Topic: Resource use and
sustainability
Sub topic: The Use of Resources
Unit 1: Uses of Natural Resources- Renewable and Non-renewable
Summary:
● - Natural resources include items like cell phones, food, clothing, airplanes, and
buildings, which all originate from the Earth.
● - There are two main types of natural resources: renewable and non-renewable
- Renewable Resources:
● These resources won't run out if used wisely. Examples include water, soil, fish in
oceans, air, and forests. Trees are a renewable resource.
- Non-Renewable Resources:
● These have a limited supply and will run out if used continuously. Examples are
coal, oil, and gold. Once non-renewable resources are exhausted, they are gone
forever.
● - Estimates for the depletion of the world's three most used fossil fuels: Oil by
2030, Natural gas by 2050, and Coal by 2200.
Self-Test Questions:
1. What are natural resources, and where do they come from?
2. Name two main types of natural resources and explain the difference between them.
3. Give examples of renewable resources and non-renewable resources.
4. When will the world's supply of oil, natlural gas, and coal likely run out according to
estimates?
Answers:
1. Natural resources are materials that come from nature, and they originate from the
Earth.
2. There are two main types of natural resources: renewable and non-renewable.
Renewable resources can be used continuously without running out, while
non-renewable resources have a limited supply and will eventually run out.
3. Examples of renewable resources include water, soil, fish in oceans, air, and forests.
Trees are a renewable resource. Non-renewable resources include coal, oil, and gold.
4. According to estimates, the world's supply of oil is projected to run out by 2030,
natural gas by 2050, and coal by 2200.
Unit 2: Effects of the Unwise Use of Resources
,Summary:
● - Unwise use of resources can lead to damage and faster depletion of resources,
potentially making them unavailable in the future.
● - Several unwise resource-use practices include soil erosion due to poor farming
methods, pollution of water and air from chemicals in farming, mining, and
industry, wastage of resources (e.g., leaving lights on), not replacing cut-down
trees with young ones, using inefficient machinery (e.g., petrol-guzzling cars),
uncontrolled resource usage (e.g., overfishing), and not reusing or recycling
resources.
● - Using petrol-consuming cars, pollution from mines and industry, and replanting
trees are examples of unwise and wise resource use.
Overfishing the oceans
● - Over-fishing occurs when more fish are caught than nature can replenish,
leading to a depletion of fish stocks.
● - Scientists warn that at the current rate, world fish stocks may collapse by 2050,
impacting over a billion people dependent on fish for food or employment.
● - Causes of over-fishing include modern fishing methods and technology,
population growth, and a lack of international laws to control fishing.
● - Effects of over-fishing include reduced food supply, harm to marine
ecosystems, unemployment, and increased poverty.
● - Some fish species are on the brink of extinction due to over-fishing.
Overgrazing
● - Over-grazing occurs when too many animals are kept on a piece of land,
causing damage to plants and soil erosion.
● - Effects of over-grazing include stunted plant growth, bare patches of soil, weed
infestations, soil erosion, filling of dams with soil, unhealthy animals, reduced
offspring and milk production, leading to desertification.
● - The Sahel region in West Africa is a case study of over-grazing, driven by
increased population, deforestation, reduced rainfall, lack of environmental
management, and conflicts.
Self-Test Questions:
1. What are the potential consequences of unwise resource use?
2. List some unwise resource-use practices mentioned in the text.
3. How can soil erosion be caused by unwise resource use?
4. Give examples of pollution caused by unwise resource use.
5. Why is it important to plant young trees to replace the ones cut down?
6. Provide examples of inefficient machinery that contributes to unwise resource use.
7. What is the significance of controlling the rate at which resources are used?
8. Why is reusing and recycling resources considered a wise practice?
, 1. What is over-fishing, and why is it a concern for the world's oceans?
2. Name the causes of over-fishing mentioned in the text.
3. What are the effects of over-fishing on food supply and marine ecosystems?
4. Describe the situation of over-fishing in Mozambique and its effects on coastal
communities.
5. What could help improve the over-fishing situation in Mozambique?
1. What is over-grazing, and why is it a problem for the environment?
2. List the effects of over-grazing mentioned in the text.
3. Explain how over-grazing leads to soil erosion and desertification.
4. Why is the Sahel region of West Africa considered a case study of over-grazing?
5. Name some factors contributing to the desertification of the Sahel region.
Answers:
1. Unwise resource use can lead to resource damage and faster depletion, potentially
making them unavailable in the future.
2. Unwise resource-use practices include causing soil erosion, polluting air and water,
wasting resources, not replacing cut-down trees, using inefficient machinery,
uncontrolled resource usage, and not reusing or recycling resources.
3. Soil erosion can be caused by unwise resource use, such as poor farming methods.
4. Examples of pollution due to unwise resource use include chemicals from farms,
mines, and industry polluting natural resources.
5. Planting young trees to replace the ones cut down is essential to ensure a sustainable
supply of resources.
6. Inefficient machinery includes cars with large petrol consumption and urinals that
waste water in shopping mall toilets.
7. Controlling the rate at which resources are used is significant to prevent overuse and
depletion.
8. Reusing and recycling resources is considered wise because it conserves resources
and reduces waste, contributing to sustainability.
1. Overfishing is the act of catching more fish than nature can replace, and it's a
concern due to the potential collapse of world fish stocks by 2050, impacting people
who rely on fish for food and jobs.
2. Causes of overfishing include modern fishing methods and technology, population
growth, and a lack of international laws controlling fishing.
3. Over-fishing reduces the amount of available food and harms marine ecosystems by
disrupting the balance of species.
4. In Mozambique, coastal communities face a rapid fall in fish stocks, poor diet, loss of
income, and increased poverty due to overfishing.
5. The overfishing situation in Mozambique can improve if communities reduce their
fish intake, especially young fish, and explore alternative livelihoods to lessen
dependency on fishing.
