Knowra Natural resource Natural resource A material, organism, or feature found in nature that people use or value. Natural resources include water, forests, minerals, fertile soil, and sunlight.
Renewable resource : A natural resource replenished by natural processes on timescales relevant to human use. Renewability distinguishes resources such as forests from finite mineral deposits.
Mining : The extraction of minerals and other geological materials from the Earth. Mining turns mineral deposits into inputs for construction, manufacturing, and technology.
Resource depletion : The reduction of a resource stock through extraction or use faster than it is replenished. Extraction can shrink stocks until they no longer support current levels of use.
Resource conservation : The protection and careful use of natural resources to sustain them over time. Conservation limits waste and depletion rather than maximizing immediate extraction.
Nonrenewable resource : A natural resource that forms too slowly to be replenished within relevant human timescales. Fossil fuels and many minerals cannot be replaced as quickly as they are extracted.
Forestry : The science and practice of managing forests and tree plantations. Forestry produces timber and other forest goods while shaping woodland conditions.
Deforestation : The conversion of forested land to nonforest uses or the lasting removal of forest cover. Clearing forests for timber, farming, or infrastructure reduces forest resources and habitat.
Sustainable development : Development that meets present needs while preserving the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It frames resource use around both current welfare and future capacity.
Ecosystem service : A benefit people obtain from ecosystems, including material goods and processes that sustain life. Some resources matter through ecological functions, not just harvested materials.
Agriculture : The cultivation of plants and the raising of animals for food, fiber, and other products. Agriculture depends on soil, water, organisms, and sunlight as productive resources.
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