Natural Resources and Their Use | Class 8 Social Science Notes

WHEN DOES NATURE BECOME A RESOURCE?

Nature refers to the totality of all life and non-life forms that exist in our environment independently of human creation. These include elements such as trees, water, air, soil, minerals, and fossil fuels. When humans utilize these natural elements for their sustenance or transform them into consumable goods, these elements are termed 'resources'. For example, trees exist naturally in the environment, but when humans cut trees and convert their wood into furniture, the trees are then considered a resource. However, not all natural elements automatically become resources. For an element to be classified as a resource, it must be accessible with current technology, economically feasible to exploit, and culturally acceptable to use. For instance, petroleum may exist deep beneath the ocean floor, but if technology to extract it is lacking or the cost is prohibitive, it cannot be considered a resource yet. Similarly, some forests or groves may be culturally protected and hence not exploited. The Earth holds many treasures formed over millions of years, such as water, air, soil, coal, petroleum, precious stones, metal ores, and timber. These resources are vital for human life and development. Understanding when nature becomes a resource helps us appreciate the relationship between humans and the environment and the importance of sustainable use.

📊 Diagram: Figure 1.2 shows a microhydel plant in Himachal Pradesh converting the power of flowing water into electricity, illustrating the use of natural water resources. Figure 1.3 depicts an offshore oil rig extracting petroleum from below the seabed, demonstrating technological access to natural resources.

🧪 Activity: Reflect on the origin of everyday items around you and trace them back to natural resources, understanding how nature becomes a resource through human use.

🔗 Connection: This section leads to the categorization of natural resources based on their uses and renewability, helping understand the diversity and management of resources.