2.

1 Introduction to Natural Resources

Any material which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more valuable and
useful can be termed as resource. In other words, it is possible to obtain valuable
items from any resources. Resource, therefore, are the means to attain given ends.
The aspect of satisfaction is so important that we consider a thing or substance a
resource, as so long it meets our needs. Life on this planet depends upon a large
number of things and services provided by the nature, which are known as Natural
Resources. Thus water, air, soil, minerals, coal, forests, crops and wild life are all
examples of natural resources.

2.1.1 Classification of natural resources

Depending upon availability of natural resources can be divided into two

categories such as (1) renewable and (2) Non renewable resources.

[Link] resources

Renewable resources are in a way inexhaustible resources. They have the ability to
replenish themselves by means such as recycling, reproduction and
[Link] of renewable resources are sunlight, animals and
plants,soil,water,etc.

2. Non-Renewable Resources

Non renewable resources are the resources that cannot be replenished once used or
perished. Examples of non renewable resources are minerals, fossil fuels, etc.

Resources can also be classified as biotic or abiotic.

a)Biotic resources

These are living resources (e.g. forest, agriculture, fish and wild life) that are able
to reproduce or replace them and to increase.

b)Abiotic resources

These are non-living resources (e.g. petrol, land, minerals etc.) that are not able to
replace themselves or do so at such a slow rate that they are not useful to consider
them in terms of the human life times.

2.1.2 Problems associated with natural resources

1. The unequal consumption of natural resources

A major part of natural resources today are consumed in the technologically

advanced or ‘developed’ world, usually termed ‘the west’. The ‘developing
nations’ of ‘the east’, including India and China, also over use many resources
because of their greater human population. However, the consumption of resources
per capita (per individual) of the developed countries is up to 50 times greater than
in most developing countries. Advanced countries produce over 75% of global
industrial waste and greenhouse gases.

2. Planning land use

Land is a major resource, needed for not only for food production and animal
husbandry, but also for industry and growing human settlements. These forms of
intensive land use are frequently extended at the cost of ‘wild lands’, our remaining
forests, grasslands, wetlands and deserts. This demands for a pragmatic policy that
analyses the land allocation for different uses.

3. The need for sustainable lifestyles

Human standard of living and the health of the ecosystem are indicators of
sustainable use of resources in any country or region. Ironically, both are not in
concurrence with each other. Increasing the level of one, usually leads to
degradation of other. Development policies should be formulated to strike a
balance between the two.

2.2 Forest Resources

Forest is important renewable resources. Forest vary in composition and diversity

and can contribute substantially to the economic development of any
country .Plants along with trees cover large areas, produce variety of products and
provide food for living organisms, and also important to save the environment.
It is estimated that about 30% of world area is covered by forest whereas 26% by
pastures. Among all continents, Africa has largest forested area (33%) followed by
Latin America (25%), whereas in North America forest cover is only 11%. Asia
and former USSR has 14% area under forest. European countries have only 3%
area under forest cover. India’s Forest Cover accounts for 20.6% of the total
geographical area of the country as of 2005.

2.2.1 Significance of forests

Forest can provide prosperity of human being and to the nations. Important uses of
forest can be classified as under

 Commercial values
 Ecological significance
 Aesthetic values
 Life and economy of tribal
[Link] Commercial values

 Forests are main source of many commercial products such as wood, timber,
pulpwood etc. About 1.5 billion people depend upon fuel wood as an energy
source. Timber obtained from the forest can used to make plywood, board,
doors and windows, furniture, and agriculture implements and sports goods.
Timber is also a raw material for preparation of paper, rayon and film.
 Forest can provide food , fibre, edible oils and drugs.
 Forest lands are also used for agriculture and grazing.
 Forest is important source of development of dams, recreation and mining.
[Link] Life and economy of tribal

Forest provide food, medicine and other products needed for tribal people and play
a vital role in the life and economy of tribes living in the forest.

[Link] Ecological uses

Forests are habitat to all wild animals, plants and support millions of species. They
help in reducing global warming caused by green house gases and produces
oxygen upon photosynthesis.
Forest can act as pollution purifier by absorbing toxic gases. Forest not only helps
in soil conservation but also helps to regulate the hydrological cycle.

[Link] Aesthetic values

All over the world people appreciate the beauty and tranquillity of the forest
because forests have a greatest aesthetic value. Forest provides opportunity for
recreation and ecosystem research.

2.2.2 Over exploitation of forests

Forests contribute substantially to the national economy. With increasing

population increased demand of fuel wood, expansion of area under urban
development and industries has lead to over exploitation of forest .At present
international level we are losing forest at the rate of 1.7 crore hectares annually.
Overexploitation also occurs due to overgrazing and conversion of forest to
pastures for domestic use.

2.2.3 Deforestation

1. Forest are burned or cut for clearing of land for agriculture ,harvesting for
wood and timber , development and expansion of cities .These economic
gains are short term where as long term effects of deforestation are
irreversible
2. Deforestation rate is relatively low in temperate countries than in tropics If
present rate of deforestation continues we may losses 90% tropical forest in
coming six decades
 3. For ecological balance 33% area should be under forest cover but our nation
has only 20.6% forest cover.
[Link] Causes of deforestation

Forest area in some developed area has expanded. However in developing

countries area under forest is showing declining trend particularly in tropical
region. Main causes of deforestation are

a) Shifting cultivation or jhum cultivation

This practise is prevalent in tribal areas where forest lands are cleared to grow
subsistence crops. It is estimated that principle cause of deforestation in tropics in
Africa, Asia and tropical America is estimated to be 70, 50, and 35% respectively.
Shifting cultivation which is a practice of slash and burn agriculture are posses to
clear more than 5 lakh hectares of land annually. In India, shifting cultivation is
prevalent in northeast and to limited extent in M.P, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and
is contributing significantly to deforestation.

b) Commercial logging

It is a important deforestation agent. It may not be the primary cause but definitely
it acts as secondary cause, because new logging lots permits shifting cultivation
and fuel wood gatherers access to new logged areas.

c) Need for fuel wood

Increased population has lead to increasing demand for fuel wood which is also
acting as an important deforestation agent, particularly in dry forest.

d) Expansion for agribusiness

With the addition of cash crops such as oil palm, rubber, fruits and ornamental
plants, there is stress to expand the area for agribusiness products which results in
deforestation.

e) Development projects and growing need for food

The growing demand for electricity, irrigation, construction, mining, etc. has lead
to destruction of forest. Increased population needs more food which has
compelled for increasing area under agriculture crops compelling for deforestation.

f) Raw materials for industrial use

Forest provides raw material for industry and it has exerted tremendous pressure on
forest. Increasing demand for plywood for backing has exerted pressure on cutting
of other species such as fir to be used as backing material for apple in J&K and tea
in northeast states.
[Link] Major effects of deforestation

Deforestation adversely and directly affects and damages the environment and
living beings .Major causes of deforestation are

 Soil erosion and loss of soil fertility

 Decrease of rain fall due to affect of hydrological cycle

 Expansion of deserts
 Climate change and depletion of water table
 Loss of biodiversity ,flora and fauna
 Environmental changes and disturbance in forest ecosystems
2.2.4 Case studies

1. Jhum cultivation

Jhum Agriculture or shifting agriculture has destroyed large number of hectare of

forest tracts in North-Eastern states and Orissa. Jhum agriculture is subsidence
agriculture in which tract of forest land is cleared by cutting trees and it is used for
cultivation. After few years, when productivity of the land decreases, cultivators
abandon the land and clear next tract. As a result of this practise, combined with
increasing population there is rapid deforestation as more and more cultivators
clear forest to cultivate land. Also, with increase in population there is cultivators
are forced to return to previous tracts of land in relatively shorter durations, not
allowing the land to regain its productivity.

2. Chipko movement

The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a social-ecological movement that

practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through
the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled. The modern Chipko
movement started in the early 1970s in the Garhwal Himalayas of
Uttarakhand,with growing awareness towards rapid deforestation. The landmark
event in this struggle took place on March 26, 1974, when a group of peasant
women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India,
acted to prevent the cutting of trees and reclaim their traditional forest rights that
were threatened by the contractor system of the state Forest Department. Their
actions inspired hundreds of such actions at the grassroots level throughout the
region. By the 1980s the movement had spread throughout India and led to
formulation of people-sensitive forest policies, which put a stop to the open felling
of trees in regions as far reaching as Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.

3. Western himalayan region.

Over the last decade, there has been widespread destruction and degradation of
forest resources in Himalayas, especially western Himalayas. This has resulted in
various problems such as erosion of top soil, irregular rainfall, changing weather
patterns and floods. Construction of roads on hilly slopes, have not only
undermined their stability, but also damaged protective vegetation and forest cover.
Tribes in these areas are increasingly facing shortage of firewood and timber, due
large scale tree cutting. Increased traffic volumes on these roads leads to increased
pollution in the area.

2.2.5 Timber extraction

There has been unlimited exploitation of timber for commercial use. Due to
increased industrial demand; timber extraction has significant effect on forest and
tribal people.

[Link] Logging

 Poor logging results in degraded forest and may lead to soil erosion
especially on slopes.
 New logging roads permit shifting cultivators and fuel wood gatherers to
gain access to the logging area.
 Loss of long term forest productivity
 Species of plants and animals may be eliminated
 Exploitation of tribal people by contractor.
2.2.6 Mining

Major effects of mining operations on forest and tribal people are:

 Mining from shallow deposits is done by surface mining while that from
deep deposits is done by sub-surface mining. It leads to degradation of lands
and loss of top soil. It is estimated that about eighty thousands hectare land
is under stress of mining activities in India
 Mining leads to drying up perennial sources of water sources like spring and
streams in mountainous area.
 Mining and other associated activities remove vegetation along with
underlying soil mantle, which results in destruction of topography and
landscape in the area. Large scale deforestation has been reported in
Mussorie and Dehradun valley due to indiscriminating mining.
 The forested area has declined at an average rate of 33% and the increase in
non-forest area due to mining activities has resulted in relatively unstable
zones leading to landslides.
 Indiscriminate mining in forests of Goa since 1961 has destroyed more than
50000 ha of forest land. Coal mining in Jharia, Raniganj and Singrauli areas
has caused extensive deforestation in Jharkhand.
 Mining of magnetite and soapstone have destroyed 14 ha of forest in hilly
slopes of Khirakot, Kosi valley and Almora.
 Mining of radioactive minerals in Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka are
posing similar threats of deforestation.
  The rich forests of Western Ghats are also facing the same threat due to
mining projects for excavation of copper, chromites, bauxite and magnetite.
2.2.7 Effects of dams on forests and tribal people

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru referred dam and valley projects as “Temples of modern
India”. These big dams and rivers valley projects have multi-purpose uses.
However, these dams are also responsible for the destruction of forests. They are
responsible for degradation of catchment areas, loss of flora and fauna, increase of
water borne diseases, disturbance in forest ecosystems, rehabilitation and
resettlement of tribal peoples.

 India has more than 1550 large dams, the maximum being in the state of
Maharashtra (more than 600), followed by Gujarat (more than 250) and
Madhya Pradesh (130).
 The highest one is Tehri dam, on river Bhagirathi in Uttaranchal and the
largest in terms of capacity is Bhakra dam on river Satluj in Himachal
Pradesh. Big dams have been in sharp focus of various environmental
groups all over the world, which is mainly because of several ecological
problems including deforestation and socio-economic problems related to
tribal or native people associated with them.
 The Silent valley hydroelectric project was one of the first such projects
situated in the tropical rain forest area of Western Ghats which attracted
much concern of the people.
 The crusade against the ecological damage and deforestation caused due to
Tehri dam was led by Shri. Sunder Lal Bahaguna, the leader of Chipko
Movement.
 The cause of Sardar Sarovar Dam related issues have been taken up by the
environmental activitist Medha Patkar, joined by Arundhati Ray and Baba
Amte. For building big dams, large scale devastation of forests takes place
which breaks the natural ecological balance of the region.
 Floods, droughts and landslides become more prevalent in such areas.
Forests are the repositories of invaluable gifts of nature in the form of
biodiversity and by destroying them (particularly, the tropical rain forests),
we are going to lose these species even before knowing them. These species
could be having marvellous economic or medicinal value and deforestation
results in loss of this storehouse of species which have evolved over
millions of years in a single stroke.
2.2.8 Forest conservation and management

Forest is one of the most valuable resources and thus needs to be conserved. To
conserve forest, following steps should be taken.

1. Conservation of forest is a national problem, thus it should be tackled with

perfect coordination between concerned government departments.
2. People should be made aware of importance of forest and involved in forest
conservation activities.
3. The cutting of trees in the forests for timber should be stopped.
4. A forestation programmes should be launched
5. Grasslands should be regenerated.
6. Forest conservation Act should be strictly implemented to check
deforestation.
7. Awards should be instituted for the deserving.