulation of soluble salts of sodium, magnesium, and calcium in the soil. This accumulation of salts affects soil fertility severely. When the concentration of these salts becomes too high, it can hinder plant growth and significantly reduce the agricultural productivity of the land.

15. What are minerals? Mention their three main types with one example for each.

Answer: Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic, crystalline solids that have a definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties.

The three main types of minerals are:

• Metallic minerals, for example, bauxite.
• Non-metallic minerals, for example, graphite.
• Energy generating minerals, for example, coal.

16. What are the main mineral resources found in Assam?

Answer: The main mineral resources in Assam include petroleum (crude), natural gas, coal, and limestone. The state is also endowed with a variety of other minerals such as sillimanite, base-metals, beryl, building and road metals, asbestos, fire clay, kaolin, fuller’s earth, mica, quartz, and dolomite.

17. Why is the extraction of many minerals in Assam not economically viable?

Answer: Although Assam is endowed with a wide variety of minerals, the extraction of most of these minerals is not economically viable at present. This means that the cost of mining and processing these minerals is higher than the market value of the final product, making it unprofitable to extract them with current methods or under current economic conditions.

18. Describe the commercial and non-commercial services provided by forest resources.

Answer: Forest resources provide both commercial goods and non-commercial ecological services.

Commercially, forests provide us with essential commodities like timber, wood, food items, fuel, fodder, medicines, drugs, and many more.

The non-commercial services offered by green forests are also very important. The green forests produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which is vital for life on earth. During photosynthesis, green plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to reduce the global warming problem. Forests also give shelter to millions of life forms, from insects to large wild animals. They help to retard soil erosion and regulate local climatic conditions and the hydrological cycle. Additionally, certain plants in the forest can absorb many toxic gases and act as pollution indicators.

19. Give a detailed account of the water resources of North East India.

Answer: North East India is relatively rich in fresh water resources. The region’s average annual surface water potential has been assessed at 585.6 km³, which is the highest among all river systems in India and the fifth highest in the world. However, only 24.0 km³ of this is utilizable water, which is merely 4.1% of the annual surface water potential. The region receives high rainfall, with an average of 2000 mm a year, and a maximum of 11000 mm in Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya. Despite heavy monsoon rainfall, people in the northeast often suffer from acute water shortages during the dry season because the geological formations do not retain water well, runoff is rapid, and small streams dry up without rain.

Groundwater resources are high only in the plains and are suitable for irrigation and industrial purposes due to a low content of dissolved minerals. Among the northeastern states, Assam has the highest groundwater potential. All the perennial rivers of North East India, including the mighty Brahmaputra, originate from the Himalayan glaciers and are a major source of fresh water. The region also has a large number of wetlands, with more than 3,500 in the Brahmaputra valley and about 155 in Manipur, including Loktak Lake, one of India’s largest freshwater lakes.

20. What is soil degradation? Explain the major causes of soil degradation.

Answer: Soil degradation is the process by which the quality and fertility of soil are severely affected, making it less productive. It is a serious environmental issue, especially considering that it takes about 200-1000 years for just one inch of soil to form.

The major causes of soil degradation are:

• Soil erosion, which is the loss of the fertile top layer of the soil.
• Waterlogging, which is the accumulation of excess water under the ground, harming plant roots.
• Salinization, which is the accumulation of soluble salts of sodium, magnesium, and calcium in the soil to an extent that severely affects soil fertility.
• Contamination of soil with industrial waste, which includes harmful substances like heavy metals, pesticides, and fertilizers.

21. Suggest and explain various measures for the conservation of land resources.

Answer: Several measures can be adopted for the conservation of valuable land resources.

First, soil erosion can be minimized by afforestation, which is the planting of trees, especially in hilly slopes where erosion is more common. Second, the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers should be banned, and the use of organic fertilizers should be encouraged to maintain soil health.

Third, the proper disposal of industrial waste is a must to prevent soil contamination from harmful chemicals and heavy metals. Finally, the cultivation of traditional crop varieties in a region should be encouraged, as these crops are often better suited to the local soil and climate conditions and can help preserve soil fertility.

22. What are minerals? Classify them into different types and discuss the mineral resource base of India.

Answer: Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic, crystalline solids that have a definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties. They are used for many purposes, including in industrial plants and machineries, for generating energy like coal and uranium, for construction, and for making jewellery.

Minerals can be classified into three types. The first type is metallic minerals, with examples like bauxite, copper pyrites, haematite, and galena. The second type is non-metallic minerals, which include graphite, diamond, quartz, and feldspar. The third type is energy-generating minerals, such as coal, petroleum, and uranium.

India’s mineral resource base is sufficiently rich and can provide the country with a strong industrial base. The country is rich in metallic minerals of the ferrous group, such as iron-ore, manganese, chromite, and titanium. However, the reserves of petroleum and some other non-ferrous metallic minerals like copper, lead, tin, graphite, and zinc are inadequate.

23. Explain the various methods that can be adopted for the conservation of water.

Answer: Water is one of the most precious and indispensable natural resources, and appropriate techniques should be adopted for its conservation. The following steps can be taken in this regard:

• Rainwater harvesting to collect and store rainwater for later use.
• Decreasing runoff losses to allow more water to seep into the ground.
• Reducing evaporation losses from water bodies.
• Reuse of water wherever possible.
• Preventing the wastage of water in daily activities.
• Controlling water pollution to keep water sources clean.
• Implementation of strict laws to regulate water use and prevent pollution.
• Organization of awareness programmes to educate people about the importance of water conservation.

24. What is meant by the conservation of natural resources? Why is it crucial?

Answer: The conservation of natural resources is crucial because the continuous increase in population causes an increased demand for resources. This creates a situation where valuable resources may come to an end after some decades.

Conservation means the use of natural resources frugally and without wastage. It entails the use of resources prudently, which involves avoiding overuse, misuse, and untimely use. By conserving resources, we ensure that they are available for future generations and that the environment remains healthy and balanced.

25. Write a short note on Forest resources.

Answer: About 1/3rd of the world’s land area is covered by forests. The green forest not only provides us all sorts of essential commodities but gives us a number of ecological services. Forests provide us with commercial goods like timber, wood, food items, fuel, fodder, medicines, drugs and many more. But we have to acknowledge the non commercial services offered by the green forests.

• The green forests produce oxygen by photosynthesis which is very vital for life on earth.
• During photosynthesis, green plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus reduce the global warming problem.
• The forests give shelter to millions of life forms starting from the insects to the huge wild animals.
• It retards soil erosion.
• It regulates local climatic condition and hydrological cycle.
• There are certain plants which can absorb many toxic gases and act as pollution indicators.

Extra/additional Fill in the Blanks

1. Resources that are obtained from nature are called ______ resources.

Answer: natural

2. The two kinds of natural resources are Renewable and ______ resources.

Answer: Non-renewable

3. Resources that are in-exhaustive and can be regenerated within a given span of time are called ______ resources.

Answer: Renewable

4. Solar energy, forest, and wildlife are examples of ______ resources.

Answer: Renewable

5. Non-renewable resources are resources that are available only in ______ quantities.

Answer: finite

6. Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and minerals are examples of ______ resources.

Answer: non-renewable

7. About ______ of the world’s land area is covered by forests.

Answer: 1/3rd

8. The green forests produce oxygen by the process of ______.

Answer: photosynthesis

9. During photosynthesis, green plants absorb ______ from the atmosphere, reducing the global warming problem.

Answer: carbon dioxide

10. On Earth, 97% of water is of a ______ nature.

Answer: saline

11. Only ______ of the Earth’s water is fresh water.

Answer: 3%

12. The average annual surface water potential of North east India has been assessed at ______ km³.

Answer: 585.6

13. A maximum rainfall of 11000 mm a year is received in ______, Meghalaya.

Answer: Cherrapunjee

14. Among the northeastern states, ______ has the highest groundwater potential.

Answer: Assam

15. ______ Lake, located in Manipur, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India.

Answer: Loktak

16. About ______ years are needed for the formation of one inch or 2.5 cm of soil.

Answer: 200-1000

17. The loss of top soil is known as soil ______.

Answer: erosion

18. ______ is the accumulation of excess water under the ground.

Answer: Waterlogging

19. ______ is the accumulation of soluble salts of sodium, magnesium and calcium in soil to the extent that soil fertility is severely affected.

Answer: Salinization

20. Coal, petroleum and uranium are examples of ______ generating minerals.

Answer: Energy

21. The state of ______ is famous for its resources of uranium, coal and limestone.

Answer: Meghalaya

22. The ______ is the most profitable public sector organization in the State of Assam for oil and gas.

Answer: Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC)

23. The gold extraction from the river ______ dates back to earlier than the eighteenth century.

Answer: Subansiri